IHV-21 - Flannel Bonded Indigo Denim Type III Vest
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@sabergirl thank you
@browniemcghee I agonised over sizing with this and felt I’d got it wrong initially (when the other sizes had gone of course). It’s so great that the only thing to do was to find out how to use it
It’s one of those IH products that reminds me of H.P. Lovecraft (it’s a thing that should not be). I don’t know what H and G were thinking when they put this together but it was a moment of inspired madness. The 18oz is stiff and dense already, add all the construction stitching and thick seams of a type three then bond flannel to it. Bond mind you, not just a sewn lining. What the effective weight of the final composite is I don’t know but it’s a tough, heavy, stubborn, S.O.B.
@RoxRocks86 It does indeed. It’s had a bit (tends to come on cabin trips and travel days with me), but it needs more. Much more. It can take a kicking without a doubt.
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I’ve never considered wearing a vest but you have me rethinking that.
It’s a whole new and exciting rabbit hole. Lot’s of different styles and ways to fit and layer. This thread (which I’ve been sadly neglecting) might offer some inspiration:
https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9386.msg474425#msg474425
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For the honourable few who own this vest (there were very few made) I have some interesting news. The received wisdom has been that despite being raw(ish) the bonded lining retards the inherent shrinkage in the 18oz denim. I've accepted this as reasonable but after a stint as a work vest while renovating a room this had finally gotten dirty enough for a wash.
I decided to hot soak it with a little washing powder and some agitation (it was mostly sawdust and grime) and after it had been in the water for an hour I came upon an idea. The vest has always been a size bigger than I would have liked, at best I could wear it over a hoodie but it was possible to fit it over a deck jacket. So I figured that while it was wet a tour through the machine on 90C wouldn't hurt it and it might be warm enough to shrink the lining thereby allowing the denim to shrink also.
Turns out I was right. And then some. I lost a couple of cm's in length about the same in the chest and shoulders. It had finally softened up over the last few weeks but is now stiff as fekk. But it fits so much better and will see a lot more wear now. I'm happy as a pig in shit
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Sounds like an ideal outcome. Glad it worked out.
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@rocket @motojobobo cheers guys. I'm so glad the hot wash worked out. Feel like I've got a brand new favourite piece