Stocking toe end closing apparatus of the type having a series of horizontal stocking turning tubes mounted on a rotatable base for indexing to a position for spreading stocking toe ends carried on the supports, and for further indexing to a seaming position where the stocking toe ends are closed. The turning tubes are connected to a suction source at index positions before and after the spreading and closing positions for everting stockings thereat. Spreading fingers are inserted into the open free ends of the supported stockings at the spreading position and expand through longitudinal slots in the tubes for lateral spreading of the stocking toe ends to a width suitable for seaming, and the fingers are then moved away from the support end in a diagonal direction with respect to the elongation of the tubes in synchronism with the index motion of the tube, so that the stocking toe end is carried by the fingers to a position where the fingers and the toe end extremity lie beyond an arcuate clamp which then engages the widespread toe end in position for rotation of the clamp and the toe end extremity past a sewing machine for closing. Tubular guards with matching longitudinal slots are provided for exposing alignment and shielding non-alignment with the slots in the tube ends to prevent interference with the everting of stockings by the tube end slots. Exhaust air produced from the same suction source that provides suction for everting stockings is passed through a nozzle adjacent the clamp onto the toe end extremity for directing it into the sewing machine. The clamp rotates in reverse direction after seaming to pay out the stocking which has wrapped partly around it during seaming, in synchronism with the index motion of the stocking support away from the seaming position. An endless belt is supported in deflected engagement with the stocking tube at the seaming index position, and during a portion of its index motion to and away from that position, as a means of restraining the stocking from sliding off the support as it is partially withdrawn for positioning the toe end at the sewing machine and by wrapping around the clamp during seaming.