I got the easy method dudes and dudettes! You need a carjack though! You seen the Ebay stretcher right? This is better for a number of reasons. 1) If you already have a jack you got 3/4 of everything you need - so no cost involved. 2) This method stretches the CRAP out of your jean's waistline.
You need:
1 - A compact-car car jack. These are the scissors type jacks that have a long bolt running through them. As you twist the bolt the center of the jack rises from the base. These are pretty small and light but powerful as %$#@! You may want to clean the jack of any grease that may come in contact with expensive material. Or wrap it in an old cotton T or something.
2 - A length of wood (2x4) OR if you are a percussionist, as I am, a 14" tom hoop. If you don't have a tom hoop you can improvise with the wood. The wood should be about 14" in my case - my waist is 35". You may need a shorter or longer piece, once you see what you are getting into you can make a decision.
3- tape measure.
Instructions:
Take your jeans and put them in hot bath water and let them soak for about 10-15 mins. You want the thread of the jeans to get saturated through. After the soak, wring them out.
Prepare a place on your floor or porch, or someplace where the jeans can lay until they dry.
Fasten the jeans waistline button and zip them up. You want to stretch the waistline and below the waistline too to ensure a comfortable fit.
If using wood: A. Take jack and turn the bolt on the jack to make the jack top raise from the base enough to slip the wood through the scissors of the jack. When you do this properly, you will create something of a cross or large X, with the wood going through the jack. B. Lay your jeans on the space you have prepared flat, with the front button and zipper in the UP position and the back pockets on the surface of the table or floor. C. Slip your hand into the waistline under the button and lift it up. D. Slip the jack and wood contraption into the gap. The wood should extend within the waistline from the left hip to the right hip. The base of the jack should be within the waistline and sitting on the table or floor (material between base and surface). The top of the jack should be within the waistline and pressed up against the back of the button. E. The 'X' in the illustration below is the bolt of the jack. Once set up properly, as you turn the bolt the jack will raise higher, stretching between the back of the jeans and the front button. Use a tape measure to measure the waistline. Then, raise the jack until the material stretches to the desired length. (I stretched a pair of CINCH jeans with a 29" waistline 7" up to a 36" waistline!) Let pants dry with contraption in them.
Button
-------- ( Top of jack)
||
||
||
Left hip ========X======== (Wood through scissors) Right hip
||
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---------
Back of jeans
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Floor
Be careful not to exert too much pressure with the jack. You can easily break the button, break the zipper, or tear the material if not careful. You may want to do the waistline over night, then slide the contraption further into the pants on a second stretch to stretch the butt out.
If using drum hoop: Substitute hoop for wood. Put hoop into waistline, Put jack through hoop. See picture!
GOOD LUCK ALL!! HOPE I HELPED SOMEONE OUT!
Edited by Odisey - 6/30/11 at 6:33pm
