Can i stretch a wool jacket?

[buckeyebowhunter]

I just got a vintage woolrich camo bomber style hunting jacket in realtree advantage. It's a pretty sweet looking jacket but the only thing is that its about 2-3" short especially in the back. I wore it out for a sit today and I could feel the cold wind blowing up my back and down my @$$    :(  My father suggested maybe handwashing it and then tying a couple 2lb weights to the bottom to maybe stretch it, he said they used to do this with their wool sweaters when he was in the army. Any suggestions? I'd hate to ruin it but I dono if i can keep it with it being too short like that.

[calgarychef]

If you don't care about the looks you could sew in a piece of blanket on the bottom.

[Bill Turner]

Contact Teresa Asbell. She might be able to help you out. She has more experience with wool then most anyone I know. Who knows, she might be able to add something to the bottom of your bomber that will work. She is very much aware of the needs of the traditional hunter.

[tracker12]

What Bill Turner said.

[John Scifres]

Wash it in cold water and then block it while it air dries flat.  This means to stretch it in all directions, particularly the direction you want movement and it should get you a little extra length.

[joe ashton]

I've stretched a wool shirt by soaking it in a solution of fabric softener. That  relaxes the fibers and then block it to air dry.

[Roger Norris]

You can stretch it a bit if thats the direction the wool wants to go (try it, you will see what I mean).

I like the idea above of sewing in a piece of material. Maybe an old surplus Army blanket.

[Phrogdrvr]

If you can't figure out how to stretch it, maybe you can find some shorter person who would want to buy it.  Maybe someone here on Trad Gang, perhaps from Pennsylvania.    

[buckeyebowhunter]

Roger, the only problem with sewing a new piece on is that it has the brown elastic type band at the bottom and also is in realtree advantage (one of my favorite patterns), might look strange without the same pattern. Will see if i can stretch it out tomorrow. Phrogdrvr, I may have to take up that offer if it wont stretch. It is a super cool jacket, I wish it were longer and insulated    :(

[SELFBOW19953]

Maybe you can work a trade for a larger/longer jacket.