Dimensional Stability of Men’s Socks

Dimensional stability is one of the main quality problems of men’s sock manufacturing. Major shrinkage can be found after washing, undermining socks’ usability. Today, greater demand for quality is required as customers become more aware of shrinkage from laundering. In order to investigate the effect of pressing and repeated launderings on dimensional stability of men’s socks, three commonly produced socks were subject to pressing at different temperatures and for different lengths of duration by an industrial sock pressing machine. The study demonstrates that pressing causes major shrinkage in the body and sole zones. The shrinkage is inversely proportional to temperature and duration of the pressing process. After the first laundering, major shrinkage was found. The second laundering had no significant effect on dimensional variations since the sock had already taken up its fully relaxed dimensions. The results can help knitters predict sock dimensions after thermal and humid treatments.