Method and apparatus for sewing an open end of a tubular textile item to make the toe of a sock or of a leg of a stocking

A method for sewing an open end of a tubular textile item, extending along a direction of longitudinal development and ending with said open end, so as to make the toe of a sock or of a leg of a stocking, the method comprising the steps of:

• -arranging at least one preparation mold for sewing, designed to receive a tubular item having an open end;
• -loading at least partially a tubular item onto said at least one preparation mold, by winding it outside the preparation mold starting from the open end, so that the tubular item is at least partially extended longitudinally on the preparation mold;
• -flattening the tubular item on said at least one preparation mold, so as to define at least at the open end a first side and a second side overlapping and facing each other, each of said first side and second side being provided with a respective end portion at the open end, the end portions being designed to be sewn so as to make a toe of the tubular item;
• -pulling the end portion of only the first side along the direction of longitudinal development of the tubular item, so that at the open end the end portion of the first side is elongated and longitudinally advanced, with respect to the end portion of the second side, of a length defining a given level of unbalancing;
• -then, by keeping the end portion of the first side pulled, simultaneously blocking the first side and the second side so as to make them as one piece and fix the mutual position thereof, said blocking occurring on respective portions of the first and of the second side that are withdrawn, along the direction of longitudinal development, with respect to said end portions of the two sides, so as to leave the open end designed to be sewn accessible;
• -by keeping the first side and the second side blocked, releasing the end portion of the first side previously pulled, and taking the preparation mold out of the tubular item;
• -by keeping the first side and the second side blocked, simultaneously submitting the respective end portions of the two sides to sewing devices and sewing them, so as to sew the end of the tubular item and make a closed toe of the tubular item;
• -releasing the blocking of the first side and of the second side.