 | The modern day hose knitting machine has advanced throught the years to the point where every stitch can be altered by computer. Different weight of yarn hangs above and is introduced into the hose according to the design of the hose. |
 | This is a close up of a knitting machine as the yarn is being pulled into the hose. The knitting needles around the circumference of the hose spins and grabs the yarn at a rate of 1500rpm. This specific hose is a 7 denier weight. Only one leg is made and is a complete hose with the reinforced toe and panty already attached along with the waistband section of one half of the full pantyhose. |
 | Samples of every style of hose is tested everyday to ensure the knitting process is within specified standards for stretch and sizing. This makes sure that every pair of hose in your size is consistantly your size. |
 | This particular room houses 600 kniiting machines producing a wide variety of styles and sizes. Depending on the yarn, the room's atmospere is controled to produce the proper characteristics of the style. A vacuum system runs underneath the floor and which the machines use to suck the hose downward as it is being stitched. Approximately 10 minutes is the time for 1 hose to be knitted. The hose is then sucked and then dropped into the white canvas bags you see here and awaits transport to the next stage. |
 | The yarn, which is mostly produced in Japan, is stored in the knitting room. |
 | Once the hose is knitted, it is approximately 6 feet long depending on the style and type of yarn. It then goes through a pressurized steaming oven. The hose is shrunk down to the proper length. This is very important process, any variation in the steam's temperature can affect the look and fit of the hose. |
 | The two hose are then hand placed onto the splitting/sewing machine. The panty is split down to the gusset and prepared to be connected to to make up a pair of pantyhose. |
 | The seams are then sewn to make up the panty and a gusset is added later if the style calls for it. |
 | The toes are stitched and trimmed. |
 | The lace used in stockings is made off site from a lace manufacturer. If they are stay-ups then a second manufacturer would place the silicone onto the lace. It comes in rolls and is hand cut to the appropriate length. |
 | The lace is then hand sewn onto the leg. This accounts for the higher price of lace top stockings compared to the same style in pantyhose |
 | Once the stitching process is finished the hose is then placed into large washing machines to cleanse the hose. Lubricants are added to the yarn to aid in the knitting and stitching process. The dye is then added in the same machines. The hose is then fed through a large microwave oven via conveyor belt to completely rid it of moisture. |
 | The powered dye is proportion mixed by computer programed scales. The dye has to be exact to produce a shade that is consistant from pair to pair. |
 | Some samples are pulled after the drying process to ensure the shades are consistant to the original shade. Different colours of light makes sure that shade is the right colour. When you have a particular shade on in the daytime you want that shade to show from pair to pair. |
 | After the drying process the hose is then moved to the pressing room. The hose is placed in front of a light to check for snags or holes. This particular press is a semi-boarding process. The hose is pressed flat and folded into a tube sock shape. |
 | Some styles are put through a high temperature steam chamber that actually shapes the hose in the form of a leg. This is called full boarding where the end result makes for a better fitting hose and thus increases the cost of the hose as well. |
 | The completed pair of pantyhose is then packaged by machine. |
 | Certain styles need to be packaged by hand due to the type of packaging and the construction of the hose. |
 | Here are some of the testing equipment and guages that are used to ensure proper fit and stretch qualities. |
