Process of making crimped, annealed polyester filaments

A process for manufacturing crimped, annealed filaments consisting essentially of poly(ethylene terephthalate) comprising advancing a bundle of substantially fully drawn filaments through a pressurized zone of saturated steam maintained at a pressure of at least about 150 psig for at least about 0.2 seconds while controlling the bundle length within the zone within the range of from about 5% extension to no more than about 10% retraction, withdrawing the bundle from the zone into ambient atmospheric pressure whereupon the filaments are rapidly cooled by vaporization of water while they are still under said controlled length, crimping the cooled filaments and drying and relaxing the crimped filaments at a temperature of less than about 125.degree. C.