This study focussed on the effect of laundering 100% cotton twill weave (drill) and single
jersey (knit) fabrics. Specimens had been pre-treated and stabbed with either a kitchen knife or a Phillips
screwdriver. These specimens were photographed and were again laundered for one wash cycle before
being photographed again. Ten expert judges compared the photographs taken before and after
laundering. A difference in the appearance of the fabrics before and after laundering was evident. The
morphology of the fabric and fibres thus would be expected to differ after laundering the clothing,
making identification of a weapon used to stab through clothing more difficult