Abstract: A reinforced toe with varying density is provided for hosiery articles such as sheer stockings, pantyhose and the like so that there is no sharply contrasting line of demarcation between the sheer fabric in the foot portion and the reinforced fabric in the toe pocket and while providing full reinforcement in the area of the toe pocket at the ends of the toes where the need is greatest. The reinforced toe is produced by knitting a reinforcing yarn in plated relationship with the body yarn in spaced-apart courses in a first group of courses adjacent the sheer foot and knitting the reinforcing yarn in more closely spaced courses of a second group of courses adjacent the closed end of the toe pocket. This arrangement provides a gradual or stepped transition from the sheer fabric of the foot to the relatively heavy fabric at the closed end of the toe pocket and provides the reinforced toe with varying or increasing fabric density from the foot to the closed end thereof.

Abstract: The stretch-cotton panty portion of the panty hose includes the combination of stretchable textured thermoplastic yarn forming the outer face and nonstretchable cotton yarn on the inner face. The stretchable and cotton yarns are so knitted as to retain substantially the full stretchable and smooth conforming fit characteristics of lightweight sheer stretch thermoplastic fabric together with the soft sanitary moisture absorbing characteristics of cotton without appreciable bulk, rigidity, or heaviness. The cotton on the inner face is knitted by plating a lightweight cotton yarn on the inner surfaces of selected noncontiguous courses of the stretch thermoplastic yarn.

Abstract: The outwardly turned two-ply waist band is integrally knit with the upper end of the single-ply panty portion of the panty hose to simulate the appearance of a sewn on elastic waist band of the type usually employed in panty hose and the like. The outer lower edge of the waist band is provided with a tab or free edge portion which covers the connecting or transfer stitch loops joining the lower edge portion of the outer ply to the inner ply of the waist band.

Abstract: The panty portion of the panty hose is knit of stretch and spandex yarns to provide compressive force against the body of the wearer. The panty portion includes an attractive pattern of relatively opaque areas and open lace areas with alternate courses being knit of spandex yarn and intervening courses being knit of main and auxiliary stretch yarns. The spandex yarn is knit in every wale of the opaque areas and is selectively knit and tucked in the open lace areas. The main stretch yarn is knit in every wale of both the opaque and open lace areas while the auxiliary stretch yarn is knit in plated relationship with the main stretch yarn in the opaque areas and is floated in the open lace areas.

Abstract: The panty portion of the panty hose is knit of stretch and spandex yarns to provide compressive force against the body of the wearer. The panty portion includes an attractive pattern of relatively opaque areas and open lace areas with alternate courses being knit of spandex yarn and intervening courses being knit of main and auxiliary stretch yarns. The spandex yarn is knit in every wale of the opaque areas and is selectively knit and tucked in the open lace areas. The main stretch yarn is knit in every wale of both the opaque and open lace areas while the auxiliary stretch yarn is knit in plated relationship with the main stretch yarn in the opaque areas and is floated in the open lace areas.