shrinkage control of 100 cotton weft knits has long been a challenge for the finisher. in this study the horizontal roll compaction technique was used to monitor the behavior of knit fabrics during processing. a variety of knit fabrics were finished by different techniques to determine the most effective way to reduce shrinkage. data showed that low shrinkage on properly constructed 100 cotton knits can be achieved using techniques that are readily available. (author abstract) 2 refs