We receive many questions regarding fully-fashioned stocking manufacture. Many of our replies surprise the enquirer. The perceived simplicity of making something so soft and sheer is in direct contrast to the reality. Oil, grease, huge mechanical effort and technical knowledge are required. © Franklin-Pryce/Touchable - images cannot be used without our specific written permission. |
 1. The welt is knitted first. 2. Note the after welt with our picot bands. |
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3. As the knitted section is rotated around the bar (left), note how the leg width reduce as the lower leg is formed. |
4. The leg narrows further as the calf section is reached. 5. Even though every stocking is knitted white even the White you buy will be dyed to ensure shade matching. |
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6. Just in shot at the top of the photo are the part knitted stockings.
This shot is to show the huge technical complexity of flywheels, pushrods and a million and one other little bits. |
7. You can just see the first part of the heel knitted. 8. The silver row are the needles. The yarn shoots back and forth once each second. See 13. below for a close-up. |
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9. If one stocking is damaged the machine stills runs its course. |
| 10. The stocking is complete and remains attached by a single thread.
You can just see the toe reinforcement but the foot section has rolled over at the edges. |
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11. The last thread is snipped and the stocking awaits collecting. |
12. Whilst the completed stockings have taken a long time and massive technical complexity to make, this is only the first part of the process. |
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13. The white pointer shows the shuttle (dark shadow) running from right to left. We just managed to catch the shuttle three quarters across (after 15 attempts!). |
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Justine walks towards the camera collecting the fifteen completed
legs. Behind the camera are seven men who don't object. |
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SEAMING This is one of the seaming machines. Thread colour is usually white although pre-dyed colourfast is used for a contrast seam. This stocking is nearly complete. |
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The close-up shows the welt running between the rollers. It is a difficult job
requiring experience and is anything but automated. |
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