was a laborious process using a fustian cutting knife. This tool was around 50 cm long, and looked like a long spike; about 10 cm from the tip, the top edge was sharpened into a blade. It was inserted along the fabric alongside two warp threads, and under the raised weft, and as it was guided forward the blade severed the weft. In corduroy, there were seven ridges to the inch, so along a 31 inch bolt, there would be about 320 cuts to be done.

In the 1860s, the cloth would be stretched over a 22 yard table, and the cutters would walk