Hey, Ned, please don't go into shock when I say I own 36X36 STF 501's. Or was it more confusion than shock. Besides, I agree with others that the quality and consistency are about the same as with many jeans these days. I tend to try on 2 or 3 identical pair of any brand and style of jeans to make sure the fit is right. I've got a pair of STF with 35 waist from 2007 that are a hair larger than a 3 year old pair of 36's! They're all on the loose side, due to my last 34s from a few years ago being TIGHT. But maybe sizing has changed.
Now I have a new Q to ask, and I will try to summarize as best I can so I don't write a full chapter. The other day I was at Kohl's, my new favorite place to buy STF because they have blue and black, for $37, and very nice dressing rooms with a 3-way mirror. I found a pair of black ones I had every intention of buying, but my intuition told me to grab a pair of blues in my true size of 33X32. And when I tried them on I LOVED them! I had no idea I'd be so attracted to the raw, unwashed look. I figured I could wear 'em half a year or so, using the Air Fluff setting on my dryer to freshen 'em up now and then. But after googling and reading several articles and sites about raw 501's I learned that even if they never come into contact with water they will probably still bleed onto things such as white shoes and light colored furniture. I can't have that. My living room sofa is off-white.
After all that research I thought of another idea. My plan is to wash this new true-size pair in Cold water, inside out, with laundry soap and a few old towels to balance the load. After that, run the jeans through the dryer on Air Fluff (no heat) for a while to take the excess wetness out. Then wear them damp until dry.
My question – Does anyone know if they will still shrink in the waist and/or inseam? Or has anyone done this 'no heat' method before to know what will happen?
Today I ran a 3 month old pair through both machines using no heat and was surprised that I did not mind wearing them damp. They dried within about 4 hours, having spent an hour or two at Costco where they have excellent ventilation. Always comfy and dry in the warehouse. Interestingly, 7 hours later and this pair of 36X36 feels noticeably stiffer (very cool) and looser (way too loose now) than when I wash and dry them on Warm/Medium, which I've done to this pair about a dozen times. These were too big to begin with even after a few trips thru a Hot dryer. They'll make good car washing pants.
So, I'm eager to hear if anyone has experience with 501's shrinking from a wash and wear even when using no heat. If so, I'll take this new pair back and size up, but not sure by how much. Damn, I feel like I'm becoming a 501's laboratory. It's alive!
so to speak.
