The tumble-drying process is discussed relative to its effect on the dimensional stability of acrylic knitted fabrics. Area shrinkage of these fabrics increases with increase in tumble-dryer temperature. Cycling of the temperature during drying is shown to contribute significantly to variability in fabric shrinkage.Fabric compaction or compression during tumble drying is shown to promote longi tudinal or along-wale loop slippage, if the stitch length is sufficiently large so as to allow free distance between loop apices in adjacent rows of needle and sinker loops. Loop slippage is shown to occur without appreciable relaxation shrinkage under certain conditions during tumble drying after dry cleaning. The mechanism of compressional shrinkage is proposed as an explanation of some anomalies involving tumble drying reported in the literature.