Beetling

Beetling is a textile finishing process, where linen or cotton fabric is pounded to produce a flat, lustrous effect.

[1] The finish imparts a lustrous and absorbent effect which is ideal for linen dishcloths.

[4] Beetling is part of the finishing of the linen cloth.

The hammering tightens the weave and gives the cloth a smooth feel.

William Clark and Sons, based in Upperlands, Northern Ireland, are the last commercial beetling mill in the world and have been beetling on the same site since 1736.