double query - printing on jeans and baggy sweater help

Brie

OK so I've treated myself to some long overdue new clothes. And have a couple of problems.

Scratchy printing on the inside of jeans - lovely new pair of jeans, proper jeans not lycra or shredded or whatever and they fit me properly too. So perfect right? Yes except that for some reason there is some large printing inside on the left side pocket. Some cutesy message printed with what you get on some tshirts. And it is really scratchy against my thigh. Really scratchy. Admittedly I have sensitive skin so I do have to find a solution or stop wearing these. So does anyone know of a way to remove the printing? I've got tshirts 20 years old, worn and washed multiple times that still have their printing on them. Could I shave this printing off? Or should I simply replace (somehow???) the pocket?

Baggy cotton sweater. Lovely and comfortable, perfect to wear with the jeans above. But. The sleeves are a bit long (think it's the style) which automatically makes me push them up to my elbows (no I won't stop doing this). And the more I do this the more it stretches at the wrist which makes it look more baggy. Now I could fold the sleeves up but this wasn't the look I was going for. So is there a way to weave/sew elastic at around the cuffs so that even when the cotton itself stretches the elastic would snug things back into place. Needs to be done in a way that my aforementioned sensitive skin won't be bothered (cotton being a thing that doesn't bother me.)

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6664491/double-query-printing-on-jeans-and-baggy-sweater-help

Have you tried washing the jeans (or just the pocket) to see if it will soften?

AI suggests trying nail polish remover if it's a plastic-y print, as it on the inside any staining from this would be hidden...

QrizB

So does anyone know of a way to remove the printing?

If you're at all handy with a needle and thread, could you stitch a patch of a different fabric over the top of the print?

Brie

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81965977#Comment_81965977

I suppose nail polish remover is a cheap enough purchase to be worth trying. Last time I had any was when I took an old bottle of it in to work because someone had used permanent markers on the white board.

YBR

Probably a few washes will help soften things but you could either tack some softer fabric over the printing so that it's no longer against the skin, or unpick the picket and replace that but of pocket fabric with something else.

I have sewn elastic into things to counteract stretching, but I'm not sure it'll work for sensitive skin. Perhaps try it and see? Remember you need your sewing stitch to be stretchy so zig-zag rather than a straight stitch unless you have elastic thread.

Brie

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81965999#Comment_81965999

I was considering that as an option. Maybe some thick brushed cotton would do the trick.

Brie

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81966003#Comment_81966003

I don't think the washing will do it - I had hoped it might go in one but washing hasn't made a jot of a difference to how it feels.

I presume for the sweater you are suggesting I use a sewing machine which I decluttered a few decades back and have since stuck to hand sewing. Would you advocate sewing some sort of pocket around the inside of the sleeve and putting elastic in that? It's annoying as it's a lovely sweater and on day one of wearing it looked great which pleased me as my OH is a bit of a peacock and always looks so perfectly turned out. I struggle to keep up!!

twopenny

Depending on what the print is trying putting a few paper towels inside covering the pocket and use a hot iron , press, hold, release a few times. That can release some of the printing stuff into the paper towels.

Used to do this in the old days to release sticky stuff or when using sticky tape to hem jeans.

Or stitch some thin felt over it. Just hand tack as it won't be visible. The printing should soften with washing.

Cotton jumpers stretch like crazy. You could thread a needle with sheering elastic to match the jumper and weave it through the stitches from the inside then knot when you've gone round.

Over the years I've used sheering elastic to tighten cloth slippers, a length knotted in a loop to hold polo necked sweaters collar in place and all sorts. This is what it looks like https://www.sewessential.co.uk/collections/shirring-elastic but available at sewing shops I'd suggest because it can be really fine which is better. Some of the stuff advertised is too thick

YBR

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81966010#Comment_81966010

I don't necessarily envisage using a sewing machine as the same thing applies if you hand sew - any stitching or added fabric needs to work with the stretch of the sweater. Sewing a channel to put elastic in seems a bright idea.

Emmia

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81966002#Comment_81966002

You could buy some polish remover pads if you don't want a whole bottle of polish.

Sarahspangles

If you do try nail polish remover, do a patch test first. I used some on navy cotton and it left a circular ‘greasy’ mark that hasn’t washed out ie it isn’t grease, more some kind of chemical reaction with the dye.