Cloth finish.

[Melcombe]

Could any learnèd volunteers possibly share with me their knowledge of cloth finishes - and what the variously bandied-about terms actually mean?

What are the processes available for worsteds? What are they called and how do they affect durability and performance?

For example, "milled" I believe I understand - but what is "antique" ?

All pointers for to resources for further research also appreciated!

[Melcombe]

This Woolmark Company youtube presentation is worth viewing in its entirety, but the section on wool cloth finishing is relevant to your request

[youtube]https://youtu.be/gefa6emNxKA?t=1230[/youtube]

WT Johnson services many weavers from all over Britain as a finisher, and they work closely with the Escorial consortium. They have quite a lot of information on their processes.

General Finishing: http://www.wtjohnson.co.uk/finishing.php
Specialist finishing, including "Antique" http://www.wtjohnson.co.uk/specialist-finishes.php
The London Shrunk finish, one of the more common finishes for English worsteds. http://www.wtjohnson.co.uk/london-shrunk.php

Hi Simon - thank you so much for that information - the Woolmark video was absolutely fascinating - the content was hugely interesting, but the production / editiing was also exceptional. Half an hour vey well spent! The finishing dimension to cloth manufacture is much more determinative of the final article than I had supposed. I really must organise to get a tour of a mill next time Im in Yorkshire.

What a wonderful journey of discovery this obsession with bespoke becomes!

[L.deJong]

I have once come across that documentary. I didn't have the time to watch it, and the algorithm never brought it back to my attention.
But now you did! Thanks for bringing it back to my attention. Great story and the music is also excellent.
I now have a new appreciation for (british) cloth!