THIS PROBLEM OF STOCKINGS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 103, 13 June 1941, Page 42

THIS PROBLEM OF STOCKINGS

(Adapted from a Recent A.C.E. Talk)

RS. E. N. VAN KLEFFENS, the wife of the Netherlands Foreign Minister, was talking the other day about the stocking problem in England. Though no more supplies of silk stockings are available there, the majority of women seem to be able to sport slightly darned ones for important occasions and to rely on lisle for everyday wear. But before the last silk stocking springs its final ladder Mrs. Van Kleffens is confident that English manufacturers will have produced something so perfect that we’ll wonder how on earth we managed to put up with mere silk. But in case that day is a long time coming we must buy stockings wisely and take the best possible care of them when bought. Don’t Despise Lisle Do not despise lisle stockings (their price at any rate inspires respect). They are appropriate when wearing tweeds or low-heeled shoes and for all sports wear. They wear more satisfactorily than either wool or artificial silk, but it is advisable to buy the darker tonings as they tend to become lighter with wear. When buying good silk stockings, try to buy identical pairs, because the good ones can always be re-mated when one or even two of the original four have become unusable. a3

Remember that all stockings shrink slightly when washed, so buy them defiinitely on the large side, particularly if your feet are broad. Otherwise you'll find your toes and heels wear through very quickly, and the stockings may even tear along the line where the silk meets the reinforced foot. Washing Stockings Always wash new stockings before they are worn. Wash your stockings daily, for the chemical action of perspiration rots silk and causes them to wear out prematurely. So even if you have a separate pair of stockings for each day of the week, wash stockings the same night. Use tepid water in which enough soap has been dissolved for the lather to persist after the stockings have been immersed. Wash on the right side first, then on the wrong, avoiding rubbing. Rinse in two lots of cool water. (Streaking is generally due to the fact that the soap has not been rinsed properly). Squeeze as dry as possible, but do not rub. If you want your stockings to dry quickly, roll them in a towel and knead well. This will absorb most of the moisture. Then shake them well and hang them to dry in a place that is airy and warm but not hot. Hang them by the toes, and pull each stocking free from creases and wrinkles. Avoid drying stockings in the hot sun or in front of a heater.

It pays to take all these precautions even with lisle. When drying lisle stockings, pull them lengthways to prevent bagginess at the knees. Care of Stockings in Wear When putting your stockings on, always turn the toe back and then roll the stocking up the leg. Beware of such habits as crossing your ankles and dragging the heel-plate across your stocking, or of twining the legs round the legs of tables, desks, or chairs, both of which will cause pulled threads. If you do pull a thread, run a single strand of matching silk above and below the pull, taking care to catch every thread. Then there will be no risk of a ladder. If you are very hard on stockings at heels and toes, it pays to reinforce these points by fine darning before the stockings begin to wear. Many shops stock special heel reinforcers which can be ironed on to the stocking and which make the heel permanently hole-proof. Keep an eagle eye open for rough or worn shoe linings, or for nails in shoes. It is sometimes cheaper to buy a new pair of shoes than to wear out several pairs of stockings.