restoring elasticity to ribbed waistband and cuffs of jacket?

[Kris]

Does anyone have any info on whether or not it is possible, methods, etc?

I have a vintage jacket in near perfect condition except that the ribbed elastic portions are stretched out. Wondering if heat or some other approach can be used..

 

[Bam!ChairDance]

Do you know the material of the ribbing? Not sure about wool/cash, but cotton can return to its original shape with a simple hot soak.

 

[Kris]

the ribbing is 100% acrylic. the jacket is leather.

 

[mlyngard]

Originally Posted by Kris

the ribbing is 100% acrylic. the jacket is leather.

No luck. The acrylic is probably blended with some kind of elastic material (lycra/spandex/etc), which, once fatigued, loses its memory permanently.

A knit material that will shrink like cotton or wool can return to it's old shape, but acrylic won't.

 

[Kris]

the care tag says the ribbing is 100% acrylic, no other materials, but either way seems like it wont shrink with heat any more than, say, an acrylic sweater...?

i wonder if a seamstress could remove some of it to add tension. probably would cost more than it would be worth.

 

[mlyngard]

Originally Posted by Kris

the care tag says the ribbing is 100% acrylic, no other materials, but either way seems like it wont shrink with heat any more than, say, an acrylic sweater...? i wonder if a seamstress could remove some of it to add tension. probably would cost more than it would be worth.
"Acrylic" is a generic term for any man-made, oil-based extruded polymer fiber. Including stretchy materials. Heat could work, but will also destroy any remaining stretch memory left, so it's a process of diminishing returns. Alterations might be your last resort. How bad is it? Is it affecting the fit?

 

[Kris]

It's not bad on the cuffs, but i think the waistband kind of kills it. it's a harrington, which has a distinct fit. sits ok in the back because of my build, but looks obviously "ungathered" in the front.

if only i had a "butt in the front"!

 

[sbbbjm]

so if its a leather jacket and the ribbing was sewn onto the cuffs, waistband, maybe neck . . . you could remove it, and replace it with brand new ribbing.

i'm sure there are places you could find the material online and a tailor should be able to sew it on.

 

[Kris]

I think I'll get an estimate for that on my way home from work. May not be too high.

 

[impolyt_one]

there are shops that dedicate work to replacing rib trim on vintage bomber jackets, it's about $50 if I recall

 

[Ludeykrus]

Replacing the ribbing is the 'proper' solution, it will cost you a bit, though.

You can also have a tailor simply sew a seam along the bottom of the cuff, tightening the elastic and tightening up the cuff for a while. It should be pretty damn cheap.

And heat will destroy elastic.

 

[katy]

simple hot soak? My husband has 3 jackets with sports team in perfect condition except for the wrist being stretched out from him pushing them up I keep them they are expensive I just cant bring myself to get rid of them any help would be so appreciated