Currently, there are a large number of artificial leather substitutes used for tailoring and accessories. Almost all of them are made of synthetic materials that look good when purchased, but lose their appearance during storage due to the formation of folds and creases. The situation can be corrected with the help of various methods of smoothing, even at home. It often depends on the type of material.
Varieties
There are several options for skin replacements, which are actively used in tailoring:
- vinyl;
- leatherette;
- kersey;
- leather with stretch;
- eco leather;
- recycled skin.
Vinyl, or rather, polyvinyl chloride, is the hardest material on which the resulting creases are not easy to smooth. It is used for sewing bags, raincoats and unusual costumes, as it holds its shape well enough.
Dermatin - the most famous and common skin substitute. The material has a fabric base, which makes its cost low, and the process of operation - short. It is used not only in tailoring, but also when upholstering sofas, sewing purses, book covers.
Kirza is the most durable material in this series. It is difficult to bruise, but if this happens, then evening out the bends will be problematic. In addition, it has another significant drawback - more weight. Used mainly in the shoe business to create military boots.
One of the most modern and sought-after materials for sewing jackets, skirts and bags can be called eco-leather. This is due to the characteristics and appearance of the material. Inherent flexibility and excellent appearance.
Ecoskin is produced from a polyurethane film, the quality of which directly depends on the thickness. The larger it is, the longer the life of the product.
Recycled leather can be called a semi-artificial material, since it is made from ground scraps of skins. It is characterized by increased elasticity and high similarity with natural material. But there is one major drawback - low strength. Therefore, products made from it (most often Chinese) are not in demand.
Ironing devices
For each of these materials, there is a different method of ironing and leveling. The most commonly used substances and devices are:
- iron;
- steamer;
- steam bath;
- water;
- shoe cream.
To achieve the maximum effect, you need to know the rules for using each of these tools.
Application
Before starting the treatment of the product, it is necessary to test the selected method on a small portion of the leather substitute. It is worthwhile to begin further work only if the method did not cause damage to the material.
On most products from leatherette there is a label indicating the admissibility of one or another thermal or chemical treatment. In the case when the use of the iron is not prohibited, you can try to stroke the folds with it. To do this, set the device to the minimum temperature for delicate ironing and turn off the steam function. Also need terry towels in the amount of four pieces.
First, towels are placed on the wrong side of the product, and then smoothed leatherette until the bends disappear completely.
After achieving the desired result, the item must be carefully hung and allowed to cool.
Products from leatherette can be steamed with a special device. It is great for leveling things with a large number of seams, since ironing them is quite difficult. It is best to perform this procedure, hanging clothes - a jacket, coat or skirt - on a mannequin. So when drying, they will immediately take the necessary form.
First you need to turn the product inside out. Then set the steamer to medium temperature. If it is outerwear, then work begins with the sleeves. The device should be at a distance of about 10 cm. Each part of the product is processed within 3-5 minutes. After its completion, the clothes are turned on the front side and hung up again on a mannequin (coat hanger).
In the absence of the steamer, such a procedure can also be carried out by improvised means. A good alternative can be a steam bath. For this you need a clothes rack and a newspaper if the item is a bag.
In the bath, gain the most hot water and hang the thing on the hook just above the steam. If the bag is leveled, then it is pre-densely filled with newspapers to give shape. The door to the bathroom should be tightly closed from the beginning to the end of the procedure. This treatment lasts for 3 hours. Then the product is hung out in a dry room with good ventilation until completely dry. It is necessary to make a reservation that a loggia or a balcony is not suitable for this, as long-term exposure to direct sunlight on a wet leatherette can lead to excessive drying and cracking.
Small folds can be smoothed and simply with the help of water. To do this, it is necessary to fill the liquid with a conventional sprayer and spray the product with plenty of water. If the thing is made of soft material, then it is enough to spray water once on the wrong side and hang it for drying. When the folds are deep, old or the material is more rigid, this procedure should be carried out on the front side of the product. In this case, during the hour, the spraying is repeated several times, as if the product (backpack or dress) was wet under the doge. Then the item is completely dried.
Shoe cream is also considered an effective tool for smoothing wrinkles, as it makes the skin soft and elastic. Use best colorless transparent means. Clothes hang on a hanger or mannequin and apply the cream with a sponge. After complete absorption (up to 3 hours), the remaining excess cream is simply washed with a napkin.
In the case when the usual steaming and ironing do not bring the desired result, you can apply the chemical composition prepared at home. To do this, you need the usual table vinegar 9% in the amount of 1 tbsp. l and air conditioning for washing - 1 tsp. The composition must be well mixed and pour into the spray. Then spray the product on the front side of the product and hang out to dry. Do not worry about the pungent smell, it quickly disappears in the air.
Additional methods
In addition to the widely used methods listed above, there are several other tools that are used only under certain conditions. One of these is glycerin. It is used for frequent processing of leatherette.
To remove the folds, it is applied using a colorless cotton fabric to the dented area several times (up to three). After complete absorption and leveling, they are treated with the entire surface of the product and dried separately from other things.
Good results and shows a hair dryer, but only when straightening small bruises. To do this, the device is placed not less than 30 cm from the product and include the supply of warm air. The processing should not be too tight.
If the result is not visible for several minutes, then it is better not to overdry the material and use another method.
We should also mention washing. This method is more suitable for skirts or vests. Clothing is washed on a special mode for the skin.Then it is immediately taken out, maximally leveled by hand and hung out for drying. If you leave the product at least briefly in the washing machine, the folds will become even greater.
As for bags, a thin cotton fabric can be used for straightening. The product is tightly packed with newspapers and sealed. The fabric is moistened with warm water and wrapped around the bag in a single layer. The whole structure must be hung by the handles until completely dry.
In conclusion, I would like to note that it is much easier to prevent the appearance of folds on the leather substitute, than to smooth them later. Therefore, such things are best kept on a hanger. In addition, you should not store products in warm places, as they may shrink or crack from drying out. And clothes from leatherette must be acquired in size, as stretched or extra material will necessarily shrink.
On how to properly smooth the leather, you will learn from the following video.
