HOSIERY TERMS
SOCK TYPE
Anklet A sock with a turned down cuff covering the ankle bone. The anklet was introduced for women in
1920, causing a sensation when initially worn at a tennis match in 1931.
Athletic Socks Hosiery designed for active sports, often having a ribbed striped top and plain foot
construction. Usually knit of acrylic cotton.
Basics Traditional or classic styles which vary seasonally only in color. Basics form the bulk of the sock
and hosiery business. For men, the basics are crew-length casual and both crew-length and over-the-calf
styles. For women, the basic are knee-highs and anklets. Children's basics are flat knit anklets, crews
and bobbies.
Bobby Sock A heavily cuffed anklet.
Booties Soft, fluffy knitted foot coverings for infants. Designed for children of pre-walking ages.
Casuals A broad hosiery term used to describe all women's socks and any men's socks with the
exception of dress, athletic, and work styles.
Crew Sock A sock extending to the lower calf with the foot portion knitted in a plain stitch having a defined
heel and the upper portion of the sock knitted in a rib pattern.
No Show A sock made with very little top so that it is not seen when wearing shoes.
Over The Calf Sock A sock that reaches above the thickest part of the calf.
Ped Sock A sock that has a very low welt top.
Slouched Sock A sock made with less stretch in the top in order to allow the sock to slide down the leg
creating a casual appearance.
Tube Sock A calf or knee-length sock having no true heel or toe.
SOCK CONSTRUCTION
Circular Knit The major knitting method in hosiery construction. Yarn is knitted into hosiery using a
cylindrical tube. Toes are later sewn in.
Cushion Sole Sock often worn for sports with either a full or half cushion foot that absorbs shock and
provides additional comfort. This is obtained by a layer of cotton terry.
Flat Knit Second most widely used sock construction. Fabric is knit on a machine that produces a fine,
smooth surface.
Mock Rib Most common sock construction. Texture is created by using elastic yarns which simulate a true
rib.
True Rib Vertical pattern of alternating ridges or "wales". Provides a less binding top than mock rib
construction.
MANUFACTURING
Blended Textile materials made of a combination of two or more fibers, yarns or filaments.
Contoured Heel Process utilizing extra yarn in order to form a contoured shape.
Core-spun Yarn A yarn made by spinning fibers around a filament of a previously spun yarn, thus
concealing the core.
Cotton Fiber A soft and heat-resistant vegetable fiber used in garments since 3,000 B.C. It absorbs and
retains moisture, is readily washable, and is available in a wide variety of types and qualities. Long staple
combed cotton is generally considered to provide the finest quality cotton yarn for socks.
Course A series of adjacent loops forming a horizontal line across the knitted fabric. Small horizontal
stitches mean more yarn has been used, resulting in finer fabric, greater elasticity, and longer wear.
Feeds This term is normally used in conjunction with circular knitting machines and literally means how
many yarns are fed into a machine at each revolution to knit continuous rows of stitches.
Fiber Natural or man-made units of matter which can be spun into a yarn or made into a fabric by various
methods. The essential properties of fibers to be spun into yarn include a length of at least 5 millimeters,
flexibility, cohesiveness, and sufficient strength. Other important properties include elasticity, fineness,
uniformity, durability, and luster.
Fish-mouth Toe A method for closing a non-reciprocated toe. The toe seam runs parallel to the bottom of
the foot, which creates the appearance of a mouth.
Gauge The measurement of the distance between needles in a knitting machine.
Two-thirds of the gauge equals the number of needles per inch. For example, on a 60 gauge machine
there are 60 needles to 1-1/2 inches.
Gore The center of the heel or toe. The knitting process creates the appearance of a seam when the gore
is formed.
Greige (pronounced "gray") Unfinished socks as they come from the knitting and seaming department.
Irregulars Hosiery that contains minor imperfections in dimensions, size, color or knit but without obvious
mends, runs, breaks or substantial damage to yarn.
Knitting The art of constructing fabric on needles, by inter-looping of one or more yarns in several series
of connected loops hanging on and supported by one another.
Needle Count The total number of needles used in knitting a sock. The higher the needle count relative to
the size of the cylinder results in close stitches and a fine gauge.
Non-Reciprocated Socks knitted without a true heel and toe, i.e. tube or contoured heel socks.
Reciprocated A knitting process where upon reaching the heel, the machine begins to move slowly in an
alternating fashion to produce the heel. The machine may be adjusted to complete the same process for
the toe.
Welt Top The uppermost portion of the sock is cuffed and stitched together. The double thickness is a
ravel-free reinforcement that provides additional comfort and support.
Yarn A generic term for an assemblage of fibers or filaments, either natural or manufactured, twisted or
laid together to form a continuous strand suitable for use in producing fibers.
Yarn Count A numerical designation expressing relationship of length to weight.
FINISHING
Appliqué Any pre-prepared fabric decoration which is sewn or ironed onto a hosiery product.
Band A paper construction used to package hosiery; usually coated with a special pressure sensitive
textile adhesive.
Bleaching A chemical process that whitens a sock. Socks are knitted as greige goods and bleached after
knitting.
Boarding Finishing operation in which the sock is placed, while damp, over a metal form and pressed
between a heated surface. A process similar to ironing that is purely aesthetic in nature.
Dyeing The penetration of fiber, yarns or fabrics with natural or synthetic coloring agents.
Heat Transfers The application of a design or logo to a sock by transferring a design from a specially
printed paper to the fabric by means of heat or pressure.
Longfold A step in hosiery production where merchandise is stored and prepared for final packaging.
Pairing The finishing operation in which individual socks are inspected and made into pairs prior to
folding and packaging.
SOCK TYPE
Anklet A sock with a turned down cuff covering the ankle bone. The anklet was introduced for women in
1920, causing a sensation when initially worn at a tennis match in 1931.
Athletic Socks Hosiery designed for active sports, often having a ribbed striped top and plain foot
construction. Usually knit of acrylic cotton.
Basics Traditional or classic styles which vary seasonally only in color. Basics form the bulk of the sock
and hosiery business. For men, the basics are crew-length casual and both crew-length and over-the-calf
styles. For women, the basic are knee-highs and anklets. Children's basics are flat knit anklets, crews
and bobbies.
Bobby Sock A heavily cuffed anklet.
Booties Soft, fluffy knitted foot coverings for infants. Designed for children of pre-walking ages.
Casuals A broad hosiery term used to describe all women's socks and any men's socks with the
exception of dress, athletic, and work styles.
Crew Sock A sock extending to the lower calf with the foot portion knitted in a plain stitch having a defined
heel and the upper portion of the sock knitted in a rib pattern.
No Show A sock made with very little top so that it is not seen when wearing shoes.
Over The Calf Sock A sock that reaches above the thickest part of the calf.
Ped Sock A sock that has a very low welt top.
Slouched Sock A sock made with less stretch in the top in order to allow the sock to slide down the leg
creating a casual appearance.
Tube Sock A calf or knee-length sock having no true heel or toe.
SOCK CONSTRUCTION
Circular Knit The major knitting method in hosiery construction. Yarn is knitted into hosiery using a
cylindrical tube. Toes are later sewn in.
Cushion Sole Sock often worn for sports with either a full or half cushion foot that absorbs shock and
provides additional comfort. This is obtained by a layer of cotton terry.
Flat Knit Second most widely used sock construction. Fabric is knit on a machine that produces a fine,
smooth surface.
Mock Rib Most common sock construction. Texture is created by using elastic yarns which simulate a true
rib.
True Rib Vertical pattern of alternating ridges or "wales". Provides a less binding top than mock rib
construction.
MANUFACTURING
Blended Textile materials made of a combination of two or more fibers, yarns or filaments.
Contoured Heel Process utilizing extra yarn in order to form a contoured shape.
Core-spun Yarn A yarn made by spinning fibers around a filament of a previously spun yarn, thus
concealing the core.
Cotton Fiber A soft and heat-resistant vegetable fiber used in garments since 3,000 B.C. It absorbs and
retains moisture, is readily washable, and is available in a wide variety of types and qualities. Long staple
combed cotton is generally considered to provide the finest quality cotton yarn for socks.
Course A series of adjacent loops forming a horizontal line across the knitted fabric. Small horizontal
stitches mean more yarn has been used, resulting in finer fabric, greater elasticity, and longer wear.
Feeds This term is normally used in conjunction with circular knitting machines and literally means how
many yarns are fed into a machine at each revolution to knit continuous rows of stitches.
Fiber Natural or man-made units of matter which can be spun into a yarn or made into a fabric by various
methods. The essential properties of fibers to be spun into yarn include a length of at least 5 millimeters,
flexibility, cohesiveness, and sufficient strength. Other important properties include elasticity, fineness,
uniformity, durability, and luster.
Fish-mouth Toe A method for closing a non-reciprocated toe. The toe seam runs parallel to the bottom of
the foot, which creates the appearance of a mouth.
Gauge The measurement of the distance between needles in a knitting machine.
Two-thirds of the gauge equals the number of needles per inch. For example, on a 60 gauge machine
there are 60 needles to 1-1/2 inches.
Gore The center of the heel or toe. The knitting process creates the appearance of a seam when the gore
is formed.
Greige (pronounced "gray") Unfinished socks as they come from the knitting and seaming department.
Irregulars Hosiery that contains minor imperfections in dimensions, size, color or knit but without obvious
mends, runs, breaks or substantial damage to yarn.
Knitting The art of constructing fabric on needles, by inter-looping of one or more yarns in several series
of connected loops hanging on and supported by one another.
Needle Count The total number of needles used in knitting a sock. The higher the needle count relative to
the size of the cylinder results in close stitches and a fine gauge.
Non-Reciprocated Socks knitted without a true heel and toe, i.e. tube or contoured heel socks.
Reciprocated A knitting process where upon reaching the heel, the machine begins to move slowly in an
alternating fashion to produce the heel. The machine may be adjusted to complete the same process for
the toe.
Welt Top The uppermost portion of the sock is cuffed and stitched together. The double thickness is a
ravel-free reinforcement that provides additional comfort and support.
Yarn A generic term for an assemblage of fibers or filaments, either natural or manufactured, twisted or
laid together to form a continuous strand suitable for use in producing fibers.
Yarn Count A numerical designation expressing relationship of length to weight.
FINISHING
Appliqué Any pre-prepared fabric decoration which is sewn or ironed onto a hosiery product.
Band A paper construction used to package hosiery; usually coated with a special pressure sensitive
textile adhesive.
Bleaching A chemical process that whitens a sock. Socks are knitted as greige goods and bleached after
knitting.
Boarding Finishing operation in which the sock is placed, while damp, over a metal form and pressed
between a heated surface. A process similar to ironing that is purely aesthetic in nature.
Dyeing The penetration of fiber, yarns or fabrics with natural or synthetic coloring agents.
Heat Transfers The application of a design or logo to a sock by transferring a design from a specially
printed paper to the fabric by means of heat or pressure.
Longfold A step in hosiery production where merchandise is stored and prepared for final packaging.
Pairing The finishing operation in which individual socks are inspected and made into pairs prior to
folding and packaging.
Proudly
Made in
America.
Made in
America.
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