2-324-088 - www.picturethepast.org.uk/Nottingham City Council /Heritage Images

'Types of the Old-Time Stockingers', c1890s(?). Husband and wife framework-knitters. This picture was printed in Framework Knitting and Hosiery Manufacture, Volume 1, by JH Quilter and J Chamberlain. It was published in 1911, but the photograph could be older, possibly dating from the 1890s. Stocking making or framework knitting was an industry of considerable size, in and around Nottinghamshire area. The main areas in the country for this industry were the three Midland county towns of Nottingham Leicester and Derby. The stocking-frame which was a hand operated machine about the size of a small loom or small upright piano was used to knit stockings or hose and other small articles of clothing like hats gloves and scarves or mufflers. Cotton, silk or wool yarn would be used. The frame work knitters worked at home, having either a frame shop or workshop in the garden or a special room often on the top floor of the house with a special extra wide window to let in the maximum light for the stockinger to work. The yarn was supplied to the stockinger by the hosier who employed him. By the 19th century, Derbyshire was concentrating on the production of silk garments, Nottinghamshire on cotton, such as Nottingham Lace, and Leicestershire on worsted, woollen garments. As the 19th century progressed trade slumped as fashions changed, long hose was no longer needed and gentlemen went into trousers, The factory system began to replace the cottage industry and machines were developed to use first steam, then electric power.