For more on Levi’s 501xx Original Shrink to Fit Jeans, please see my other articles on the subject. Thank you to all the commenters for the great information and experience they have brought to these articles.
The FAQ
Boy oh boy, I’ll tell you I really had no idea. When I wrote the first Howto on shrinking Levi’s 501xx Shrink to Fit (STF) blue jeans I had no clue what a huge and fun topic it really was! I still feel like the 501xx is the best value in jeans out there today and certainly the most personal experience when compared to the pre-washed variety. Plus — and I don’t care how much you pay for them — new jeans that are manufactured with a “already worn” look will never look as good as a pair of well loved 501′s.
On just the two articles I have gotten close to 200 comments and questions from really insightful, curious, and knowledgeable people. Together I think we have all learned a lot about jeans based on our own experience and the research that everyone has put into it. I felt like it was about time to post another article with the highlights from these discussions. Keep commenting and keep breaking in those jeans!
- Can you quickly describe the best way to shrink your 501 Shrink to Fit jeans?
As a review, the generally accepted best way to shrink you 501xx’s is to:- Buy a new pair at your regular waist size and about 3 inches longer than you usually buy pants.
- Wear the stiff jeans until they become a bit softer.
- Draw a normal temperature bath and wear the jeans in the tub for about 30 minutes.
- Get out of the tub and continue to wear your jeans until they are dry.
- Wear your newly shrunk jeans for a while before washing them for the first time.
There are many more tweaks and aspects to understand about this process which I will hopefully answer in further detail below.
- Can I get my 501′s any slimmer?
501′s are a classic cut which is slightly straighter leg then is currently in syle for men’s jeans (skinny jeans for the most part). I have a few answers when people ask me this question:- Be sure to buy your STF’s at or below your waist size for a snug fit
- After your first soak before you wash your jeans, you can do a second tub soak which will shrink them further but not nearly as dramatically as the first soak.
- 501xx’s actually feel roomier than they look. Be sure to get some feedback from people you trust about how they look rather than just going by how they feel.
- As you wear and wash the jeans they will continue to change and mold to your body. Try wearing them for a while before giving up entirely on them.
- Hot water and hot dryers shrink jeans (and almost everything else). Boiling will also shrink them. Be warned though, you will lose a lot of indigo dye by treating them this severely. If you want a fadded look this will help the process along. If not be sure to turn them inside out or use colder water. Less dye means less contrast. see below for more on color.
- What size 501xx should I buy?
This is quite a common question. My advice is to get your regular waist size and your length +3 inches. I’m about 6 feet tall 155 lb and I get 31×36 for a perfect length. If you want to cuff or want really tight in the butt and thighs adjust length and waist an inch or two in the direction you want. Also check out the Sizing Tool. - How can I get a certain color or fade in my STF’s?
All STF’s may start out the same, but it’s entirely up to you on how they turn out. Basically, you can buy STF new in Indigo and Black, the former being the most common choice. How color and fade goes is simply: the more dye in the pant the darker it is. Contrast is when you purposely try to keep dark colors in some areas of the pant (inseam for example) and wear away color in other areas (thighs, whiskers, wallet outlines, etc). Basic rules of thumb are:- The first wash is the most important wash (after initial soaking)
- Washing the jeans will remove dye
- Soap removes more dye than just water
- The hotter the water is, the more dye it will remove
- Turning your pants inside out when washing will keep more dye than right-side out
- Dry cleaning will remove dye but not as dramatically as soap and water
People will go for 6 to 12 months wearing their jeans daily without washing. The longer you go between washings the greater the contrast you will have between the faded and non-faded areas of your jeans. The longer you can go the more character they will have. If the smell is too great for you, soaking them in cold water (with a bit of salt and vinegar, always inside out!) or dry cleaning may be an option if you want to keep the dry denim look (will remove dirt without removing much dye). If you go that long hot water will give the most contrast but will shrink more and will make them lighter than if you use warm water.
- What is the difference between Raw, Rigid, Dry, and Washed denim?
Let’s take them one at a time:- Raw denim is what you buy when you buy your new 501xx Shrink to Fits. This cotton denim has been completely untreated and unwashed which is why it will shrink so much during the first soak. It has a lighter hue than after the soak.
- Rigid and Dry denim are the same as far as I can tell. They are similar to the soaked STFs. Basically they are still quite stiff and will continue to shrink and change over time with washing but are much closer to the size they will remain. They may be stiff but in no time they will feel quite comfortable. Many jeans companies sell rigid jeans including wrangler for a similar price point and other for considerably more.
- Washed and Pre-washed 501′s have essentially been machine washed before you bought them. They feel like most jeans you have bought and worn in the past. The pre-washed 501′s it should be noted are different from the STF’s additionally because their inseam is sewn with a single stitch rather than the double stitch used for the STF’s. More on this later.
- I’m confused by this jean terminology! What is double/single stitching, double/single felled, selvedge, hidden rivets, denim weight, etc?
No sweat, I was confused too at first! Let’s take them one at a time:- Stitched and felled are terms used to describe the actual construction of the jeans. Levi’s Guidehas a great pictoral guide which I will try to recreate here. A single felled versus a double felled inseam would look like this:
Single Felled
Double Felled
For example the inseam (seam that runs down the inner thigh) on the 501xx STF is double felled whereas on the 501 Pre-Wash it is single. Single and Double stitching can either mean the same thing as fel or can be used to describe stitching that has been gone over more than once with thread.
- Selvedge describes how the denim fabric itself was made. On regular 501xx’s if you look inside the pant leg, the outseam will have stitching in place to keep the edge of the fabric from fraying. Jeans that use selvedge fabric instead have a solid white edge which is the actual edge of the fabic on the loom where it was woven. Here’s a picture of selvedge edging to give you an idea:
This is red line selvedge on vintage 501′s. The purpose of selvedge is mainly for looks and to denote a jean that is perhaps higher quality and of finer craftsmanship (although there is a slight strength advantage over non-selvedge jeans). There are new and vintage Levi’s jeans that have selvedge which are described below and are much more expensive than the standard 501xx STF. -
Hidden rivets are rivets that cannot be seen from the outside of the jean because they are covered with denim. You can check on the inside of the jean to see the hidden rivets. The current 501xx STF do not have any hidden rivets though in the past Levi’s have used them from time to time. Hidden rivets main purpose is to denote a vintage pair of Levi’s or Levi’s of finer craftsmanship.
-
Denim weight is a characteristic of the thickness and heavy-dutiness of the denim fabric (thread count, density, etc). 501xx STF jeans currently use a denim of 12.5 oz. Denim weight and cotton origin and quality are often used to separate quality of jeans. 12.5 oz is pretty average and 501xx STF for the price are by far the best value for this quality of raw denim.
- Stitched and felled are terms used to describe the actual construction of the jeans. Levi’s Guidehas a great pictoral guide which I will try to recreate here. A single felled versus a double felled inseam would look like this:
- Do 501xx have selvedge/hidden rivets/heavy wieght denim/etc?
Standard $30 501 STF’s current are a pretty basic jean and do not come with some of the bells and whistles that people look for in more expensive raw/rigid denim pants. Levi’s does however have a line called Levi’s Vintage Clothing (LVC) that sells very high quality replicas of vintage 501′s for about the $300 price range. Besides ebay for — mostly already shrunk — genuine vintage Levi’s, LVC’s are a great choice for someone looking for a particular style or a high quality selvedge/heavy weight demin jean. LVC 501′s are usually named by the year they are replicating (for example a popular choice is 1966 501 or the 1947 501). - Where can I buy STF’s?
I really enjoy going to the brick and morter Levi’s Stores and trying on the pants before buying. Here are some other great options:- The Online Levi’s Store is of course an option but is usually more expensive and may not have the selection of raw sizes you are looking for
- Sheplers is the choice of many of the people here because of their great size selection, discounts, and coupons
- Langston is another great choice for the standard 501xx
- Bargains Avenue
- Cultizm is a fantastic resource for expensive and high quality denim
- Ebay Store for Jeans (thanks Klaus!)
- Denim Express (thanks Klaus!)
- Jeans Direct (thanks Steve!) for the heavier weight (~14oz), pre-shrunk, european made 501′s
- What about vintage Levi’s?
Vintage Levi’s is an absolutely huge topic that I only have a cursory knowledge of. There is a fantastic site: Levi’s Guide that should certainly get you started if you are interested. Let us know what you find out! - Where can I repair my Levi’s?
If your favorite jeans are getting hole-y, be sure to send them to denim therapy. They are a way better option than your local tailor and do excellent work. That’s one of the disadvantages of heavily breaking in jeans, but now there’s this great option for repair. Do it today.
That’s all I have for now. Keep the comments and questions coming and keep loving your jeans!
Ned, GREAT how-to articles!!! I finally bought my first pair of stf’s, searched everywhere for the right way to handle them, and yours are the best tips, period… Thanks! Below is a link to a great site, Denim Therapy. You mentioned somewhere on your comments that you tossed an old pair of 501′s after the seat was trashed. Maybe they can help next time? Not sure what the rates are, but worth a shot if it means holding on to your favorite pants that much longer… All the best!
http://www.denimtherapy.com/default.asp?contentID=1
@Domani: Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad you are “getting in the tub”…I think you will really enjoy your new stf’s. Let us know how it goes with them! Thanks for the link, it looks like a great service I will definitely look into them. I think it was a mistake to toss those jeans — I’ve been kicking myself for it — won’t happen again! I think a STF mistakes article is forthcoming. Welcome to the crew.
Hey Ned. I really like the site. I first bought Levis 501 two years ago, hoping to get them to have that tight 1980s look. I bought the pre-shrunk and did not know that STFs existed. I just recently bought my first STFs. I wear 30×34 but bought 32×36. They were too baggy. I went ahead and tried on 30×36 and 31×36 and went with the 31s because the 30s seemed that they would kill me with tightness. I’ll report back on the 31×36. I’ve worn them in the bath once, but have yet to give them a chance. Great site!
@samk: Thanks Sam! Trial and error was the only way I got the hang of the STF’s. Try making the baggy pair into shorts, that’s what I did with my mistakes. Best of luck and let us know how it goes!
The post is dead-on, excellent. Also, I think that if you want a slightly slimmer fit, you can go 1 inch under your natural waist. They will stretch back out to fit your natural waist but may stay slimmer in the thigh.
I agree Ted, thanks for pointing this out!
Why is my experience with STF 517s contrary to all the Web chatter about picking sizes for 501xx STFs? I buy 517 STFs with the same label size I do my prewashed versions, and they’re always so long I can only hope they shrink enough to stop dragging the pavement. Are these produced differently? My experience would imply they’re cut to pattern before being washed–either at the factory or by me.
Second question: why does everyone think that hot water in a bathtub is somehow superior to the same hot water you get on the “Hot” cycle of your washer. Add a 10 or 20 minute soak cycle, and you have the same effect, right?
Thanks.
Hi Stuart! I’m not aware of 517 shrink to fits? could you post a link? the 501xx STF’s are different from most jeans you buy at the store because they are raw denim and actually do shrink inches when you wash them at home for the first time. I know you can shrink other jeans a bit in hot water but not nearly as dramatically as the 501xx’s. Using your washer will certainly shrink your jeans, however wearing them while shrinking them (bathtub method) gives you the added benefit of a custom shrink to your body shape. Thanks for the comment!
At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Levis%C2%AE-517%C2%AE-Boot-Jean-unwashed/dp/B00016QOIK/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1237137668&sr=8-1.
Select the option “Rigid (unwashed)”. They arrive with the Shrink-to-Fit label, and they are identical to the rigid Shrink-to-Fits I’ve seen all my life, including Shrink-to-Fit 517s I bought at a reputable Levi’s dealer in 2003 .
I don’t buy them with a bigger-than-usual label (as many posts imply), they just are big until I wash them a couple of times. Then they’re identical to other pre-shrunk 517s with the same label measurements. Total shrinkage 2-3″ inseam and 1-2″ waist. But I don’t buy them with a larger tag size, they just come unshrunk until I wash them.
As far as the shrinking to my body, the shrink is in the drying, so I machine wash them in hot water, put them on wet, and wear them on a sunny day until they’re dry.
Thanks for the link, Stuart! I wasn’t aware that Levi’s had rigid 517′s. I think the confusion lies in the fact that the 501 shrink to fits are raw denim which is pre-soaked (not pre-washed) rigid denim. Most of your shrink will come from the first soak of the 501 STF. For rigid denim they may loose an inch in length in the first wash or over time. “pre-shrunk” is the term levi’s uses for pre-washed 501′s and does not mean they are rigid. I agree that buying rigid denim in your correct size (or 1 inch long) is the correct choice. Also, “shrinking” them on your body is not going to provide the kind of results that it will with raw denim. Thanks for your comments!
Are you saying the 517s are different than the 501s, because they both carry the same "Shrink-to-Fit" label, they’re both large when new, and they both arrive so stiff they’re hard to put on. I just don’t understand why somebody would buy them with a tag larger than usual. They arrive larger than usual, and if you upped the tag size, they’d be doubly large and never "shrink-to-fit."
Thanks!
sounds like my guess wasn’t right! i don’t have any experience with the 517 shrink to fits, so i’ll have to check them out. Thanks for the comments.
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selvedge jeans are the best i have ,i love them
Mine have the “Levis 501 Shrin-to-Fit” printed on the tag, but this last two pairs does NOT have the “XX” on the tag. And they came from the same online store (FortWestern), which is very reputable. Do you suppose I got something other than the original STF? Thanks.
My husband has always worn 501XX. The last pair he bought, did not have the XX and when they were washed, they shrank up way too short. They also did not fit right in the butt. So for Christmas, he wants some new levis and I have not been able to find any in his size with the XX. All the store clerks say that the XX is on the tag and that the XX that is stamped on the tag is just an extra. Does anyone know what the difference is between the shrink to fit 501XX and the shrink to fit 501? Also, where is the best place to find the ones with the XX, or have they discontinued marking the tag like I have been told more than once. Thanks
I’ve heard that there is no difference between the 501 and 501XX now, that it just varies by factory. However, I’ve also heard that the some pairs fit slimmer than others.
I got my 501XX’s from http://www.langstons.com/lev501rigins.html
FWIW:
I’m 5’8″ 125 lbs, got 28×32′s I did a “presoak” on my washing machine (Hot/Cold and Delicate) which soaked them and spun them dry, then wore them in front of the fireplace until they dried (I live in the cold northeast and we were having a blizzard). I’d recommend this to anyone trying to shrink their 501s in the winter.
Just wanted to let everyone know that I have a new post up:
One Year Jeans and Washing Tips
It’s an in depth post showing progress of a pair of jeans over the course of a year and will answer all your washing questions when it comes to levi’s 501′s. Be sure to leave a comment!
what is the differense with 501 and 501xx
From what i’ve read on these forums, i can safely say that the ’501XX’ designation is for jeans made prior to around fall 2008. After which LS&Co changed the nomenclature to simply ’501′. Keep in mind, though, that some jeans would still come with the ’501XX’ designation for a few/several months after the change period. As for other differences like cut etc i cannot tell you.
I purchased the 501 STF to try. I used to wear the 501′s long ago. I have purchased other brands and I think what I liked the most are the GAP 1962′s. Back to the STF’s.
I have read many of the posts, I wear a 35/32 so I purchased a 36/34. Tub of hot water and a 20 minute bath followed by a 30 minutes walk on them. From what I hear, given that I live in Miami, that perhaps I should do another soaking in the morning and just keep them on while outside and let them dry naturaly.
Now a question, what’s better; take a bath with them, or have them soak in hot water for 20-30 minutes and then put them on and let them dry. I like the soaking on their own idea. Thoughts?
Thanks
PS: I purchased the light blue. I should not have listened to the wife. Ordering a new pair of indigos
Hey guys, I wear a 30×30 true size. The sizing tool tells me to buy a 30×33. I don’t cuff my jeans, so do you guys think I could get away with ordering a 30×32? I’m short and skinny so I’m looking for a slimmer fit.
While this may be a little late thus irrelevant somewhat, I’d like to point out a minor mistake you’ve made.
Raw and Dry denim mean the exact same thing, just a synonymous term which are freely used throughout. They call it raw/dry because it hasn’t been tampered with (fake creases and destruction) and because it hasn’t been washed.
Your definition of rigid is correct however. To be more specific, Rigid can be one rinse/one wash denim. One rinse denims are denim with the dye locked onto the colour via some means, and will not fade (read: will not fade easily like raw denim). One wash denims have been washed one time (as name implies) eliminating any (or at least any significant amount) shrinking when washed, but fade similarly to raw denim. And yes, they both are usually if not always stiff on purchase.
Finally, not all raw denim shrink a lot (as you’ve stated for the definition of raw, assuming you were speaking in general for all raw denim). Denims like 501xx, and the raw LVC, and certain samurais and whatnot shrink a lot in first wash is because they are unsanforized thus require that first wash to shrink it to the desirable size. Majority of raw denim today are sanforized and thus do not require this shrinking process.
(My correctness can be confirmed via simple Googling).
Besides those, spectacular guide as I’ve been looking into helping a friend purchase his first raw denim (why not break raw denim virginity with good old cost efficient levi?) and was quite confused as to the sizing as I heard mixed opinions.
Thanks!
I just bought my first pair of 501XX’s soaked them on and in the tub. They’re hanging on the line. Thanks for the instructions!
GREAT SITE NED – thankyou for the efforts and information. Could you please orient me to the difference between 501xx and the 501 Selvedge jeans – I live in Iowa – no levi’s stores around – and cannot determine this independently. The website (levis) is sufficiently opaque about the issue was well . . . .
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
THANKS
Hey Steve, there are 501 stf selvedge jeans you can get for about $90. They work the same as the 501 stf that are about $35 but are made with selvedge demin and the cut is slightly more flattering. I highly recommend them but if it is your first pair i’d recommend going with a cheaper one until you get the process down. Currently I only wear the 501 selvedge and 511′s in various finishes. Good luck!
Okay I’m confused. I always thought that one buys these 1 inch larger in the waist and 3 inches longer on the length. It sounds like some of the comments are saying buy your actual waist size? What is it? I’m currently trying to shrink mine and I already screwed up as i couldn’t imagine actually putting on a pair of wet jeans for hours? Why do they shrink differently when worn? Is this an urban myth?
I can say from the last two pairs I bought, one black, one indigo ,that the black pair shrunk differently.Go figure?I also think that the length shrinks more like 2 inches vs 3? I was too afraid to try buying shorter as I would hate to waste a pair of jeans as I am not too rich but I don’t like my pants too long.
In the end they still are a good fit , but not the “perfect fit” and I am a perfectionist!
Next time (hopefully in summer) I’ll have to try that wearing them wet as all you people can’t be wrong?
Alfredo, I know that the wearing them wet and having them dry on your body is best done standing up (walking) than sitting down. Recently (this winter) I put on one pair of STF and soaked in the bathtub, then sat at my desk until they dried. Bad move. The knees dried in the stretched out position. When I stood up the knees were bulging out. It looked ridiculous. I even hung them up and hoped that those knee bulges would go away; I wore them about thinking they’d return to normal with a bit of wear. The only way I could get rid of the knee bulges was by washing them again and hanging them up to dry.
So if you’re going to get wet and dry them on your body, I’d recommend doing this while going for a walk on a hotter day.
Regarding the issue with the waist: A lot of STF wearers have found that the waist does indeed shrink one size with the initial soak, BUT… this easily stretches back out with wear. So when you first put them on, they’ll be a bit tight around the waist. If you go for the Levis recommendation (one size up in the waist), you’ll most likely have jeans that fit *perfect* after shrinking but soon stretch out and end up a bit too baggy. Some people with really low body fat size down so when they shrink they jeans are really tight; with wear they stretch back out (which looks great standing up and posing against a wall but causes some problems when doing anything physical such as walking or-God forbid- sitting down).
Hey! This website helped me out! I always look for xx’s on ebay since they quit making my size in the 90′s {29 38} I’ve been wearing levi’s forever, and don’t want to stop! I found them at the western wear places for awhile, then they stopped my length. 36 is a tad too short. this is the only style of jean I did not wear in high school. Now I love it! {how many women out there wearing these?] I was confused seeing the 501′s unwashed with no xx. I thought 28 waist wasn’t even made anymore! I bought a pair, the waist was perfect, but they shrunk the 3 inches! So if I had washed them in cold water, and not dried them, would they not shrink as much? On a 36 length, I can stand 2 inch shrinkage. {easier size to find} On the xx’s, I have luck with 1 up waist size. Mine don’t stretch. I like the tub, but the best is-spray yourself with the hose when it’s 90, and mow the lawn.
I got my first pair of shrink-to-fit jeans. I normally wear 36×34 (it neverminds when they are shorter, because I wear them with small turnups), so I bought tag size 36×36. Their real measurement was 38×36, they fit ok in waist but totally baggy over calves (had 9″ leg opening). I soaked them inside-out in very hot tube with 2 spoons of salt for about 2.5 hours. Not much indigo was lost, they are still very dark blue, but they didn’t shrink as I thought. They are still a little bit damp, the denim is stiff but they don’t stand on the floor at all as I saw at this website. They measure 35×35 now with 8.8″ leg opening. I had an imagination they will shrunk to something like 35×33 (I know waist will stretch) with 8.5″ leg opening. I will try to put them in washing mashine at 60°C when they dry completely and see what will happen.
Super website. Bought my 501xx at Sheplers (2 pairs), and I live in the UK. ~$30 shipping and $35 tax! Still ok value for here tho’! (and unavailable otherwise)
As yet un-shrunk, I am wearing a pair now. Because they’re unshrunk, they are ~2.5 inches too long, so have long cuffs. Apart from looking a bit silly, I’m concerned that the folds of the cuffs will become proper “folds” in the fabric and fade etc. I can’t see a way around this, other than to “get in the bath”, something I’m not looking forward to!!
Been wearing them unshrunk for ~2 weeks, most days, perhaps it is time to get in the bath. It is February tho’, and a little cold for wandering around in soaking wet jeans!
Cheers!
Andy
After purchasing my 22nd pair of Levi 501′s (my first when i was 13 years old in 1970), i’ve seen a great deal of changes in the manufacturing process of this icon. My brother-in -law was a London ‘Mod’ in the 1960′s and went to great lengths to make sure he shrank his Carnaby Street-bought Levi’s to the correct size and so introduced me to this extraordinary (and somewhat uncomfortable) custom. He used to drive his parents crazy, lying on the divan upon endless numbers of towels, whilst the denim shrank. We also had the Wrangler and Lee brands, etc – but Levi’ were the ones to be seen in. In the mid to late 1970′s, the supply of ‘red-tag’ 501′s had all but dried up on our side of the Atlantic, so a few of us made the pilgrimage to the U.S.A in search of our ‘holy grail’. Alas, they were becoming very hard to find. This led to a large number of second-hand denim shops opening in the U.K., with original ‘Big E’ red-tag 501′s changing hands for a lot of money. But that’s another story. . . . Nowadays, as everyone ‘in the know’ knows, Levi’s 501 XX Vintage are available, – BUT, whilst looking the same as the originals, there is something to be aware of when putting them into your washing machine. The famous leather patch on the back of the jeans is printed with a red ink that isn’t resistant to many modern wash powders and detergents. This is something that i took up personally with Levi’s in California, so they’ve now changed the washing instructions on the care label inside the left leg of the jeans. After test, Levi’s are now advising the use of a soft liquid soap at a 30 degrees centigrade cool wash. This will protect the printing on the leather patch and not cause the leather itself to perish. I still have a pair of ‘big E’s’ from thirty years ago, and they’ve been washed in every type of detergent going, – but still the leather patch remains intact (albeit a little faded, of course). The normal 501 red-tag jeans bear a patch that is made from compressed fibre and doesn’t bear the wording ‘Every Garment Guaranteed’, above ‘Lot 501 XX’. But that’s progress, i suppose. Rolls Royce wouldn’t dream of producing cars bearing a plastic model angel atop the front grille, so why should Levi’s sell-out ? It’s part of their heritage. We in the U.K. hope they long continue to produce jeans and jackets in the original way.
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You are seriously wanting them to shrink fast:
boil in water with salt, then cook’m in the oven for an hour @350′F
Thanks for all the great information, and for updating it to FAQ. So glad I can find 501s that fit me. Used to wear waist 27 in high school and could get them in all lengths, then suddenly they were not for women and girls anymore and smaller sizes were gone. Then Levi’s only had boyfriend jeans, women’s jeans, etc., now finally with a larger waist size and more 501 availability, I am back in the 501 saddle.
Bought my latest STF at JCPenney’s (great price, btw, $23.40!), want them in dark indigo blue but also in colors. Found Mexican made 501 there in a sort of dark tan color. Tried soaking and drying while wearing over the weekend – the 1″ larger waist size did not shrink enough. The second pair I bought in my regular, good-fitting waist size (30 x 34). I am wearing them right now and they fit great, before soaking. Of course I don’t want them to shrink in the waist, only in the length. I understand that they will shrink only to my body size if I wear them while they dry, but after I do this a couple of times, do I have to never dry them in the dryer in order to keep them fitting properly?
Especially as these are a lighter color, don’t think I can go for long periods of time without washing. I am used to washing my jeans every week for cleanliness and to keep them from getting baggy, but I can learn to adjust for a pair of well-fitting 501s.
Basic question is: Is there a built-in amount of shrinkage in the jeans, that is just waiting there to happen when you finally wash them in the washer and dry them in the dryer? Or does the shrinkage only happen in the first two or three wettings (from soaking, bathtub washing, washer washing, swimming, whatever) and then it stops, even if you wash them in the washer and dry them in the dryer?
Sorry for so long – you see where I’m going…once I’ve done the soak and wear ’til dry exercise a few times, am I done and then can wash them in cold water and dry them in the dryer? Or for the rest of the life of the jeans am I always washing them in cold water and hanging to dry?
Thanks so much for all the great input. I can see that I will never buy anything but STF 501s! Okay, except for white 501s that I can dye in colors.
I just found this site and have worn 501′s daily for about 43 years (since I was 12 you do the math LOL) my question is: I like the idea of bathtub shrinkage, I’ve lost 20 pounds so I need a new better fit BUT I have already machine washed a couple pairs 501xx ( turned inside out) in hot water/hot dryer BUT have not worn them yet and was wondering if the bath tub custom butt hugging strategy would still work or have I lost that magic ? thanks and enjoy the zipper free lifestyle.
Hello Ned,
Given that the rigid STF 501s are more true to size after intial washing, what size would you recommend if I wear a 32X32 pant size? Thanks much and you have a great blog!
Hi! I bought a pair of 1947 levi’s broken down 501s a few days ago, new in 28×32. I usually wear a 28 but not may sizes were available. They were barely closeable at first, which is silly and uncomfortable. But I’m wearing them now and they are only a smidgen tighter then I might want, and I expect them to loosen even more as I wear them. Here’s what I did stretch the waist line of the jeans:
-put on jeans, did some stretching in them to loosen them up.
-crammed as much of a washcloth as I could wedge into the right side waist. Repeated for the left side (much tougher at that point due to the doing it on the right side!).
-filled tub with hot water, got book, sat in tub 10 mins, did some reading.
-emptied tub, waited a few mins for excess water to run off pants, dried off top of body, hair, etc. Oh I also stood in the hot water of the shower a bit, why not. No soap, though!
-Laid out two big towels, one atop the other, and did some lunges (held them for a bit), switching sides. This squeezed a lot of excess water out of the crotch.
-wore them a few more hours, sitting on the towels or doing some lunches or stepping up on a chair to stretch the legs.
-At some point I crammed some more washcloth into the waist, careful not to let it drop below the waistline where it wouldn’t help stretch the waist.
-I also moved the washcloths to the front waist and back for a bit.
When I got tired of wearing damp jeans, without undies of course, I took them off. Then I:
-left them unbuttoned, and pushed a wooden hanger into the waist. I buttoned the top button and pulled the hanger up, one side at a time, until it was wedged in the waist.
-Then I hung them up in the hanger’s hook to air dry!
When I put them on again a few hours later they fit very nicely in the waist. I hope this is helpful – there are SO many postings about shrinking 501s but nothing really specific about stretching them. Oh I did see something about a car jack, which may have influenced my hanger idea….
I found a good way to shrink STF 501′s without having to go in a Bath. It has to be winter time when the heat is on. I would get up against the radiador while wearing My new Levis and get them real Hot till my skin just starts to Burn. Then I’ll switch to a different position, Front, Back, Side, etc. This was in the 70′s. I’m not sure if the Levis though of today shrink like the one’s of years ago, but you can try it. I used to get them form fitting doing that.