Figure 1.--The boys at this Scootish school wore turn-over-top socks with a flat weave. Notice the purple garter tabs the one boy is wearing to hold up his socks. The top of these kneesocks were not elasticized.

There are a variety of notable characteristics associate with kneesocks. Perhaps the most important was the length of the socks. Some were made quite long so that a turn-over-top cuff could be formed. HBC is not sure why this became so common. But when kneesocks first became common in the early 20th century they were worn with turn over tops. This is the only type we see before World War II, at least for boys. This changed after World War II when cheaper kneesocks were made to come just to below the knee without the extra length needed for a turn-over-top cuff. These were also commonly made in lwith less bulky material. This style became very common in the 1970s. Another common characteristic was ribbing. Almost all kneresocks were made with ribbing, although the number an width of the ribbing varied widely. An English reader reports, "I can't imagine there were many non-ribbed kneesocks around in the 1950s." The less expensive, non-ribbed kneesocks (generally without the turn-over-tops) appeare in the 1960s.

Length

Perhaps the most important was the length of the socks. Some were made quite long so that a turn-over-top cuff could be formed. HBC is not sure why this became so common. But when kneesocks first became common in the early 20th century they were worn with turn over tops. They were held up with garters, covered over by the turn-over-top cuff. This is the only type we see before World War II, at least for boys. This changed after World War II when cheaper kneesocks were made to come just to below the knee without the extra length needed for a turn-over-top cuff. They were held up with elatiicized tops. These were also commonly made in lwith less bulky material. This style became very common in the 1970s.

Weave

We have noted kneesocks with various weave patterns. Some had a flat weave without any pattern. A common characteristic was ribbing. Almost all kneresocks were made with ribbing, although the number an width of the ribbing varied widely. An English reader reports, "I can't imagine there were many non-ribbed kneesocks around in the 1950s." The less expensive, non-ribbed kneesocks (generally without the turn-over-tops) appeare in the 1960s. We have also noted a canle weave. This was popular in America, but mostly wrn by girls.

Weight

Some kneesocks were made in a heavy, bulky yarn. Before World War II they might have been knitted at home. Other kneesocks wre made with lighter-weight yarns and more sheer in appearance.

Created: 3:27 AM 5/19/2005
Last updated: 3:27 AM 5/19/2005