A sewing machine is a machine which is used to stitch different materials like fabric with thread. To reduce the amount of manual sewing, sewing machines were discovered during the first industrial revolution. Since the invention of the first working sewing machine, it has enhanced the productivity and skill of the clothing industries.

Importance of Sewing Machines

Generally, home sewing machines are designed for one person to sew personal items by using a single type of stitch. Contemporary sewing machines are designed in such a way that the fabric can move smoothly in and out of the machine without any trouble of the needle and other tools that are used in hand sewing to automate the process of sewing and save time. Industrial machines are faster, larger and also available in different size, task, and cost compared to domestic Bernina sewing machines.

Variety of Stitches

It is possible to make the different type of ordinary and patterned stitches. Plain stitches involve four general categories like lockstitch, chainstitch, coverstitch and overlock.

Chainstitch

It was used by early sewing machines. An improved stitch was discovered in the lockstitch. The chain stitch is used in clothing manufacture and generally paired with an overlock stitch.

Lockstitch

Lockstitch is the well-known stitch and generally used by domestic sewing machines. It is single needle sewing machine for industrial purpose with two threads. One is passed through a needle and one comes from a bobbin or shuttle. Each thread is on the same side of the material being sewn. Another thread is there to interlace at each needle hole with the help of a bobbin driver. As a result, a lockstitch can be performed anywhere on the material being sewn.

Overlock

Overlock is also known as serger or serging stitch and can be made with one to four threads, a couple of loopers, and a couple of needles. These kinds of sewing machines generally include knives to trim or make the edge instantly in front of the stitch. Household and industrial machines are generally used for garments in stretchy or knit fabrics. It helps to protect the edges. Machines which are using two or four threads are very common and one machine can be arranged for the different type of overlock stitches.

Coverstitch

Coverstitch is made with two or more needles and one or two loopers. Coverstitch can be done anywhere in the material which is being sewn. It forms a bottom cover stitch. An extra looper above the material can form a top cover stitch. Coverstitch is widely used to make garments, specifically to attach trims and flat seaming.

Impact on Society

Women spent much time to maintain their family’s clothing before the invention of the sewing machines. An experienced seamstress takes at least 14 hours to make a shirt for a man where as it takes 10 hours to make a woman’s dress.

The innovation of sewing machines facilitates garments sewing. By using this machine, lots of time is saved. It helps to automate the garments industries along with improvement and quality of stitches.