GB2237179A

GB2237179A - A stocking

Info

Publication number: GB2237179A
Application number: GB8923199A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Patrick Kirkland
Original assignee: PRETTY POLLY Ltd
Current assignee: PRETTY POLLY Ltd
Priority date: 1989-10-14
Filing date: 1989-10-14
Publication date: 1991-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-14
Also published as: GB2237179B; GB8923199D0

Abstract

A knitted stocking having a leg opening bounded by a knitted turned-over welt construction 18, the welt construction defining a decorative edge 40, 41 for the leg opening. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a knitted stocking and a method of producing the same.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a knitted stocking having a leg opening bounded by a knitted turned-over welt construction, the welt construction defining a decorative edge for the leg opening.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a knitted stocking having a leg opening defined by a decorative edge, the method including knitting a turned-over welt construction to bound the leg opening, and during knitting of the welt knitting a decorative edge forming portion which on completion of the welt defines said decorative edge.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a stocking according to the present invention Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic sectional view along line II-II in Figure 1 Figure 3 is an illustrative example of a stitch structure for forming a turned-over welt according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated a stocking 10 have a leg portion 12 and a foot portion 14.

The leg portion 12 has a leg opening 16 which is bounded by a knitted tuned-over welt construction 18.

As seen more clearly in Figure 2, the welt construction 18 includes a first terminal portion A which is knitted in with a second terminal portion C. Portions A and C have a width extending over a desired number of courses and may be of a knitted construction which provides an aesthetic decorative band 20.

At a central location between the portions A and C there is provided an edge defining portion B which after portions A and C have been joined together defines a decorative terminal edge for the leg opening. In the present example, the decorative terminal edge provides a scalloped edge decoration. Located between portions A and B, and B and C are first and second welt band portions D and E which are of conventional knitted structure.

A specific example of a knitted welt construction according to the present invention will now be described with reference to Figure 3. In this example, the stocking is knitted on a circular knitting machine.

In Figure 3 it is assumed that the knitting machine produces the knitted welt construction in the following order, portion A, portion D, portion B, portion E and finally portion C.

The knitted structure of portions A, D, E and C may be of any conventional structure; for instance portions D and E are a plain knitted structure. However, it is envisaged that bands D and E may be a patterned knit structure if desired.

The knitted structure for portion B is shown in greater detail in Figure 3 and comprises a 10 x 2 tuck arrangement repeated around the needle cylinder.

Thus during knitting of portion B successive groups K comprising 10 needles knit and alternating groups I of 2 needles tuck.

Tucking is performed over a predetermined number of successive courses, in Figure 3 16 courses, and this has the effect of drawing the fabric together at the tucked locations and causing the knitted fabric regions 25 to define raised fabric portions located between the tucked locations.

On completion of the welt the tucked locations form depressions 40 in the welt edge and the raised fabric portions form crests 41. Accordingly, a decorative scalloped edge is produced.

The height of the crests is determined by the number of courses over which tucking is performed. As indicated above, in the illustrated embodiment tucking occurs over 16 courses, however, to produce a higher crest tucking would be performed over a greater number of courses and to produce a lower crest tucking would be performed over a smaller number of courses.

The spacing between the crests may be varied by varying the number of needles in the tucking groups. The incline of the crests may be varied by varying the number of needles in each knitting group, ie. the more needles the shallower the incline, the fewer needles the steeper the incline.

The height and appearance of the crests may be varied by altering the loop size during knitting of the portion B relative to loop size during knitting of portions D and E. In this respect the stitch forming cams on the knitting machine may be dipped or lowered during knitting of all or selected courses of portion B to provide larger loops. This has the decorative effect of giving the crests a more open structure of lace-like appearance and providing the edge with picot-like loops.

Preferably an elastic yarn 50, such as lycra, is knitted in with the base yarn during selected courses in portion B. This has the effect of pulling the fabric together and creating a tendency for the scalloped edge to lie flat against the leg of the wearer during wear.- In the illustrated embodiment the elastic yarn is knitted in with the base yarn on the last 2 courses.

It is envisaged that the tuck structure which is repeated around the needle cylinder may be a compound structure to thereby provide a repeating sequence of different sized crests, eg a repeating structure of 10 x 2 and 6 x 2. Alternatively, or in addition, the number of courses over which tucking is performed can be different for different groups of knitting and tucking needles. For example one group of knitting and tucking needles may knit and tuck over say 16 courses and an intermediate group of knitting and tucking needles may knit and tuck over say 10 courses.

The foot portion is preferably knitted to incorporate a reinforced knitted area 30. The reinforced area is created by knitting a reinforcing yarn together with the base yarn over a selected number of wales and splicing the reinforcing yarn as appropriate.

Preferably the reinforcing yarn is floated across wales of the base fabric on selected courses and at selected wale positions to provide a visibly distinguishable line 60. Preferably the reinforcing yarn is floated across only a pair of wales at any one time.

The example illustrated in the drawings and described above is a full stocking, ie it covers the foot and upper portion of the leg of the wearer. It will be appreciated that the invention is also applicable to a half-stocking ie it covers the foot and lower leg, and also to any other stocking-like garment having a turned welt.

Claims

1. A knitted stocking having a leg opening bounded by a knitted turned-over welt construction, the welt construction defining a decorative edge for the leg opening.

2. A stocking according to Claim 1, wherein the decorative edge defines a scalloped edge.

3. A stocking according to Claim 2, wherein the scalloped edge is defined by a plurality of courses of base yarn in which adjacent groups of wales of knitted stitches are separated by a group of wales of tucked stitches.

4. A stocking according to Claim 3, wherein the same number of wales are present in each adjacent group of wales of knitted stitches.

5. A stocking according to Claim 3, wherein a different number of wales are present in each adjacent group of wales of knitted stitches.

6. A stocking according to Claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein each group of wales of tucked stitches includes one or more wales.

7. A stocking according to Claim 6, wherein the same number of wales are present in each adjacent group of wales of tucked stitches.

8. A stocking according to Claim 6, wherein a different number of wales are present in each adjacent group of wales of tucked stitches.

9. A stocking according to any of Claims 3 to 8, wherein an elastic yarn is knitted in with the base yarn on selected courses of said plurality of courses of base yarn.

10. A stocking according to any of Claims 3 to 9, wherein the loop size of said knitted stitches on selected courses of said plurality of courses of base yarn is different to the loop size of knitted stitches in the remainder of the welt.

11. A stocking substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of producing a knitted stocking having a leg opening defined by a decorative edge, the method including knitting a turned-over welt construction to bound the leg opening, and during knitting of the welt knitting a decorative edge forming portion which on completion of the welt defines said decorative edge.

13. A method according to Claim 12, wherein the decorative edge forming portion is produced by knitting a plurality of courses of base yarn in which adjacent groups of wales of knitted stitches are separated by a group of wales of tucked stitches.

14. A method according to Claim 13, wherein the needles producing the groups of tuck stitches remain in their tuck position during knitting of all of said plurality of courses.

15. A method for producing a stocking having a decorative edge substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.