Abstract: The present seamless knit tubular blank is particularly adapted for use in forming body garments, such as panties and the like. In one embodiment, the panty is formed of a single seamless tubular blank while a second embodiment of the panty is formed of two seamless tubular blanks. In each embodiment, the seamless tubular blanks are provided with a visual cutting guide which is formed during knitting of the blank for providing a visually detectable different appearance and a visual separation between first and second fabric portions of the blank. The second fabric portions of the blank are adapted to be removed from the first fabric portions to impart the requisite shape to the first fabric portions for use in forming the body garment.

Abstract: The run-resistant toe portion is of substantially the same dyed shade and has the same sheer appearance as the adjacent foot portion of the hosiery article. The run-resistant toe portion is knit with every other course being knit of a yarn which is capable of being dyed and the remaining courses are knit of a dye-resistant yarn which is not capable of being dyed. Intervening single courses of the toe portion are knit with alternating tuck and plain stitch loops in adjacent wales while alternating courses are knit with plain stitch loops in every wale and of a smaller stitch loop size to enhance the run-resistant characteristics of the toe portion.

Abstract: A pair of spaced-apart and identically shaped elongate boards is supported for vertical adjustment on a pedestal-type stand. The boards are interconnected and maintained in spaced-apart relationship at their lower ends and the upper or free toe end portions are spaced apart so that the panty hose can be easily drawn onto and off of the sizing form. Opposite side edges of the boards are contoured symmetrically with gradually curving configurations which progressively increase in width from the free toe ends downwardly to the panty portion so that the panty hose can be easily drawn onto and removed from the sizing form. The shape of the form permits the panty hose to be positioned on the sizing form with the fabric in uniformly stretched condition throughout all areas of the panty hose.

Abstract: The crotch area is integrally knit with the pantyhose blanks to eliminate the need for separately knit and cut crotch patches. The integrally knit crotch area includes a repeating four-course pattern of course portions with certain of the course portions including alternating jersey stitches and tuck loops to form openings in the crotch area and provide ventilation thereto. The repeating course portions also include selected courses with a hydrophilic yarn knit in plated relationship and on the inside of the body yarn to provide moisture-absorbing characteristics to the crotch area.

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 triple layer fabric extends throughout at least a substantial portion of the foot portion and provides improved cushioning and moisture-absorbing characteristics thereto. The sock can be knit on a conventional hosiery knitting machine with very little modification being required. The inside and outside fabric layers of the foot are knit of hydrophobic yarn and the intermediate layer is knit at least in part of hydrophilic yarn so that moisture from the foot is wicked through the inner layer and into the intermediate layer where the moisture is absorbed and then wicked and evaporated through the outside layer. The triple layer in the foot of the sock maintains the foot of the wearer in a dry condition and provides cushioning for at least the ball and toes of the foot of the wearer.

Abstract: This tube sock is of a medium or dress weight so that the sock may be comfortably worn with dress shoes and includes very long and fine terry loops in the heel and sole area to provide the sock with cushion and comfort characteristics of the type normally provided in heavy weight athletic type socks. The sock is knit on a fine gauge machine of the type normally employed in knitting ladies' sheer hosiery and panty hose, usually provided with 400 needles. The sock is knit on every other or alternative needles so that it contains only 200 wales instead of the normal 400 wales usually contained in ladies' sheer hosiery articles. The terry loops formed in the heel and sole area are formed on dial instruments projected outwardly over an idle needle so that unusually long terry loops are formed of a fine cotton yarn which are three to five times as long as the stitch loops formed of the body yarn. spThis a division of application Ser. No. 939,261, filed Sept. 7, 1978 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,370.

Abstract: One embodiment of this tube sock includes clearly defined and distinct tuck stitch type mock ribs completely arund the leg and in the instep. In another embodiment, the tuck stitch type mock ribs are formed around the front of the leg while the usual type of plain stitch mock ribs are formed around the rear of the leg. In both embodiments, the sock is of a medium or dess weight so that the sock may be comfortably worn with dress shoes and includes very long and fine terry loops in the heel and sole area to provide the sock with cushion and comfort characteristics of the type normally provided in heavy weight athletic type socks. Both embodiments of the sock are provided with partial additional or extra courses of elastic yarn in the heel area to provide the heel with additional stretch to provide a better fit on the heel of the wearer.

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: This tube sock is of a medium or dress weight so that the sock may be comfortably worn with dress shoes and includes very long and fine terry loops in the heel and sole area to provide the sock with cushion and comfort characteristics of the type normally provided in heavy weight athletic type socks. The sock is knit on a fine gauge machine of the type normally employed in knitting ladies' sheer hosiery and panty hose, usually provided with 400 needles. The sock is knit on every other or alternative needles so that it contains only 200 wales instead of the normal 400 wales usually contained in ladies' sheer hosiery articles. The terry loops formed in the heel and sole area are formed on dial instruments projected outwardly over an idle needle so that unusually long terry loops are formed of a fine cotton yarn which are three to five times as long as the stitch loops formed of the body yarn.

Abstract: The panty hose, or other type of lower body garment, includes a pair of legs and a panty portion with a crotch patch or insert in the crotch area. The crotch insert is formed by severing a predetermined length from a strip of fabric having a width substantially corresponding to the desired width of the crotch insert so that the insert is substantially diamond-shaped with two of the sides being defined by the diagonal cut lines and the remaining two sides being defined by opposite side edges of the strip. The severing of the strip of fabric to form the diamond shaped crotch insert takes place at the location where the panty hose are formed to eliminate the problem heretofore and encountered in handling crotch inserts of the type which are die cut from wide widths of fabric.