Abstract The aim of this study was to understand the stick-slip properties of dry polyester plain, ribs and satin woven fabric weaves. It was found that the amount of stick-slip force was related to the number of interlacement points in the fabric, whereas the amount of accumulative retraction force was related to fabric structural response. Stick-slip force and accumulative retraction force depend on fabric weave, fabric density, the number of pulled ends in the fabric and fabric sample dimensions. The weft directional single and multiple yarn stick-slip and accumulative retraction forces of dry plain fabrics in fabric edge and centre regions were higher than those in the satin fabric due to fabric weave. In addition, the warp directional single and multiple yarn stick-slip and accumulative retraction forces in the meso-cell-1 to the meso-cell-6 of dry wide and long satin fabric in fabric edge were higher than those in the weft direction due to fabric density. Stick-slip and accumulative retraction forces of polyester fabric in the multiple yarn pull-out test were higher than those of the single yarn pull-out test.