Help! I *need* to shrink my jeans :D

SwipernoSwiping

Loosing weight is great till it comes to replacing my clothes... stupidly I bought some skinny jeans not a month ago while on holiday. I am rather fond of them...
they won't stay UP any more - and they certainly ain't skinny. What they are though is very bold coloured.
I have been using a belt but now it just looks silly.

I do have a 1920s sewing machine tucked away - it doesn't have a denim needle and I wouldn't know where to get one to fit, so I am assuming the only way forward is to shrink them.
A hot wash and a very cold rinse has been suggested ... but I am open to other OS ways as I worry that this will seep the colour from them.
Any ideas?
Thank you all in advance!

[Deleted User]

I remember back in 1959 sitting in the bath wearing my first pair of jeans and hoping they would shink to fit my skinny shanks I was in those days extremely rake-like
(Oh to be like that again)I had bought the smallest pair I could find and they were still baggy everywhere.I think in those days I had around a 21" waist and no bottom to speak of at all I think I weighed about 7 stone and was 5'6" tall.
Sadly time and children have altered my shape dramatically since then :) Have a doughnut or three if you can't shink them
P.S. it did shink them quite a bit but it was a bit uncomfortable at the time

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Unlike jeans which I believe they now make pre-shrunk... sewing needles haven't changed much in years... what make is the machine?

PixieDust

braces :-D

valk_scot

Yes, most domestic sewing machines of that era take the standard moderm machine needles. If it's a 1920's domestic Singer I can guarantee a modern 1x15 flat side needle will fit.

Ms_Chocaholic

Can you not sell them on Ebay and buy off Ebay the next size down; that's what I did with a Next pair, size 16 to a size 12, wooohooo x

SwipernoSwiping

It is a Singer - converted to electric, have broken a needle or two in the past so was very wary of trying to do anything with these.
Braces are working from time to time Loathed to sell these on ebay...won't get anything like them here But that is the final option!
Thanks guys!

heartbreak_star

Try the bath thing, I still did it even in my teens when I had curves rather than rolls, haha!

HBS x

valk_scot

shellieholly wrote: »

It is a Singer - converted to electric, have broken a needle or two in the past so was very wary of trying to do anything with these.
Braces are working from time to time Loathed to sell these on ebay...won't get anything like them here But that is the final option!
Thanks guys!

Needles tend to break for one of two main reasons...either they're too lightweight for the fabric you're sewing or you're trying to push or pull the fabric through faster than the stitch sequence allows. If ypu're sewing thick fabric or multiple layers use the pressure foot adjustment knob on the top of the machine to lighten the pressure on the foot, that will mean you don't have to cram the fabric into a tight gap. A 1920s Singer can cope with six or eight layers of tent canvas remember, the seams in a pair of jeans will be nothing to it given the right needle.

Swampmonster

You could possibly get a friend to pin you in them when they are inside out so they are nice and tight and sew new leg seams.

I'm no expert but i'm sure i have seen something like this on pinterest or youtube.

Good luck

Ches

If they are 100% cotton try tumble drying them. Shrinks most things.