How to make jeans smaller, possible options with detailed descriptions

Over time, gins lose their shape and stretch. Don't rush and buy new things.

Some simple rules and tips will help you save your favorite jeans and give them a new shape.

How to wash jeans so that they shrink and become a size smaller - at what water temperature? How to seat only in one specific place? You will find answers to questions in the article.

Why is the procedure needed?

Why make jeans smaller when clothing stores already have enough choice?
Firstly, we are not all perfect, and often choosing pants that fit our figure becomes a big problem. Sometimes it’s wide at the waist, sometimes it’s narrow at the shins, and you also have to hem it and remove the length. Thanks to special washing conditions, you can adjust the model you like to suit you. Secondly, not all types of denim are wear-resistant. You will have to reduce the size of your pants if they are stretched. The product itself looks good, emphasizes the figure, only the elongated knees spoil everything. Some people don’t want to splurge on new pants every time the problem of pulling out the old ones arises. The procedure will also help those who have suddenly lost weight.

At home, you can make clothes one size smaller with just washing. It is unlikely that it will be possible to reduce an item by 2 sizes; in such cases it is better to resort to a sewing machine.

Features of denim fabrics

Jeans began their march around the planet in the middle of the 19th century as an item of clothing for a working man. Both pants and other products, shirts, jackets, were made of dense, coarse cotton, which gave maximum wear resistance and durability. Over time, jeans took over the world, moving into the category of casual wear. The global increase in importance is driven by developments that improve the appearance and functionality of fabrics.

The following types of denim fabrics are distinguished:

1. Denim. You will have to pay a decent amount for jeans made from real denim. But the price is worth it. They contain exclusively natural, high-quality raw materials. A distinctive feature is the color: blue on the front and white on the back. They are not afraid of high temperatures - washing up to 90 degrees is acceptable.
2. Jean. If you compare denim and gin, they are the exact opposite of each other. Gin is distinguished by its availability, which, unfortunately, comes with low quality. The coloring is identical for both sides. A special feature is considered to be imaginary shrinkage. Jeans washed in hot water visually shrink in both volume and length. In fact: the fabric will shrink only temporarily. One of the advantages, perhaps, is that along with the size, the softness lost during shrinkage will return.
3. Stretch. Skinny jeans that embrace every curve of the body with a gentle embrace are sewn from an elastic material called “stretch”. To obtain the existing result, according to the technology, elastic threads are added to coarse fabrics, such as denim. The result is an ideal symbiosis that gives a wonderful aesthetic appearance and a comfortable feeling when worn. The aesthetics of the product are undermined as soon as the jeans begin to stretch, which cannot be avoided with constant, intense wear. Hand washing using hot water and natural drying will correct the situation.
4. Chambray. Of all denim fabrics, chambry is characterized by its fragility: things made from the fabric wear out quickly and tear easily. After washing in hot water or boiling, they shrink significantly. This is due to the fact that the density of chambrie is much less than that of high-quality denim. But it is precisely this indicator that makes the fabric an ideal material for things for the summer.

The composition of the fabric gives jeans the ability to stretch and shrink. There are effective methods that can reduce the size.

Types of denim fabrics

The first jeans were released in the middle of the 19th century. Pants, jackets and shirts sewn from thick, coarse indole-colored cotton were used as work clothes. Today, textile manufacturers produce several types of denim, which differ in production and dyeing technology, appearance, care methods, and price.

• Denim is a high-quality material made from raw materials collected on plantations in Mexico, Barbados and Zimbabwe. The front side of the fabric is blue, the back side is white. Denim jeans cost several thousand, but the quality justifies the price. These pants fit like a glove, clearly hugging the contours of your figure. They can be washed in water heated to 90 degrees, dried in a machine or in the sun - the fabric will only become stronger.
• Jean is a cheap, soft cotton denim of low quality, entirely dyed in one color. Used for sewing budget clothes. The material is difficult to shrink. If the product is washed in hot water, the fabric will become rough and shrink a little, but will soon restore its texture and the pants will stretch again. When shrinking, not only the volume, but also the length of the product will decrease.
• Stretch is an extremely elastic material from which narrow, tight jeans are sewn. The flexibility of the initially rough denim is given by the lycra fibers that make up the weft threads. Stretched stretch pants look unaesthetic. To return the product to its original appearance, you need to wash it in hot water by hand and dry it in the sun.
• Chambray is a light, thin cotton from which summer shirts, dresses, and tunics are sewn. The density of this type of fabric is half that of classic denim. Items made from chambry are short-lived, quickly tear and wear out, and rarely survive until the new season. After washing or boiling, chambry pants shrink greatly in length and width.

Before experimenting with jeans, trying to reduce their size by hand or automatic washing, soaking or boiling, you need to study the composition of the material from which the product is made and the manufacturer's care instructions. You should not check on expensive pants whether they will shrink after washing - this can ruin the product forever.

What types of jeans are there?

Jeans are divided into types according to style, color and season. There are classic loose ones and tight-fitting ones, like a second skin. Thin summer and insulated for cold seasons, black, white and blue.

But for our topic, it is more important to separate them according to the material from which they are sewn. Since this is what most influences how long the trousers will last and how to care for them. Is it possible to make the jeans not stretch or to make the jeans shrink?

• High quality denim. Branded jeans are made from it. This is a dense natural cotton fabric with a special weave of two threads. One side is lighter, and the other is noticeably darker.
• Cotton from Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, and Africa is used to produce fibers. It is durable and retains its shape well.
• Shrink to fit. This fabric shrinks only once, during the first wash, and subsequently, no matter how much you boil it, you won’t be able to shrink it.
• Jeans made from Asian or Indian cotton. This fabric comes in different densities and trousers made from it are cheaper than those made from classic American denim. The fabric, which comes from Asia, becomes denser and rougher after washing, but quickly returns to its previous size. Jeans from India are thinner, and the threads have a fleecy feel to the touch. When washed in hot water, they will shrink in all directions, both lengthwise and widthwise.
• Stretch. To achieve elasticity in such jeans, artificial fibers elastane or lycra are added to natural cotton. They can stretch well to fit the figure and immediately return to their previous volume when the trousers are removed. The presence of synthetics in the composition does not allow them to be washed at high temperatures. Regular washing briefly causes them to narrow slightly.
• Summer. These thin fabrics essentially have almost nothing to do with denim. This is natural cotton, only dyed to match classic jeans. It has a regular, not at all dense weave, so it does not have the strength and wear resistance of classic jeans. When washed in hot water, they shrink a lot and never return to their original shape.

Washing jeans in hot water

The simplest, fastest and at the same time effective way is considered to be washing jeans in hot water, which causes the fibers to tighten, causing the item itself to become slightly smaller in size, which makes it more comfortable to wear. To do this, you need to put the jeans in the washing machine and turn on the wash cycle at a temperature of 95 degrees, since this will be just enough for the item to change size.

An important point is that you need to stop the machine before the cold water rinse mode starts. Repeating a similar hot wash several times is an excellent opportunity to reduce the size of the item, making it more comfortable to wear. When washing jeans in hot water, their attractiveness is not affected, since the fabric simply tightens without disturbing the overall appearance of the item, which prevents discomfort when wearing.

Boiling jeans in boiling water

If it is not possible to use a washing machine, then you can use boiling water and boil the jeans, giving them the correct shape and size depending on the need. But it is worth considering the following important details:

1. First, you need to boil water in a saucepan.
2. Jeans are placed there using tongs.
3. You need to boil the product for 20-30 minutes, and you need to be careful not to overcook the product.

It is necessary to use special tongs for safety reasons, so do not neglect this rule! It is also important that if the technology is violated, the product may lose color and shape, completely damaging the item. And that is why it is important, after such a hot wash, to drain the water from the pan, and use tongs to lay the jeans on a flat horizontal surface to drain the water and dry.

The correct attention to detail in terms of reducing the size of jeans is the basis for their convenient subsequent use, and that is why you need to take special care in this matter.

Why do jeans stretch?

Denim material is made from durable and thick cotton thread. It is strong to tear, but stretches well. Because of this, with constant stretching of the fabric, jeans lose their original shape. This is especially noticeable on the knees (those unattractive bubbles) and waist. Adding synthetic threads improves the situation slightly. They are rubberized and therefore return more easily to their original shape, maintaining elasticity.

These details are of important practical importance. Stretch jeans, which are usually made with a high synthetic content, practically do not shrink after a hot wash. The best way to reduce them is to suture them. More natural denim (70% cotton or more), on the contrary, shrinks greatly from high temperatures. Therefore, jeans with a small percentage of synthetic fibers or no synthetic fibers can be washed to reduce them by size.

Check the fabric content on the tag

Drying rules

To prevent jeans from stretching, they need to be dried properly. That's right, that means fast. The fact is that regular drying, which takes from 5 to 10 hours, only contributes to the stretching of the fabric - the fibers have time to become straight and recover. This does not happen during fast drying. To make your jeans dry quickly:

• hang them next to the radiator or stove, or in the sun;
• put a fabric under your jeans that will absorb excess moisture;
• Use a tumble dryer if possible.

Attention! Remember that each method that helps to shrink jeans changes not only the width of the waist and hips, but also the length of the legs.

When purchasing new pants, always try them on well.

If the material stretches a lot, it is better to take a jeans size smaller. Choose quality denim or gin. Be sure to follow the washing rules. You can also stretch your jeans after washing if they have shrunk too much at home using improvised methods.

Methods for shrinking jeans

Enterprising housewives have come up with and tried a lot of ways to reduce excessively stretched jeans.

It is known that when there is a sharp change in temperature, natural fibers shrink greatly. Wool, cotton, silk, and linen inevitably shrink after washing. And if you immerse the product alternately in hot water and then in cold water, you can easily reduce your jeans by 1-2 sizes.

Hand wash

Hand washing is the safest, gentlest way to shrink jeans. It is used for clothes made from stretch or chambris.

In order for a thing to shrink in size and retain its new appearance forever, the following work must be done:

1. Immerse the product in hot water (+60°C) for half an hour.
2. Wash denim pants or shorts as usual, adding a little powder.
3. Rinse in very cold (preferably ice) water. To achieve a sharp drop in water temperature, you can pour ice from the freezer into a basin.

Dry the product on a horizontal surface in a ventilated area.

Fabric softener

You can completely shrink your pants using the same fabric softener. This method is rarely used for all pants, but it is quite effective if you need to get the result quickly and in a pair of socks.

Need to:

1. Mix 3 parts conditioner to 1 part water.
2. Send the composition into a spray bottle.
3. Distribute it over the entire surface of the pants.
4. Dry the product at high temperature. You can do this even with an ordinary hairdryer.

This method with conditioner is especially good for stretched waistbands. In this case, it is precisely this that needs to be carefully treated with the concentrated resulting solution and dried with an iron.

Having altered

What can I do to make my jeans fit correctly? A good way is to sew it up. To do this you will need chalk or soap, scissors, a blade, thread of a suitable color and a needle, or you can use a sewing machine.

How to fit jeans into a waistband? The procedure is simple, but it will require a little personal time.

What do we have to do:

1. Take a blade and open the seams on both sides of the pockets.
2. Use scissors to remove any loose threads out of the way.
3. Take the iron and iron all the parts, do not forget to set the correct temperature, it is indicated on the label.
4. Take a centimeter and measure the circumference of the belt, transfer the resulting measurements to the fabric using soap.
5. Using a brightly colored thread, baste the fabric to the new measurements. Then try on your pants. If the trousers fit well and the measurements are taken correctly, you can start sewing.
6. Using a needle and thread or a sewing machine, sew the parts.

This method can be used if the jeans are very stretched at the waist, hips, bottom or knees.

Don't forget to take your measurements and place them correctly so that your pants don't end up too small.

You can’t do that “I’ll reduce it by eye, there’s only a couple of centimeters that need to be removed.” If you are an experienced seamstress and have picked up a sewing machine more than once, perhaps everything will work out. However, this method is not suitable for a beginner.

It is necessary to measure everything correctly and even double-check it more than once, try it on and walk around in your pants to make sure that the alteration of the clothes is done correctly.

Dry cleaning and atelier

If you are afraid to alter your pants yourself, and the risk of ruining the item is high, it is better not to try to alter them.

Contact a good studio. Experienced craftswomen will measure your volume and sew your pants to the required size.

The second option is to take them to the dry cleaner, indicating that they need to be made smaller in size. Perhaps such a service will cost a little more, but it is better if you doubt your abilities.

Local shrinkage

The most difficult way is to reduce the size of not all pants, but only certain areas of them. It may be relevant if, for example, the knees, bottom, pockets of jeans or any other part of them are stretched due to improper drying. This often happens when slightly damp pants are left hanging on a hook.

Then the part with which they are caught can stretch noticeably. There is no need to wash your pants for local shrinkage.

You only need:

1. Dilute fabric softener with water. The solution should be concentrated: 3 to 1.
2. Fill a large spray bottle with the product.
3. Spray the mixture generously onto problem areas. They should be noticeably moisturized.
4. Throw your pants into the dryer.

The product must be dried at high temperatures. Then the stretched fibers of the fabric will noticeably tighten.

Shrinkage exactly to your figure

An extreme method for those who want to narrow their jeans so that they fit like a glove. The essence of the method is as follows: put on trousers and sit in a bath with hot water.

When the water cools down, you can get out of the bath, but the torment doesn’t end there, since now you’ll have to dry your jeans on yourself without taking them off. It is better to do this in a sunny clearing, exposing one or the other side to warm rays for uniform drying.

Reducing size by washing

Jeans that are stretched or initially too large can be reduced by washing at temperatures above 65°C. When exposed to hot water, the threads contract and the fabric shrinks. Moreover, the higher the degree, the more the fabric shrinks. The operation can be performed manually or automatically.

Machine washable

The easiest and safest option for washing jeans to shrink them is to spin them in the machine. Firstly, the machine will do all the work, and secondly, the housewife will not have to come into contact with hot water.

To reduce jeans by 1-2 sizes, you need to wash them in hot water at maximum speed. To do this, load it into the drum and turn on a program with a temperature above 90 °C. Whether or not to add powder depends on how dirty the clothes are.

Jeans can be spun once or in a heavy wash cycle. When you need to tighten your pants, then use the following trick: stop the machine before the rinse cycle and turn on the cycle again without draining the water. Next, all you have to do is wait for the end of the program and send the pants to dry.

Hand wash

The method is used in cases where there is no washing machine in the house or it is necessary to reduce stretch pants made from chambry (the thinnest type of denim). It’s better to wash it in the bathroom - then you won’t have to wrinkle the jeans. Further sequence:

• fill the bath with hot water (70-90 °C);
• immerse jeans in water, hold for 30-40 minutes;
• Drain the cooled water, add hot water, keep the pants on for the same time. Do the procedure 2-3 times.

After this, wash the clothes with powder and rinse in cold water. At the last stage, add pre-prepared ice to the water, lower the jeans into the bath and hold for 10-15 minutes. After this, squeeze it out and lay it out to dry in the sun or next to a hot radiator.

Thus, there are different ways to fit jeans to your figure at home. True, the effect is temporary, but it gives an impeccable look.

Methods for restoring jeans after shrinkage

Denim fabric has the ability not only to stretch, but also to shrink. Therefore, sometimes it becomes necessary to restore it after shrinkage. For example, after an unsuccessful wash. There are several effective ways to do this. All of them are simple, budget-friendly and accessible to everyone.

Cold and hot shower

It may be that jeans cannot be washed in an automatic washing machine. Give them a contrast shower.

First rinse the pants in very cold water, then put them in boiling water. Since you won’t be able to wash at this temperature, wait until it cools down a bit. If possible, leave the jeans in ice water overnight and wash them hot the next morning using laundry detergent or gel.

Important: the powder or other product should not contain bleaching agents, otherwise the jeans will lose color and have an unsightly appearance.

Iron

Another way to make jeans fit true to size. In this case, it is not necessary to wash them in hot water or boil them. Here you can get by with a regular iron. You will also need an ironing net or gauze or thin chintz.

Before you start ironing, look at the label at what maximum temperature you can iron your jeans. Next, thoroughly moisten them with warm water. Then squeeze lightly and start ironing, setting the desired temperature. Don't forget to cover your jeans with mesh or gauze to prevent shiny streaks from the hot iron.

Spraying

For this simplest method, ordinary water is used. You don't need to add any special products to it. The thing is that wet denim stretches perfectly. This method is suitable for changing the size of individual sections of the product or entire pants.

Need to:

1. Pour water into a spray bottle.
2. Spray it on problem areas or the entire thing.
3. Make sure the fabric is saturated with water.
4. Begin to gently stretch the material to the sides. All buttons must be stretched so that the material does not tear.

To make the task easier for yourself, you can put the pants that need stretching on yourself while they are wet and walk around in them. The main thing is not to try to stretch the fabric in places where it is too thin, frayed, or already has holes. Clothes stretched in this way will retain their new size until the next traditional wash.

If doing exercises in wet clothes is unpleasant, you can use improvised means to stretch them. In this case, the problem areas of the product need to be pulled onto a bottle, hanger, mannequin or other suitable objects. Just let them dry.

Length stretch

Jeans sometimes become shorter during the washing process. This is no less a serious problem than reducing their width. You will have to be patient to get your pants to fit properly. There are 3 main ways to do this.

Manual method

If you choose to wash by hand, be careful not to burn your hands! This type of shrinkage is best suited for stretch or chambrie trousers. To ensure your jeans fit properly, place them in a basin, or even better, in a bathtub. You need to place them correctly - elongated. You don't have to turn it inside out. Carefully pour hot water - 60-70°C. Leave for half an hour. When the water has cooled, pour boiling water again. Repeat 2-3 times. Then wash as usual with powder in the washing machine. But you will need to rinse them in ice water! You can use the same basin or bath. Add ice to the container and rinse for 10 minutes.

Advice! It is better to dry the product on a flat surface near a heating pipe or in the sun - do not hang jeans on the dryer, they will stretch out again!

Different drying methods

When shrinking denim pants, drying is very important. This is what helps you end up with a smaller version of your favorite wardrobe item.

There are several options for proper drying:

• vertical and horizontal (in the second case, it is worth placing natural fabric under the item so that it absorbs excess moisture);
• using an automatic dryer (jeans that need to be smaller should be dried at maximum);
• any heater.

In extreme cases, you can use a hairdryer to dry things. But this is a rather long process and clothes may dry unevenly.

Air drying

You can adjust denim trousers to the desired size by drying them in the sun. To do this, fill the bathtub with high-temperature water, put on jeans and sit in the water.

The temperature should be quite high, but comfortable. Half an hour later they go out into the sun and dry their jeans on their bodies. Under the influence of heat emanating from the sun's rays, the product narrows.

An easier way: soak the product in hot water and hang it to dry in direct sunlight.

Drying denim trousers to shrink them is also practiced in a bathhouse. When exposed to steam, denim shrinks significantly.

Instead of a bathhouse, they use a bathroom: they fill up with very hot water and close the door tightly. Jeans are hung over steam and kept for an hour. The trousers are taken outside and completely dried in the sun.

Machine drying

Moistened, steamed denim trousers are placed in the drum of the washing machine.
Set the “Drying” mode on the panel and select the highest value. Under the influence of steam, the fibers of the fabric contract and the pants become smaller.

Shrinkage technique in the bathroom

You will need a full bath and 30 minutes plus drying time.

This is perhaps the simplest of the denim shrinking techniques, ideal for unsanforized (shrunk) fabrics, although it seems odd and you may get a few sideways glances from your flatmates if you leave the door unlocked.

Fill the bathtub with hot water without foam. Put on loose jeans, get into the tub, and wait for the water to cool before getting out.

When you get out of the bath, shake off excess water, then step out into the sun and wait for them to dry, naturally hugging your athletic figure. While drying, you should walk around and do some lower body exercises, such as lunges and squats, to stretch out your jeans if they feel too tight.

If the weather is unusually cool, speed up the process with a hairdryer or simply hang them out to dry after stretching. Getting pneumonia in the name of jeans is not a good decision.

How to fit a certain area of ​​jeans (on the buttocks, hips, knees)?

Thin knees, voluminous buttocks, rounded hips - this is not the whole list of flaws in the female figure that ladies struggle with all the time.

All these features leave their direct imprint on the trousers, which over time lose their shape and stretch out in certain places.

To make them fit like a glove, even after the 30th dressing, you can apply the following steps:

• mix laundry conditioner with water and pour the mixture into a spray bottle;
• spray the composition onto those areas of the trousers that are stretched out;
• put the item in the washing machine and turn on the most powerful drying mode (with a maximum temperature of 90-95 degrees).

Advice! After such manipulations, the trousers should fit your figure. If this does not happen, then you need to repeat the procedure.

Washing to shrink worn and new jeans

Experienced fashionistas advise buying jeans a size smaller - they fit beautifully, highlight your figure, and after washing they retain their shape better than those bought true to size. But it’s not always possible to do this, and your favorite trousers become too big after wearing them a few times. In order for them to return to their original shape (shrink), they must be washed properly. This can be done in two ways: manually or using a washing machine.

1. Handwash. No matter what type of pants you wear, hand washing will shrink them a little, but not too much. The reason is simple - water temperature. When washing by hand, it is impossible to use hot water or boiling water. If you do this, you can burn your hands. Therefore, experts recommend machine washing for those who want to make their denim pants smaller.
2. Machine washable. The ideal solution for those who want to make their trousers tighter. It doesn't take much effort to wash them in the washing machine. It is enough to load the laundry into the drum, pour washing powder (preferably gel) into a special compartment, select the desired mode, namely washing at 90 degrees, and start the wash.

You don't need to add any special detergents to make your jeans shrink. Simply wash them in hot water, wring them out thoroughly and dry them properly. Many people use an iron for this purpose. Indeed, after washing, you can iron your trousers with a hot iron.

In the washing machine

The best and safest way is machine wash. To make jeans fit 1-2 sizes, you need to select the “Cotton” mode. Set the temperature to high (80-90 degrees) and the highest number of revolutions - 700-800. Add powder and conditioner. It is also better not to dry the item vertically. It is useful to dry wet jeans with an iron; this will promote shrinkage.

Remember! Use this method only on durable fabrics where the cotton content is at least 70%. Otherwise, they will stretch even more in the washing machine. Carefully read the composition and washing and care instructions.