What is Hosiery | Different Types of Hosiery Garments and Machines

Last Updated on 08/02/2021

Different Types of Hosiery Garments and Machines

Afsana Rahman
Dept. of Fashion Design
KCC Women’s College (Affiliated by Khulna University)
Khulna, Bangladesh
Email: pakhirahman123@gmail.com

 

What is Hosiery?
The term “hosiery” specially refers to knitted coverings for the feet and legs. But it may generically be applied to all types of knitted goods and fabric. Most hosiery articles are knitted with integral tubular legs and feet on small diameter circular machines. The welt and top are usually knitted first, then the welt and top are usually knitted first, then the foot and toe are knitted. Closing the toe also produces a secure finish. Hosiery garments are widely used as undergarment. Hosiery items are also used in medical purposes.

different types of hosiery garments
Fig: Different types of hosiery garments

For centuries, the production of hosiery was the main concern of the knitting industry. The prototype machines for warp, circular, flat and fully-fashioned knitting were conceived for knitting hosiery; however, hosiery production is centered almost exclusively on the use of small-diameter circular machines. Currently, most seamless hosiery products are manufactured on circular knitting machines of small diameter.

Manufacturing process of hosiery
Fig: Manufacturing process of hosiery articles

Different Types of Hosiery Garments:
‘Hosiery’ goods are knitted articles for feet and legs. The hosiery garments or articles are of the following 5 types-

Hose or sock: Hose have a leg-length extending above knee.

hose or sock
Fig: Hose or sock

Three quarter hose: Three-quarter hose has a knee length which is approximately twice the foot length.

Three quarter hose
Fig: Three quarter hose

Men’s half hose: Men’s half hose are usually in two leg length ranges of between 7 and 9 inches or between 11 and 15 inches.

Men’s half hose
Fig: Men’s half hose

Tights: Tights have a body section which is composed of the same knitted structure as the leg sections and is worn over briefs or panties. They have an elastic waist band.

tights sock
Fig: Tights

Panty-hose: Which are designed to replace brief and are worn as an integral underwear and leg-wear garment.

pantyhose
Fig: Pantyhose

Stockings: Stockings are designed to fir the leg up to or above the knee and may or may not be self supporting.

Stockings
Fig: Stockings

Different Types of Hosiery Machines:
Except for few Griswold type hand-turned machines, all hosiery machines are of rotating cylinder type. There are mainly 3 types of hosiery machines:

1. Single cylinder hosiery machine:

Single cylinder hosiery machine
Fig: Single cylinder hosiery machine

2. Cylinder and dial hosiery machine:

Double cylinder hosiery machine
Fig: Double cylinder hosiery machine

3. Double Cylinder hosiery machine.

References:

  1. Knitting Technology, 3rd Edition by David J Spencer
  2. Advances in knitting technology by Edited by K.F. Au

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