Fabrics & Craftsmanship
What is worsted wool?
- Written by
- The Roomten tailors
- Published
- 2026-09-05
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-05
- Reading time
- 4 min
- what is worsted wool
- worsted wool suit
- suit fabric
- wool weave
In short
Worsted wool is wool that has been combed to remove short fibres and align the long ones, then spun into a smooth, strong yarn. It produces a dense, hard-wearing cloth that drapes cleanly and is the standard for business suits.
The word 'worsted' comes from the Norfolk village of Worstead, where the combing and spinning method was developed. The process creates a yarn that is smoother and stronger than woollen-spun yarn, and the cloth made from it is correspondingly sharper.
Worsted vs woollen
- Worsted — combed, smooth, strong, sharp drape; business suits and formalwear.
- Woollen — shorter fibres left in, softer and loftier; flannel and tweed.
Common worsted weaves
Plain weave, twill, birdseye, herringbone and sharkskin are all worsted weaves. Twill gives a subtle diagonal line and drapes well; plain weave is the most versatile for a first suit.
Why it matters
A worsted cloth keeps a pressed crease, resists abrasion and looks polished for years. For a made-to-measure suit that will be worn weekly, a good worsted is almost always the right starting point.