Mace Snag Test

A test for evaluation of snagging performance. A fabric sample is mounted on a revolving drum in contact with a miniature mace that tracks randomly across the sample. The spikes of the mace effect the snagging. The test predicts results in actual wear.

Machine Direction

The long direction within the place of the fabric i.e. the direction in which the fabric is being produced by the machine.

Machine draw ratio

In a drawing process, the ratio of the peripheral speed of the draw roller to that of the feed roller.(sub category of stretch ratio, draw ratio)

Machine tow

Short flax fibres that are removed during the scutching or hackling processes:
(i) rug tow: short flax fibre removed during scutching and containing extraneous woody material;
(ii) re-scutched tow: short fibre which has been cleaned in a tow-scutching apparatus;
(iii) machine tow: short fibre which has been removed from scutched long flax during the hackling process.

Machine Twist

A hard-twist sewing thread usually of 3-ply construction spun with S twists and plied with Z twist especially made for use in sewing machines.

Machine-finishing

The article in the damp condition after scouring and/or bleaching and/or dyeing is dried on a specially shaped former, either by heating this former internally or by placing it between two steam-heated platens. If the drying is done in a hot chamber, the process is known as ,machine-finishing'. When the boarding is done by pressing between, heated platens, it is usually known as 'trimming', 'pressing" or 'press-finishing'. The trimming, pressing or press finishing operations carried out on dyed goods give the desired shape to the articles, but their prime purpose is to remove the moisture from the article without leaving it creased.

Machine-washable

A term denoting that a textile article can be washed in a domestic washing machine to remove dirt and other extraneous substances using an aqueous detergent solution.

Machlin machine

A Leavers type of machine generally without a jacquard that employs a limited number of guide bars, whose movements are controlled by cams. It is used for making a special type of net called 'mechlin'.

Macrolattice

A repeating structure in very small microfibrils of alternating crystalline and amorphous regions. Yarn properties are thought to be governed by morphology at the macrolattice scale.

Macromolecular Dyes

A group of inherently colored polymers. They are useful both as polymers and as dyes with high color yield. The chromophores fit the recognized CI classes i.e. azo anthraquinone etc. although not all CI classes are represented. Used for mass dyeing hair dyes writing inks etc.

Madapolam

A bleached or dyed plain cotton fabric with a soft finish in any of a wide range of qualities used for ladies wear.

Made-to-measure

Descriptive of a tailored garment made to an individual customer's specification.
Note: In other sectors of the clothing industry, the term 'made-to-measure' is more usual.

Madras

A lightweight plain weave fabric with a striped checked or plaid pattern. True madras is “guaranteed to bleed.”

Madras muslin

A gauze fabric with an extra weft, which is bound into the gauze texture in the figured parts and cut away elsewhere. (See also muslin.)

Magazine bar (weft knitting)

A transfer bar fitted with replaceable grooved points arranged uniformly along its upper edge. The magazine bar is designed to hold a supply of knitted pieces which are loaded on to the points one after another by running-on each piece on to the points on a loop-to-point basis. The garment pieces can thus be subsequently delivered from the loaded magazine bar singly or collectively as required on to the points of the transfer bar. (See also linking.)