Patented Nov. 9, 1943 2,333,870

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2333 870 . METHODoF Robert H. Lawson, Pawtucket, R.I., assignor to ... Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R.I., a cor------Applicationporation of FebruaryMassachusetts 5, 1936, serial. No.. . "62,498 " 6 Claims. (CI. 66-172) might be knitted throughout more courses al This case deals with a method of knitting a though it has been found that two courses serve stocking top and the article produced. The top quite Satisfactorily. - - • of a stocking wet is necessarily knitted in some The welt knitted in continuation of these sel nanner to present a which will effectively vage courses may be of any. conventionals type, resist ravelling and which will present a pleas but in accordance with the present practice of ing appearance. The method herein concerned knitting elastic into the complete welt of a involves the introduction of an elastic yarn with Stocking or at least throughout spaced courses in the terminal courses of a stocking Welt or top thereof, the same elastic yarn will be incorpo in such a manner that the elastic yarn Will bind rated throughout the welt in any one of the the stitches which would otherwise be subject to O known Ways. In this particular instance the running, and Which will present a Smooth ap Welt continues after selvage courses 5 and 8 by pearance of the top after the elastic yarn has knitting courses 9 and 0 as plain courses and been allowed to contract and bind the said then by knitting courses , 2, 3, etc., as courses Stitches. The figure of the drawing represents a section 5 in Which the elastic yarn has been introduced on of fabric knitted in accordance With the inven every other needle. Many other methods of in tion and shows in a conventional manner hoW troducing the elastic may be resorted to such as the fabric is knitted, but does not illustrate the knitting in Spaced courses and on spaced wales, top after contraction of the elastic yarn. or it is possible that the elastic yarn may be laid The tops of stocking Welts have heretofore 20 in behind some needles and in front of others, been knitted in a manner to present a Selvage even though it is knitted into courses 5 and 8. which will be satisfactory in appearance by This elastic yarn will serve as a garter when special manipulation of the usual which knitted throughout the welt and also may serve go to form said Welt or by Special manipulation to effect a So-called rib appearance. and introduction of other similar yarns. It is the 25 After the Selvage has been cast from the needles purpose of this invention to disclose a method of the rubber yarn 6 which has been knitted under knitting wherein an elastic yarn may be en considerable tension will contract, and in so do ployed for securing both a selvage and for ob ing, Will draw up the two courses 5 and 8 so that taining a Smooth and pleasing appearance at the the loops thereof will be effectively prevented top edge of the Stocking Welt. The particular ex 30 from ravelling. This top will present a very satis ample shown illustrates a section of fabric factory appearance and will also resist any tend which is formed as continuous or string Work, ency to curl. The use of elastic for securing a this being well-known in the hosiery arts and Selvage in string work of the type described makes usually involving the knitting of loose pull courses it unnecessary to provide for anything except in continuation of the toe of a stocking previous 3. 5 plain knitting of the usual welt yarn and selec ly knitted, from which pull courses the top of the tion of alternate or spaced needles for taking the next stocking Will be continued. These pull elastic yarn. It is of further advantage to employ courses are withdrawn later to separate the in this elastic yarn for a selvage since the rubber dividual articles. yar?n has to be introduced throughout a large Referring to the figure, course is the last 40 portion of the Welt in Welts of the type described course knitted at the loopers rounds of a preced Wherein said elastic yarn has been incorporated ing stocking or knitted article and courses 2, 3 for another purpose. It is within the scope of and 4 are pull courses preferably knitted on al the invention to vary the number of needles upon ternate needles, or in any other Suitable method Which said rubber yarn 6 would be taken in employed for knitting Such pull courses. courses 5 and 8, it not being necessary to knit the The next course 5 which Will be the first rubber on every other needle, although that has course of the stocking top or welt next to be pro been found to be preferable. duced consists of a series of loops drawn on all The invention has been described with respect the needles and alternate loops 6 drawn from an to a particular embodiment of the same, but the elastic yarn (which may be covered or uncov 50 ered rubber) and having floats extending over disclosure is not to be taken in a limiting sense the intervening Wales. While it night be Suffi since many changes may be made which Will still cient to introduce this elastic yarn only through fall within the scope of the original concept of out the first course of the Welt, it is preferably in the invention and I am not to be limited except corporated in courses 5 and 8 and obviously, 55 by the limitations of the claims themselves. 2 . 2,338,870 s ... .. : ... I claim: 4. A method of knitting a selvage for a knitted 1. A method of knitting a selvage for a including the steps of feeding yarn to all fabric including the steps of feeding a yarn to all of a series of needles and simultaneously feeding of a series of needles and simultaneously feed an elastic yarn to alternate ones of that series of ing an elastic yarn to alternate needles of said needles under tension so that when released, the series of needles whereby the elastic yarn will be said elastic yarn will contract, and will bind an . knitted into alternate loops of the fabric, and initial course of the selvage to form a non-ravel maintaining said elastic yarn under such a ten ling edge. ser . . . . sion that when released it will contract and bind 5. A method of knitting a selvage for knitted said stitches to form a non-ravelling edge. - O fabric including the steps of feeding yarn to all 2. A method of knitting hosiery in string work of a series of needles for a plurality of courses comprising the steps of knitting so-called pull and for the first two courses of the selvage feed courses in continuation of the previously knitted ing i elastic yarn to the hooks of and drawing it article, knitting the initial courses of the next into stitches on alternate ones of the needles only article in continuation of said string work and under tension so that when released, the said elas incorporating in said initial courses an elastic tic yarn will contract and will bind an initial yarn maintained under a suficient tension so that is course of the selvage to form a non-ravelling stitcheswhen it againstravelling.is released it will contract to bind the edge. 3. A method of knitting hosiery in string work 6. A method of knitting a selvage for a knitted including the steps of knitting so-called pull 20 fabric including the steps offeeding both an elas. courses in continuation of the terminal courses of tic and an inelastic yarn to needles of a knitting the previously knitted article and in continuation machine, feeding the elastic yarn under tension of said pull courses, knitting the initial courses of and to alternate needles only and the inelastic a stocking welt by knitting at least two complete yarn to all the needles and simultaneously draw courses on all the needles and incorporating there 25 ing the said yarns and then casting them of with an elastic yarn simultaneously knitted into whereupon the elastic yarn will contract and bind some of the loops of said two courses and main the initial course againstravelling. taining tension on said elastic yarn. ...' . . . . . ROBERT H. LAWSON.