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Gauge Gauge is a measurement of the density of the knitting of the fabric which makes the stockings. It corresponds to the number of needles in a 38-millimeter section of the knitting bed of flat-bed machines. Thus 60 gauge means there are 60 needles per 38mm. The most common gauges are 60 and 51. The gauge of a machine determines how fine the fabric will be. At the close of WW2 there wasn't a single 60 gauge machine in Britain but by 1954 most 15 denier stockings produced were 60 gauge. The 60 gauge machines were much more difficult to run than the 51 gauge, they had to run at an optimal temperature of 74F-78F. However the advantages of a finer weave were obvious - sheerness and transparency!