Abstract: The napping operation of a napping machine of the type having a rotating cylinder with a plurality of toothed rotating napping rollers at its periphery for napping engagement with a traveling fabric web is controlled for repeatable napping results by measuring the cyclical pattern of a radially inward deflection of the fabric web under the napping engagement of the rollers as a characteristic of an adjustment of a variable operating parameter which may be later utilized as a reference value for subsequent adjustment of the operating parameter to repeat the results of the napping operation.