Carhartt Canvas

[Southern Breeze]

As most of you know,Carhartt Canvas when new is STIFF.I bought a 12 yard roll of it today and plan on making several kilts from it.So far there are only a few ways to soften it up that I know of-soaking in downy,normal washing and wearing and if desperate laying it on the highway during rush hour.I've bought a lot of Carhartt pants and overalls over the years and thought I knew what stiff was.This stuff is in a class by itself.Any advice on softening it would be greatly appreciated.

[Alan H]

As most of you know,Carhartt Canvas when new is STIFF.I bought a 12 yard roll of it today and plan on making several kilts from it.So far there are only a few ways to soften it up that I know of-soaking in downy,normal washing and wearing and if desperate laying it on the highway during rush hour.I've bought a lot of Carhartt pants and overalls over the years and thought I knew what stiff was.This stuff is in a class by itself.Any advice on softening it would be greatly appreciated.

Beats me. three washing and two soaking in Downy and my canvas kilt is stiff as a board. Problem is it creases in a flash, so you HAVE to iron the pleats, and guess what.

That just makes it stiffer.

[bubba]

Maybe drag it behind your car or tow it behind a speedboat.

[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!