Abstract: The disclosure is directed principally to a novel apparatus for finish processing of knitted sweater body sections in a continuous, flow-through manner. Knitted tubular sweater sections, including a body section and a relatively elastic cuff section, are applied in succession to a spreading frame and are distended to a predetermined, uniform width throughout. The spreader frame discharges the distended sweater sections into a processing section, including a pair of opposed conveyor blankets. In a controlled space interval, between the end of the spreading frame and the line of engagement of the sweater section by the opposed conveyor blankets, controllable width contraction of the sweater section is caused or permitted to occur.

Abstract: Knitted tubular sweater sections, including a body section and a relatively elastic cuff section, are applied in succession to a spreading frame and are distended to a predetermined, uniform width throughout. The distended sweater sections are then discharged from the spreader frame into a processing section, including a pair of opposed conveyor blankets. In a controlled space interval, between the end of the spreading frame and the line of engagement of the sweater section by the opposed conveyor blankets, controllable width contraction of the sweater section is caused or permitted to occur.Immediately thereafter, the fabric section is engaged by the opposed conveyor blankets, which grip and confine the fabric section lightly over substantially its entire surface area to retain the geometry of the fabric. While thus gripped and confined, the fabric section is steamed, conveyed for a short distance further between the conveyor blankets, and then released.