Weathering Clothes?

Tk-Devo

Well-Known Member
I've just recently completed my whole late 1800's cowboy get-up and I plan on wearing it to SDCC this year but don't want to be all crispy clean, what are some nice ways to get realistic old west weathering on it all without literally rolling in the dirt?
 

TK-2126_MD

Well-Known Member
let the elements do it, sun, rain actually use it in your house on week ends. do work around the house and garden in it. dont wash it or clean it. do this til they get to were u like them.

course there are other ways but they don compare to real time weathering.
did my tusken like that at it came out nice.
 

Lucien Kane

Well-Known Member
go to Iraq for seven + months, that will weather them nicely.... in all seriousness though letting the elements do their work is the best way, unless you're looking for specific types of damage.
 

Tk-Devo

Well-Known Member
go to Iraq for seven + months, that will weather them nicely.... in all seriousness though letting the elements do their work is the best way, unless you're looking for specific types of damage.

I don't know if my unit would like it if I showed up to formation in a cowboy get-up haha
 

Lutso

Sr Member
Good for you for actually going for some real cowboy clothes. I've been to many CAS matches and for some reason the popular conclusion seems to be that the cleaner, brighter, and more neatly pressed something is, the more authentic it is. Baffles me, I tell ya...

2126 gave a good tip on wearing them for yard work. You could try lightly burying them in top soil for a few days at a time. And honestly, when it comes down to it...just find a nice patch of concrete and lay them out in the sun for about 6 days. That will just about do it in and of itself.

My personal recomendation would be wearing them in the shower until soaking wet, and then wearing them till dry out in the sun (and preferably, rubbing some dirt in during the process).

Ocean water really tears stuff up nicely too, if you are near the coast. Wear them out in the water (and look a bit goofy in the process) and either lie on the beach and wear them dry, or go home and throw them in the sun.

You could also try using bleach, sandpaper etc. But I figure if they are real clothes, you're better off using "real" weathering methods - i.e., just wear them out.
 

Tigerblood

Well-Known Member
dip it in tea, put it in a ball with a rubber band then beat on it with a 2x4. Putting rocks in a dryer with your stuff is a lot faster way too.
 

Old Mr Magic

New Member
I sewed together a duster using duck cloth that needed to be worn a bit.

My parents have a wood burning stove, so I visited and stole some coals which worked real well when crushed and rubbed on.
 

The Replicant

New Member
I weathered a leather jacket once by actually washing it twice and put it in the thumbler with shoes/boots.
Scratched the surface very lightly some places with groft grit sandpaper (~ 60-80).
Then took at piece of cloth, put a couple of drop of clean oil on and rubbed the surface all over, then put it back (with shoes) in the dryer with low heat so the material could be soft again.
It did a very nice job but remember, the washing will shrink leather a bit so I certainly wouldn't use it for ordinary clothes, but for a show/movie it's perfect.

Hope this helps

PS.:... to the first washing I also added a bit of dark brown fabric dye because the leather was too light. It gave the surface a lightly variation so it looked more naturally.
 
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