Stretching Cowhide Leather

[Gabri]

Hello Guys

I have a cowhide leather jacket
wanted to know if I could stretch them a bit at the bottom
I would like a little more space on my hips
1 cm or a little more would be quite good
I read on the internet that there are sprays that can do this?

 

[user290389023]

Wouldn't suggest it, most often it doesn't turn out the way you want. Especially cowhide, which is not as stretchy as lamb or goat.

 

[Gabri]

Ah okay, I thought it is possible a little bit, since it is a natural product

 

[dannyk]

Ah it’s one of those things that are theoretically possible. But as the poster above said it’s one of those things that often times doesn’t turn out the way you want. Something usually gets messed up/broken or you end up stretching it out too much and then it looks ridiculous. So like yeah you can try and see what happens, but then have to be ok with how it turns out. Like if it’s a cheap jacket, or one you don’t really care about I would say read up on some methods and knock yourself out. If it’s a real nice jacket or has some special meaning to you I wouldn’t bother. Keep it and deal with the 1cm, or sell it and try to get back some of it’s worth it.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Jackets can often be stretched by a cm if they are wetted down with a spray of water and gently stretched by hand or worn. Sometimes a jacket will stretch simply by being worn - leather loosens up a lot. But this is very unscientific and sometimes jackets shrink too.

 

[Gabri]

Whats about the Sprays for leather shoes ? Can that help a little ?

 

[Seb Lucas]

Whats about the Sprays for leather shoes ? Can that help a little ?

No idea. But water is all you need. Chemicals on jackets generally messes with the more delicate fibers and dye.

 

[El Marro]

1 cm is not very much at all. I would suggest you try putting on a couple heavy vests and then wearing the jacket zipped up over them for awhile. I agree with the others that you should stay away from any kind of chemical products or sprays other than just water. Good luck.

 

[Carlos840]

IMO a leather jacket won't stretch.
If they did @dudewuttheheck would not be wearing a very nice new SanMateo, i would.

 

[Will Zach]

They will stretch if made wet and sustained stretching pressure is put on them while drying, including hanging while wet. It is also called deformation - usually the jacket will get misshapen.

 

[Gabri]

Can it stretch naturaly ? For example wearing some towles on the hips and the jacket. Maybe going to bed with the jacket

 

[Carlos840]

Can it stretch naturaly ? For example wearing some towles on the hips and the jacket. Maybe going to bed with the jacket

I don't think so...
For it to stretch the lining would have to stretch, the stitching would have to stretch, the leather would have to stretch, all at the same rate, i don't think that's possible.

Some people say they have done it, i would like to see before and after measurements, because in my experience it doesn't.

I am not saying leather as a material doesn't stretch, it does, if you take a square of leather, get it wet and stretch it on a piece of wood or something you will definitely get some stretch, similar to the deformation that happens on the elbows of leather jackets etc.
What i disagree with is the idea that the shoulders of a jacket or the biceps, or the bottom hem can be stretched.
IMO by the time you exert enough pressure to stretch leather in these areas you will be tearing seems and lining.

 

[robrinay]

The leather sprays you mention may be just alcohol and water as that’s an old cobblers trick for shoe stretching. I’ve used cheap tequila mixed with water to Stretch shoes wider. As mentioned elsewhere in this thread lining and stitching won’t stretch as much as leather so you risk breaking stitches and tearing lining material.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I think the idea that a leather jacket stretches stems from the break in and that a leather jacket can confirm to your body to some degree over time. As the jacket breaks in and conforms to your body, it feels more comfortable and therefore people feel as though it has stretched even though it probably hasn't.

 

[navetsea]

leather can stretch to a point otherwise we would have very ugly shoes, but it needs to be very wet, and then put on stretcher until dry on it. thick cotton or other natural fiber also can stretch to a point, thick jeans waistband will stretch a size after you wear it for awhile, so the key is just make it very wet, and put on either wear it to dry, or use pants stretcher on it and left it for hrs on it or maybe even days, but be careful not to create a bump or breaking stitches

 

[robrinay]

There was a post on here a few years ago explaining how a member stretched an A2 body by wetting the leather, stuffing it with cushions and waiting until it dried. He didn’t say if he broke stitches or ripped linings. I read it and tried to lengthen the sleeves on my Eastman M422a. The sleeves lengthened by about half an inch and the linings tore. The repairs cost me £50 and after a few weeks the sleeves shrank to their original too short length.

 

[Gabri]

@robrinay

You gave me an idea when you said that you brought the jacket for repair.
could a leather tailor do something ? Maybe he/she could open the seam on the right and left and sew in 1cm triangle pieces of leather.
just a flash of inspiration

 

[robrinay]

Matching the leather could be a problem?

 

[Gabri]

Matching the leather could be a problem?

Don't understand what you're trying to tell me

 

[Seb Lucas]

I don't think so...
For it to stretch the lining would have to stretch, the stitching would have to stretch, the leather would have to stretch, all at the same rate, i don't think that's possible.

Some people say they have done it, i would like to see before and after measurements, because in my experience it doesn't.

I am not saying leather as a material doesn't stretch, it does, if you take a square of leather, get it wet and stretch it on a piece of wood or something you will definitely get some stretch, similar to the deformation that happens on the elbows of leather jackets etc.
What i disagree with is the idea that the shoulders of a jacket or the biceps, or the bottom hem can be stretched.
IMO by the time you exert enough pressure to stretch leather in these areas you will be tearing seems and lining.

I have had a couple of jackets stretch that were too tight and hard to zip/do up buttons. Ended up I could zip/do up and they still fit trim but wearable But I never measured them to see before and after.

The problem here is that we have no real information or pictures to go with. Is it really just a cm at the waist or is it a more serious fit issue? We don't really know what Gabri's jacket issues are, what leather we are talking about (it's cowhide, but how thick?) and what the fit is like.

Gabri you probably need to commit to one solution experiment as a start here - and let's see the jacket and fit. Is it even worth spending money on jacket surgery?

Can you do up the jacket even if tight, wet it and wear it zipped for a couple of evenings and then see? That would be the sensible starting place with this issue.