Carhartt Canvas

[Yaish]

To soften my Workmans Utilikilt I just wash and then put it in the dryer on no heat. The tumbling softens it and if you take it out when the cycle is done it doesnt wrinkle.

Its the thing I've found that works best. After a run in the cold dryer the material is about as soft as the average pair of heavy jeans. Adding any sort of heat though, either from the dryer or an iron will stiffen it back up though.

[Southern Breeze]

Thanks for the advice so far.If you're the regimental type,buy a hardhat for MR HAPPY when wearing a kilt made from this stuff.

[Miah]

Sta-flo starch, I know it is odd but soak it in heavy starch.

Soak it and then let it hang dry. after it is all kinds of supper stiff toss it in the dryer on low heat with a ball or something.

The starch will make it so stiff that when it gets tossed around in the dryer it will help break up the fabric enough to sofften it.

[Southern Breeze]

Just so everyone knows-this is the raw fabric,it hasn't been made into a kilt yet.I have a workmans uk and this stuff is ten times stiffer than it.
I may have found a way to really soften it up though.I took a small piece to work today and put it in a cement mixer.I added some downy,water and a couple handfuls of smooth river rock.After turning on the mixer and letting it run for ten minutes,the sample was soft and as a bonus had that stonewashed look.I'm going to do this with the first piece of fabric before I make a kilt from it and see how it turns out.

[Alan H]

Just so everyone knows-this is the raw fabric,it hasn't been made into a kilt yet.I have a workmans uk and this stuff is ten times stiffer than it.
I may have found a way to really soften it up though.I took a small piece to work today and put it in a cement mixer.I added some downy,water and a couple handfuls of smooth river rock.After turning on the mixer and letting it run for ten minutes,the sample was soft and as a bonus had that stonewashed look.I'm going to do this with the first piece of fabric before I make a kilt from it and see how it turns out.

Brilliant idea. Good on ya.

I just washed mine again and dried it on "no heat" like Yaish suggested. It does feel a bit easier to work with now.

Next time I'm going to throw it in the drier with a couple of tennis shoes and let it slam around for an hour or so.

[Southern Breeze]

Brilliant idea. Good on ya.

I just washed mine again and dried it on "no heat" like Yaish suggested. It does feel a bit easier to work with now.

Next time I'm going to throw it in the drier with a couple of tennis shoes and let it slam around for an hour or so.

When I wash my UK I always toss it in the dryer on low heat and take it out while barely damp and air dry.It's gotten as soft as well washed denim now.Don't give up on yours.
The fabric I have now is stiff enough to cause bodily harm.

[RockyR]

Just so everyone knows-this is the raw fabric,it hasn't been made into a kilt yet.I have a workmans uk and this stuff is ten times stiffer than it.

Did you buy canvas or Carhardt?

One other little note... the material... Wash it on HOT WATER by itself and dry it on HOT in the dryer BEFORE YOU MAKE A KILT. Shrink the material AS MUCH as possible BEFORE you make it. If you make the kilt to fit and wash it later, it'll be 2 inches too small.

When we made Victory Kilts, we had to cut 6.5 yards of carhardt and wash it to end up with 6 yards of washed material. It shrinks that much!

[Alan H]

Did you buy canvas or Carhardt?

One other little note... the material... Wash it on HOT WATER by itself and dry it on HOT in the dryer BEFORE YOU MAKE A KILT. Shrink the material AS MUCH as possible BEFORE you make it. If you make the kilt to fit and wash it later, it'll be 2 inches too small.

When we made Victory Kilts, we had to cut 6.5 yards of carhardt and wash it to end up with 6 yards of washed material. It shrinks that much!

I echo this admonition. I was surprised hwo much the 4 yards I bought shrank when I washed it in hot water and then dried it on hot.....BEFORE I sewed up the kilt.

[Southern Breeze]

Did you buy canvas or Carhardt?

One other little note... the material... Wash it on HOT WATER by itself and dry it on HOT in the dryer BEFORE YOU MAKE A KILT. Shrink the material AS MUCH as possible BEFORE you make it. If you make the kilt to fit and wash it later, it'll be 2 inches too small.

When we made Victory Kilts, we had to cut 6.5 yards of carhardt and wash it to end up with 6 yards of washed material. It shrinks that much!

I bought Carhartt fabric.The material I have is the same that Carhartt brand clothing and the Workmans UK is made from.I refer to it as canvas simply because everyone seems to use that name.The fabric store I bought it from asked if I wanted the fabric or canvas.I got the fabric.
I'm simply amazed at the stiffness.
Rocky-thanks for the tip.I knew it would shrink,but not that much.