https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiled_woolOne of my guesses was correct.
Good grief man! Why don't you just take one of those Pendleton shirts (preferably one that's too large already), throw it in the washing machine on full blast with hot water, and call it "boiled wool?"
Maybe the pocket flaps will stick out and the seams look funny, but hey, it'll do the job.
Perhaps the factory does it in such a manner that such technical details don't get so messed up. It seems as though they probably agitate the wool cloth
before they sew it together, avoiding all those dreaded shrinkage problems.
I know what "Pendleton" shirts are, by the way. I've considered getting some from time to time. I prefer used over new in this case. My recent interest has been underwear.
This kinda gives me an idea....
Get me some oversized long johns, felt them up, and maybe these shrunken underwear will cut the wind... Genius!
Well, it doesn't come without risks, I guess... I could end up with a matted mess, or the wool won't felt.
We'll keep it optimistic.