Is it possible to crease or press leather?

[masterjedi322]

So I have a Wested Indiana Jones LC jacket, and I'm fairly happy with it except that the collar seems to lay very flat instead of the "wave" shape you see in the movie.

Having not done much leather work, I was wondering if it's possible to put a crease in the collar so that it stays more upright?

Any insight would be most appreciated.

Sean

 

[masterjedi322]

No help?

 

[The-Clayster]

As in iron it right?
I don't see why not, and if possible could you take it to a place that presses clothing and get it done? Just go in and ask. I have no experience.

 

[Kt Templar]

There's a couple of things you can do. How well it holds does depend on the type of leather it is.

You can soak the whole collar in hot water then form it around some rolled up towels and allow to dry.

You can also use a steam iron to, well iron, the leather. Form it as it cools.

Go gently to start with.

Note that both methods will probably cause some grain to pop up on the leather. But it all adds character so is not such a bad thing.

The leather may be a bit stiffer once tried but don't worry too much it will loosen up again.

 

[Jeff C]

I'd be nervous about using an iron. If you aren't extremely careful you can ruin the leather really quickly.

The first thing you'll want to try is simply supporting the collar the way you want it, and leaving it for a few days. In this case, it sounds like you are actually wanting to remove a crease that is already there, so you could probably just leave the collar popped for a couple days.

If that doesn't work, or you need it quickly, say for Halloween, you can try pounding the leather with a rubber mallet.

If you decide to try an iron, put a cotton cloth between the iron and the leather, and be quick about it. The heat from the iron will dry out the leather and can lead to cracking later in the jacket's life. Also make sure there is no water in the iron, as the steam can discolor the leather.

 

[masterjedi322]

Thanks for the tips. I think I'll try wetting the collar and wrapping it around some towels before I take an iron to it. I'll let you know how it works out.

Sean