Fabric shrinkage is the reduction in dimensions of fabric after washing, drying, or exposure to heat or moisture. Fabric shrinkage can affect the quality, appearance, and fit of garments, and can cause customer dissatisfaction and complaints. Therefore, it is important to measure and control the shrinkage of fabrics before they are used for clothing production.

One of the methods to measure fabric shrinkage is using a fabric shrinkage tester. A fabric shrinkage tester is a device that simulates the washing and drying conditions of a fabric and measures the percentage of dimensional change in length and width. A fabric shrinkage tester consists of a washing machine, a dryer, a template, and a measuring scale.

The procedure of using a fabric shrinkage tester is as follows:

- Cut a sample of fabric according to the size of the template.

- Mark the corners of the sample with reference points using a permanent marker.

- Place the sample on the template and measure the distance between the reference points along the length and width directions. Record these values as the original dimensions.

- Wash and dry the sample according to the specified conditions using the washing machine and dryer. The conditions may vary depending on the type and quality of the fabric and the intended use of the garment.

- Place the washed and dried sample on the template again and measure the distance between the reference points along the length and width directions. Record these values as the final dimensions.

- Calculate the percentage of shrinkage in length and width using the formula:

Shrinkage (%) = (Original dimension - Final dimension) / Original dimension x 100

The fabric shrinkage tester can help textile manufacturers and garment designers to evaluate the performance and suitability of fabrics for different applications. By knowing the shrinkage behavior of fabrics, they can adjust the patterns and sizes of garments accordingly and avoid quality issues and customer complaints.