You would be surprised at how many terms come from the textile field that have worked their way into our everyday language. Here are just a few.
DYED IN THE WOOL: If you work with wool you know that if you attempt to dye an item after it is spun into cloth you will not have an even colorfast result. The proper way to dye wook is to color the raw material before it is woven. By the same token, one who is “dyed in the wool” is a person so thoroughly indoctrinated with a belief that there are no gaps, holes or chance for change.
RULE OF THUMB: The length between the last knuckle of the thunb and the tip is about 1 inch. Early fabric merchants used the rule of thumb when a ruler wasn’t available.
Now you now!