Determination of model parameters for predicting handle characteristics of wool-rich suiting woven fabrics based on the Wool HandleMeter and KES-F

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of using the Wool HandleMeter as an economical and effective method to predict the handle characteristics of wool-rich woven fabrics suitable for winter suiting. The correlation analysis and step-wise regression method were used to determine applicable curve parameters extracted from the Wool HandleMeter in order to explain the handle characteristics of the woven fabrics by a series of multiple regression models. Moreover, an independent set of woven samples was selected to validate the regression models on the basis of the Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabrics, subjective handle evaluation and the formability index FFAST. The results showed that the Wool HandleMeter together with the developed regression models is an excellent starting point for the simple evaluation of handle characteristics of wool-rich woven fabrics and can be the basis for further development of the Wool HandleMeter for woven fabrics.