Patent Publication Number: US-2005115281-A1

Title: Hosiery-type garments and method of making

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/507,162, filed Sep. 29, 2003. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to knitwear or hosiery, in particular, machine-made knitwear or hosiery garments that are nearly or completely seamless.  
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      Stockings and hosiery have long been used to improved the appearance of women&#39;s lower body, especially the legs and feet. Depending on the color, shade and sheerness of the hosiery material, the appearance of the skin and muscle tone of these body parts can be significantly improved in terms of smoothing out blemishes or discoloration and providing a tautness that may otherwise be lacking in the skin or underlying muscle. Indeed, with modern “super sheer” hosiery, using relatively fine weights or denier thread, such hosiery when donned can have a nearly invisible appearance except upon close inspection. Typically in producing sheer hosiery, the lower the denier of the yarn, the lesser the opacity of the hosiery.  
      A major advancement in knitting, particularly in rendering conventional stockings and hosiery more comfortable and less conspicuous, was and continues to be the use of circular knitting machines. Although these machines, which were developed in the mid-19th century, were a great improvement over flat knitting machines, which were limited to producing flat fabric as opposed to knitted tubes, it was the introduction of nylon in the 1940&#39;s which revolutionized the hosiery industry. Nylon, a man-made polyamide yarn with origins in the petro chemical industry, provided thermoplastic properties that enabled knitted tubes to be heat treated and permanently formed and shaped. Moreover, it was discovered that nylon and other similar synthetic yarn can be “crimped” to form stretch yarn which enable the hosiery to form fit the various contours of the body. Nylon and many synthetic yarns have a natural luster but they can be delustered as desired or needed to produce a duller appearance.  
      However, even with the advent of seamless stockings or hosiery (“seamless” being used more as a term of art than in the literal sense since these stockings and hosiery are not always entirely without seams), some women still prefer the full-fashioned variation which are knitted flat, then fashioned or shaped, and hand or machine seamed. Accordingly, flat knitting machines are still in use and methods to render the sewn seam less visible have been developed, using different stitching methods and/or new and improved threads.  
      In addition to the aforementioned weft knitting techniques which generally use one continuous yarn to form rows of loops across a flat sheet or tube, warp knitting which was developed some 200 years ago uses parallel feeds of yarn that are generally knitted simultaneously into parallel rows of loops that are interlocked in a zig zag pattern. Therefore, instead of the yarn running horizontally from side to side in the case of flat knitting, or around and around in the case of circular knitting, the yarns form vertical loop in one row and then move diagonally to the next row in forming the next row. Each stitch in a row (also called a course) is made by a different yarn.  
      Because warp knitting machines tend to work better with yarn of uniform thickness and strength, synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester work well with warp knitting machines. Warp knit fabric can be produced on tricot, raschel and weft-insertion machines. There are also simplex and milanese machines, although these are now more or less outdated.  
      Jacquard knitting is also known and can be of a weft-type or a warp-type. In either case, a Jacquard type attachment is used to provide versatility in designs and patterns.  
      It is also known that conventional hosiery and stocking use a variety of yarns of natural or man-made constituents, such as silk or nylon. Elastane fibers are popular, including Lycra® which can stretch up to five times its original length and recover completely. By controlling the tension of Lycra in the knitting, the strength of its elasticity can be selected. It is also possible to mix Lycra and nylon, and/or apply the yarn as a “core yarn” covered with a single outer wrapping, or multiple inner and outer wrappings. Covering increases the thickness of the yarn and consequently its handling characteristics. Other conventional hosiery yarns include Dorlastan and Lastex and a variation of combinations of these yarns with the aforementioned yarns may be used, for example, 82-90% Polyamid-Micro with 18-10% Elastan, or 90% Polyamide with 10% Dorlastan.  
      As fashion trends move toward greater exposure of the body, there is a need for a machine-knitted garment to provide the same benefits and advantages to the upper body that have been so long afforded to the lower body. Sleeveless garments or strapless garments that expose the arms, if not also the upper chest and upper back, can leave one feeling less than comfortable or confident about her body, especially when these exposed regions lack muscle tone. For women who have blemishes or discoloration, or anyone who desires more tautness in these areas, it is difficult to resolve these concerns while remaining fashionable. For these women, it is desirable to have a means by which they can wear sleeveless or strapless garments with confidence and comfort and that they be able to provide the perception of smooth and flawless skin in the arms and upper body regions.  
      Thus, unlike women&#39;s ice-skating suits or the more fashionable sheer tops that have become popular in recent years, an inconspicuous hosiery garment for supporting the arms, and any other exposed areas such as the shoulders, upper chest and upper back is needed. The garment should ideally be seamless at least in the shoulder area, if not also in the arms in their entirety, and the upper chest and back areas. Moreover, the garment should primarily be an undergarment worn under sleeveless or strapless clothing, to provide an appearance or perception of a smooth and taut upper body.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is directed to a fashionable hosiery-type machine-knitted garment for the upper body having at least arm portions, shoulder portions, an upper chest portion, an upper back portion, wherein at least the shoulder portions are seamless, if not the garment in its entirety. The garment is constructed in a manner to provide an inconspicuous appearance when worn while providing comfortable support to at least the arms of the user and also the shoulders and upper bodice, such as the upper chest and upper back. As such, the garment is well suited to be worn under sleeveless clothing or even strapless clothing, to provide the appearance or perception of smooth, blemish-free and taut skin in the exposed areas of the upper body.  
      In one embodiment, the garment in its entirely is free from any seams and can be made using a circular knitting machine or a warp knitting machine that produces a tube with a changing diameter along its length or a tube having a branched configuration.  
      In a second embodiment, the garment has a generally vertical seam down the chest and back leaving the shoulder and the arm regions entirely free from any seams. The garment of this embodiment can be produced by a circular knitting machine or a warp knitting machine that produces two comparable tubes which are joined along a portion of their longitudinal axis.  
      In a third embodiment, the garment has a single seam extending laterally across the chest and the back, which also leaves the shoulder and the arm regions entirely free from seams. The garment of this embodiment can be manufactured using a circular knitting machine or a warp knitting machine that produces a tube with a greater diameter and a tube with a lesser diameter, where the tubes are joined 90 degrees offset from each other to form the garment.  
      In a fourth embodiment embodiment, the garment has a seam extending along and under each arm and the respective side of the torso, which can be formed from a flat-knitted generally “cross-shaped” fabric that is folded in half and joined along selected edges.  
      In all embodiments of the invention, the garment is advantageously free from any seams in at least the shoulder and outer arm regions, these being possibly the exposed and visible areas of the upper body that most readily lose their youthful appearance and muscle tone.  
      The present invention is also directed to methods for making a garment using circular knitting, flat knitting and/or warp knitting machines. A completely seamless garment may be constructed using circular or warp knitting of a single tube, which can begin with a knitting of a tube for a sleeve, an expansion of the tube using a looser knit to form a bodice portion, and a return to the tighter knit to form an opposing sleeve. Incisions are made in opposing areas of the bodice portion to form the neck and waist openings and then the entire garment is formed, shaped and heat treated into a conforming configuration for the upper body.  
      Another method to produce a garment which also uses circular or warp knitting can begin with knitting a larger tube for a bodice and then branching into the tube into two smaller tubes for a pair of sleeves. The circular or warp knitting can also begin with a knitting of the two tubes for the pair of sleeves and then merging the two tubes into one tube for the bodice. A neck opening is made along a junction between the two smaller tubes.  
      Yet another method to produce a garment using a circular or warp knitting machine includes knitting two similar but separate tubes, each of which has a length suitable for forming a sleeve and a vertical portion of a bodice, aligning the tubes longitudinally, cutting each tube along its length from a selected location between open ends of the tubes to one open end to form two open edges and attaching a portion of the open edge of one tube to a similar portion of the opposing open edge of the other tube. Joined portions of the tubes form the bodice, cut but unjoined portions of the tubes form the neck opening, and unjoined and uncut portions of the tubes form the sleeves.  
      An alternative method to produce a garment using a circular and/or warp knitting machine includes forming two separate tubes: a first tube of a smaller diameter suitable for an arm and having a length that spans the length of both arms and the shoulder and chest areas spanning in between, and a second larger tube dimensioned for the torso. Two opposing incisions are made in the smaller arm tube to create a neck opening and a chest opening. The chest opening is then stitched to, or otherwise joined with an open end of the second tube generally centered with and generally 90 degrees offset from the first tube. The garment produced by this method remains entirely seam free in the shoulder and arm areas, having only a seam that extends laterally around the chest and back in circumferential relationship therewith.  
      The garment may also be manufactured using flat knitting machines. This method includes flat knitting a piece of fabric that is laid flat and cut into a generally cross-shaped configuration or otherwise formed into a pattern having opposing sleeve portions and opposing bodice portions generally perpendicular to the sleeve portions. The pattern is folded in half and stitched along four edges to form two seams, each of which extends under each arm and the adjacent side of the torso. An incision is made in the center of the pattern either before or after folding to form the neck opening. A garment produced by this method remains seamless in the shoulder, the upper chest and upper back regions. Outer arm regions are also advantageously free from any seams.  
      The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a back review of the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the embodiment of present invention of  FIG. 1  used with a sleeveless garment;  
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the embodiment of the present of  FIG. 1  used with a strapless garment;  
       FIGS. 5 and 5 A are front views of an embodiment of the present invention manufactured with a circular knitting method;  
       FIGS. 6 and 6 A are front views of another embodiment of the present invention manufactured with a circular knitting method;  
       FIGS. 7 and 7 A are front views of another embodiment of the present invention manufactured with a circular knitting method employing a changing angle of knitting;  
       FIGS. 8 and 8 A are front view of another embodiment of the present invention manufactured with circular or warp knitting method using two similar tubular structures;  
       FIGS. 9, 9A  and  9 B are front views of another embodiment of the present invention manufactured with circular or warp knitting method using a branched tubular construction;  
       FIGS. 10 and 10 A are front view of another embodiment of the present invention manufactured with circular or warp knitting method also using a branched tubular construction but with a different Jacquard attachment;  
       FIGS. 11 and 11 A are front views of an embodiment of the present invention manufactured with a flat knitting method;  
       FIGS. 12 and 12 A are front views of another embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIGS. 13, 13A  and  13 B are front view of yet another embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 14  is a front view of an additional embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of a hosiery garment  10  of the present invention includes a bodice portion  12  (hereinafter “portion,” “region” and “section” used interchangeably) having a front region  14  and a back region  16 , and two arm portions  18  and  20 . The bodice portion  12  and the arm portions  18  and  20  span continuously into each other through shoulder regions  22 , an upper chest region  24  and an upper back region  26  (the upper chest and the upper back regions being generally referred to herein as the upper bodice). The hosiery garment in this embodiment therefore covers and supports at least a user&#39;s arms  30  from her shoulders  32  to her wrists  34 , if not also her torso  35  from below her neck  36  down to hips  38 . Other configurations may be provided as needed or desirable, for example, a midriff variation where the garment ends above the waist at end  17 , and/or a high-neck version where the garment ends at end  19  covering the collar bone or neck of the wearer (see  FIG. 14 ), although at least the shoulder regions  22 , and also the upper chest region and the upper back region, remain seamless in accordance with the present invention. In particular, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the shoulder regions  22  of the garment  10  are free from any seams that might interfere with the garment&#39;s inconspicuous nature. As such, the shoulder regions  22  of the garment provide a generally completely smooth surface and profile that resemble blemish-free, smooth and well-toned skin. Moreover, the entirely seamless arm regions  18  and  20  extending from the shoulders  22  down to the wrists  34  of the wearer provide the same smooth surface and profile for the arms. Such seamless shoulder and arm regions  18 ,  20  and  22  facilitate the use of the garment  10  as an undergarment or accessory to clothing that are sleeveless or even strapless  42  and  44 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
      Covered by the garment  10 , skin that would otherwise be completely exposed appears smooth and flawless and any loss of elasticity in the skin is compensated by the elastic but sheer and inconspicuous compression provided by the garment. The garment of the present invention is sheer, fashionable and inconspicuous. The hosiery garment  10 , which may be of a flesh tone, is without shoulder seams and is generally intended to be worn under clothing.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 5 A, an embodiment of the garment may be manufactured using circular or warp knitting which produces knitted tubes. The garment  10  of  FIGS. 5 and 5 A uses a single circular knitted tube  50  having an expansive middle section  52 . In particular, the knitting of the tube  50  forming the garment proceeds in a direction x, beginning with a sleeve section  54  for the arm  18 , continuing to the expansive section  52  for the torso  35 , and ending at an opposing sleeve section  56 . The sleeve section  54  is circularly knitted at a selected gauge, that is, with a selected number of stitches per inch. As the knitted tube of the section  54  reaches a length or dimension sufficient for the length of the arm  18 , the knitting gauge is decreased to a much looser knit (whereby, e.g., the loops knitted increase in size) for knitting the expansive section  52  for the torso  35 . As the knitted tube of the expansive section  52  reaches a length sufficient for the width of the torso  35 , the circular knitting gauge may then again be increased to a much tighter knit (whereby the loops knitted decrease in size) so as to form the opposing sleeve section  56 .  
      Thereafter, incisions are made to form slits  62  and  64  as a head opening (or neck opening, used interchangeably herein) and a chest or waist opening, respectively. Where a polyamide or polyamide blend yarn is used, the hosiery garment of  FIG. 5  can then be formed and heated, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, to substantially achieve the configuration shown in  FIG. 5A . It may also be preferable to knit the expansive section  52  in two different lower gauges along a boundary  67  which may be generally linear or nonlinear between an upper section  66  and a lower section  68 . Since the upper side  66  of the expansive section  52  needs only to accommodate the shoulders  32 , a certain lesser gauge (or loose knit) may be used. But since the lower side  68  needs to accommodate the chest or the torso, an even lesser gauge (or even looser knit) may be used.  
      Another method of manufacture using circular or warp-knitting is described in reference to  FIGS. 6 and 6 A. As shown, two knitted tubes  70  and  72  are formed. The tube  70  is configured to be suitable for forming sleeve sections  74  and  76  and an upper bodice portion  75 , which includes an upper chest and upper back sections  78  and  80 , of the garment  10 . The tube  72  is configured to be suitable for forming bodice section  82 . In the illustrated embodiment, the tube  70  is of a much smaller diameter compared to the tube  72  with a larger diameter and the tube  72  is positioned generally centrally and generally perpendicularly to the tube  70 . Incisions are made in opposing locations of the tube  70  to form neck opening  84  and chest opening  86 , the latter opening  86  generally conforming in size and/or shape to the size and/or shape of the tube  72 . Thereafter, the tubes  70  and  72  are joined, e.g., by stitching, to connect the chest opening  86  of the tube  70  to an open end  88  of the tube  72 . Thus, the garment of  FIG. 6A  provides a generally horizontal circumferential seam  90  across the chest and back, but in accordance with the present invention remains seamless in the arm portions  18  and  20 , the shoulder portions  22  and in the upper chest and upper back portions  24  and  26 . The seam  90  will not interfere with the use of the garment under sleeveless clothing. Moreover, the seam will generally not interfere with the use of the garment under most strapless clothing.  
      In another application of circular knitting, a seamless garment  120  is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 7 A having a branched tubular construction. In particular, two tubes  122  and  123  forming sleeves  125  of the garment are merged seamlessly with a tube  124  forming a shorter bodice  127  of the garment. Knitting can start at an open end  126  of the tube  122  until a location B along a neckline  123  is reached. A direction of knitting X by a suitable circular warp-knitting machine, for example, an electronic circular knitting machine manufactured by Santoni S.p.A of Brescia, Italy, is then effectively rotated by a predetermined degree to a direction Y for knitting the tube  124 . When location C is reached, the direction of knitting Y is then effectively rotated by a predetermined degree to a direction Z for knitting the tube  123 . Knitting then continues until a comparable length in the tube  123  is reached in relation to the tube  122  and an open end  125  is formed in the tube  123 . Accordingly, merge lines  129  on a front  131  and a back  133  of the garment  120  denote the changes in the direction of knitting occurring between the sleeve tubes  122  and  123  and the bodice tube  124 . The change in the angle of knitting can be about 120-60 degrees and preferably about 90 degrees. In particular, the change in direction of stitching can be varied such that the rate of change varies and/or the merge lines  129  are curved. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 7 and 7 A, the merge lines are generally concave. However, the merge lines may also be generally convex. In any case, such nonlinear merge lines may accommodate a greater or lesser neck opening  128  or chest opening  130  and/or a tighter or looser fit around the chest, back and upper torso, as desired.  
      A neck opening  128  is formed by slitting or cutting the tubes  122 ,  123  and/or  124  between locations A and D following the neckline  123  through locations B and C. The chest opening  130  is formed by slitting or cutting the tube  124  between locations E and F. That is, the openings  128  and  130  can be form from a slit along a line (linear or nonlinear), or from a trim that removes a section of the tubes  122 ,  123  and/or  124 . The chest opening  130  may be hemmed or otherwise treated with a finishing stitch. Or, a support band or tube  132  of a different knit, e.g., tighter, denser and/or heavier knit, may be sewn or otherwise attached to the chest opening  130  to better secure the garment to the body and minimize the garment riding up on the chest of the user. It is understood that the band  132  may have a greater vertical dimension  141  (as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 7A ) such that the garment reaches the waist or hips of the user.  
       FIGS. 8 and 8 A illustrate another embodiment of the present invention suitable for manufacturing by circular knitting machine, such as the aforementioned electronic circular knitting machine by Santoni S.p.A. A garment  140  is formed from two tubes  142  and  143  of comparable dimensions, each of which has been cut to form longitudinal edges  144  spanning along the length of the tubes from a location G to an open end  146 . The cut edges  144  of tubes  142  and  143  are joined, for example, by stitching, between a location H and the open end  146  to form generally vertical seams  148  along a front  150  and a back  152  of the garment. A neck opening  148  is therefore defined by the cut edges  144  that remain unattached between locations G and H. A bodice opening  150  is jointly defined by the open ends  146  of the tubes  142  and  143 . As such, a bodice  154  of the garment  140  is formed from a joined bottom portion of the tubes  142  and  143 , whereas sleeves  156  of the garment  140  are each formed from a top unjoined portion of the tubes  142  and  143 . In that regard, the garment can also be formed by joining the tubes  142  and  143  at their cut edges  144  between locations G and the open end  146 , and then slitting or cutting out the neck opening  148 .  
      A band  150  may be included in the garment  140 , which can be formed from either a section of different circular knit continuously knitted from the tubes at the open ends  146 , or a separately-formed tubular or flat fabric, circularly or flat knitted, that is joined to the garment after the forming of the bodice opening  150 .  
      Another embodiment of the present invention suitable for manufacturing by a tricot or raschel warp-knitting machine, with or without a Jacquard attachment, is shown in  FIGS. 9, 9A  and  9 B. A garment  160  with sleeves  162  and a bodice  164  is configured from a branched tubular construction following a knitting direction parallel to direction K or a longitudinal axis of the garment. The knitting may start at open ends  168  of sleeve tubes  170  and continue until a length suitable for the sleeves is reach, at which stage the two sleeve tubes merge into a bodice tube  172 . A junction  173  defines a location between the bodice tube  172  and the two sleeve tube sections  170 . Knitting then continues until a length suitable for the bodice  164  is reached and the bodice tube  172  ends at an open end  174 .  
      Alternatively, knitting may start at the open end  174  and continue until the bodice tube  172  has been formed, at which stage the bodice tube is branched into the two sleeve tubes  170 . Knitting is completed when the length suitable for the sleeves  162  has been reached.  
      A neck opening  176  is then formed at or near the junction  173  from a slit in or a cutting away of a portion of the tubes  170  and/or  172  from locations K to M. A suitable machine for knitting the garment  140  is a tricot or raschel machine by Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH of Obertshausen, Germany, Model RDPJ 6/2 using the following yarns: DTEX 47, 7 70% polyammide and 30% elastan and/or DTEX 44 F30 100% nylon. Clearly, finer yarns may be used as desired or appropriate. If a Jacquard attachment is used, decorative knits can be achieved, for example, a generally repetitive “stars” and/or “spider-net” weave as shown in  FIGS. 9, 9A  and  9 B, or a “brassiere weave” with front and back patterns as shown in  FIGS. 10, 10A ,  10 B and  10 C.  
      A garment of yet another embodiment of the present invention may also be manufactured using flat or rectilinear knitting. Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 11 A, a piece of flat knitted hosiery fabric  92  is cut or otherwise formed into the pattern shown, with the sleeve portions  18  and  20  that oppose each other and the front portion  14  and the back portion  16  that oppose each other and are about 90 degrees offset from the sleeve portions. These sleeves and/or bodice portions need not be square or rectangular but may be tapered as desired or appropriate. The fabric pattern  92  is folded on line  94  such that edge  96 S meets edge  98 S and  96 B meets edge  98 B. Similarly, edge  100 B meets edge  102 B and edge  100 S meets edge  102 S. These meeting edges then are stitched, sewn or otherwise joined to form the garment of  FIG. 7A , having a seam  104  extending under the arm portion  20  and down an adjacent side of the bodice portion  12 . Likewise, a seam  106  extends under the arm portion  18  and down an adjacent side of the bodice portion  12 . An incision is made in the fabric pattern  92 , either before or after the folding at line  94 , to form a head opening  108 . Accordingly, the garment in this embodiment has the seams  104  and  106  extending along the underside of the arms  30  and down the sides of the torso  35 , but the shoulder portions  22  and outer or exterior arm regions  18 E and  20 E (see also  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) remain free of seams that would otherwise interrupt the appearance of smooth and taut skin provided by the hosiery garment.  
      Beginning or ending edges of any of the tubes used to form the hosiery garment may be left raw, or unfinished. Cut edges such as for those made for head, neck, chest or waist/torso openings, however, depending on the direction of the incision relative to the knitting direction, may be left raw or unfinished, as well. That is, whereas a ladder run may be formed when conventional hosiery is snagged or ripped, raw or unfinished edges of selected machine-knitted fabrics do not run but may have a tendency to curl. Accordingly, conventional finishing or hemming may be applied for those cut edges that run, or for any tube edges, as desired. It is understood that the foregoing embodiments may be varied by knitting the underlying tubes with different dimensions, including diameter and length.  
      As discussed above, a variety of elastic natural or man-made yarns may be used to construct the hosiery garment. The hosiery garment is knitted in a gauge and/or with a denier yarn that enables the garment to be comfortably form fitting much like conventional hosiery is for the lower body. As such, air gaps or pockets between the garment and the skin are generally not desirable, nor is wrinkling or scrunching around the joints of the arm or the shoulders. The tension or gauge of the yarn should be such that the hosiery garment is comfortable, but stretches readily to cling snugly and conforms to at least the arms and body, if not all exposed areas and surfaces. The texture of the knitted fabric may be smooth and soft. All of the aesthetic and functional (including circulatory) benefits provided by conventional hosiery for the legs or lower body are available in the present invention.  
      Neck openings and/or chest or waist openings need not be symmetrical in relation to the front and back of the garment. Indeed, as with most garments, a neck opening may be wider and/or lower in the front than in the back. Likewise, a chest and waist opening may be lower in the front than in the back. Ends of sleeves at the wrists may also be adapted with a finger loop to tether the ends to a finger. Any of the aforementioned embodiments may also be configured as a body suit or leotard-type garment.  
      As for color, shimmer, shade and/or sheerness, conventional hosiery yarns offer a whole host of choices depending on the modesty or perceived exposure desire and/or the color and tone of the user&#39;s skin. Of course, where the hosiery garment is intended to be inconspicuous, the more closely the color and/or shade match the user&#39;s skin, the less conspicuous the hosiery garment will be. Having said that however, it is contemplated that the hosiery garment may be decorated so as to resemble decorated skin on the user, as illustrated. Tattoos, body paints, body glitter or even body piercing are popular fashion trends. As such, the hosiery garment may be similarly decorated either before or after donning so as to provide the appearance or perception of decorated skin or flesh. The present invention, however, also contemplates a nearly or completely seamless garment in colors other than flesh tones. The term “seam” as used herein generally denotes the joining of two separate edges by stitching, which is distinct from a hem line or a merge line.  
      It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. To that end, it is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the illustrations are not necessarily to scale and that the dimensions of the tubes described hereinabove may be altered to suit the desires and needs of the user. Many other modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and it is therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.