Heat treatment of textile fabric prior to wet processing

In the art of heat treating textile fabric for bulking or shrinking the same prior to wet processing, the improvement which comprises the combined steps of handling said fabric as a rope in endless loop form by confining a major portion of the fabric loop as a plaited accumulation in a chamber from which the loop is progressively withdrawn and then returned, recirculating the textile fabric endless loop from and to said plaited accumulation free of nip constraint under an aspiration influence induced with a jetted inert gas while applying heat for said treatment to said textile fabric during such recirculation, and continuing said heat application and recirculation until the desired bulking or shrinking has been effected.