Hosiery Weaving


Figure 1.--

We do not yet know much about hosiery weaving. There are several important topics that we have not yet developed. We have only begun to develop, for example, a basic understanding of weaving technology. The production of textiles is second only to agriculture in the development of civilization. Here advances of weaving basic weaving technology is needed to understand the specific developments in hosiery weaving. There is a great deal we do not yet understand. We do not know, for example, just when hosiery began to be produced mechanically rather than woven at knitted at home. Another important question is when mechanical weaving permitted the use of different colored yarns to produce colored bands and other multi-colored patterns. Of course this is associated with the Industrial Revolution, but we do not yet have details converning weaving of hosiery. We also do not know much about country trends at this time. It was clearly England which initiated the Industrial revolution that led the way in weaving technology. The Industrial Revolution was indeed centered on textile production. And as in other areas, the English led the way in hosiery production. Manufacturers in other countries such as America had considerable difficulty competing. An important aspect of weaving is the type. We notice various weaves. The two most important are plain or flat weaves and ribbed weaves. There are other more fashion based weaves such as cable-knit weaves which have been proven popular for kneesocks. Here for reasons we do not fully understand, the weaves used for the various types of hosiery varied. We do not, gor example see cable knit long stockings while this was a popular weave for kneesocks. Nor do we see very commonly long stockings with fancy patterns while this was also common for kneesocks.

Weaving Technology

We do not yet know much about hosiery weaving. There are several important topics that we have not yet developed. We have only begun to develop, for example, a basic understanding of weaving technology. The production of textiles is second only to agriculture in the development of civilization. Weaving is the interlacing of threads, yarns, strips or other fiberous material. It is primarily associated with the production of fabric for clothing, but other items are also woven such as baskets. Weaving is well established in aiciet socities where it was generally relegated to women. While weaving has pre-historic orgins, many technical developments over a long period have led to modern weaving mills. The spinning and weaving of textiles were time-consuming, but essential household tasks. The Industrial Revolution in Western Europe began primarily as the mechanization of textile production. Here advances of weaving basic weaving technology is needed to understand the specific developments in hosiery weaving.

Industrial Revolution

No development in modern history has affected individuals more than the Industrial Revolution and the manufacture of textiles played a key role. Historians debate just where and when the Industrail Revolution began. We would set it at about the mid-18th century in the English Midlands. Some authors might take issue with this, but this would be the most widely accepted view. The first industry affected was the textile or clothing industry--one reason that the study of the clothing indusytry is so important. It was at this time that workers instead of weaving piece work at home, began to work in factories. Here cotton manufacture became especially important. Several inventions at this time were responsible, including the spinning jenny, flying shuttle, and a water-powered loom. This was soon followed by the key invention of our time which served as a catalyst for industrial expansion--the steam engine. John Newcomen and James Watt developed the steam engine. Watt between 1769-84 developed an efficient engine. The abundant supplies of coal in Britian combined with the technological advances by British inventors in part explain why Britain led the way in European industrial expansion. The significance was that the steam engine was an efficent source of energy that could be put to work in virtually every industry and because inexpensive energy was available, helped develop new industies. The railroad was essenially a steam engine on wheels. The railroad in turn revolutionalized the world economy. Many bulk goods like grain could not be sold at any significant distance from where it was grown or produced. The railroad allowed bulk goods to be transportd at great distance for limited costs, including ports where goods could be conducted aound the world. At at those ports awaited steam-powered boats, floating steam engines, to effiently move cargos at low cost around the world.

Hosiery Weaving History

There is a great deal we do not yet understand. We do not know, for example, just when hosiery began to be produced mechanically rather than woven at knitted at home. Another important question is when mechanical weaving permitted the use of different colored yarns to produce colored bands and other multi-colored patterns. Of course this is associated with the Industrial Revolution, but we do not yet have details converning weaving of hosiery.

Country Trends

We also do not know much about country trends at this time. It was clearly England which initiated the Industrial revolution that led the way in weaving technology. The Industrial Revolution was indeed centered on textile production. And as in other areas, the English led the way in hosiery production. The Ebglish leadership continued well into the 19th century, despite the fact that traditional weaving methods persisted well after modern textile production methods developed. Manufacturers in other countries such as America had considerable difficulty competing with imported product, mostly hosiery imported from England..

Weaving Types

An important aspect of weaving is the type. We notice various weaves. The two most important weaves associated with hosiery are plain or flat weaves and ribbed weaves. Flat weaves seem by far the most common. It also appears to be the only type of hosiery weave for many centuries. We also see a good deal of ribbed hosiery, including long stockings, knee socks and annkle socks. We are not sure just when ribbed stockings first appeared. We first note them in the mid-19th century, due to the accurate photographic images. We are not yet sure that is when they first appeared. Motably the mid-19th century is when major innovations in manufacturing methods began. There are other more fashion based weaves such as cable-knit weaves which have been proven popular for kneesocks. Here for reasons we do not fully understand, the weaves used for the various types of hosiery varied. We do not, for example, see cable knit long stockings while this was a popular weave for kneesocks. Nor do we see very commonly long stockings with fancy patterns while this was also common for kneesocks.

Hosiery Types

There were variations in the weaves of the different types of hosiery. Here chronology is a factor because ribbed weaving appears to be a lste-19th century development. Medieval hosiery seems to have been a flat weave. Long stockings look to have been a flat weave, but a reader tells us that mant by the 20th century were done with fine weaves. Knee socks and ankle socks were less commnonly ribbed, but we have seen them done with ribbing as well. We are less sure about three-quarter socks.





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Created: 5:43 PM 2/7/2007
Last updated: 2:13 AM 2/9/2007