Abstract: In pantyhose hip portion seaming operation, the open ends of a pair of stockings mounted respectively on upper and lower templates of a template unit are detected by means of phototubes to allow the both ends to be automatically positioned so that they are properly aligned.After a pair of stockings are mounted on the upper and lower templates of a template unit, a pair of phototubes arranged in upper and lower positions are moved to the ends of the stockings in such a way that upon one of the stocking ends being detected by one of the phototubes, the one phototube is caused to stop moving, the other phototube is caused to detect the presence of the other stocking.According to the condition of the other stocking as detected by the other phototube, the other stocking is moved forward or backward as required, and upon the end of the other stocking being detected by the other phototube, the hose is caused to stop moving, whereby the ends of the both stockings are properly aligned.