Sewing machines have been around for centuries, yet many of us still don’t understand how they work. From the basics to more complex structures, sewing machines are a great way to alter clothing and create new apparel designs.
In this blog post, we will explore how a sewing machine works – from the functions it performs to the intricate machinations that make it all happen. Whether you’re an aspiring fashion designer, seamstress or curious crafter, get ready to learn a few things about one of sewing’s most essential tools!
The Needle:
The sewing machine needle is one of the most important parts of the machine. It is what creates the stitches that hold your fabric together. The needle also has a small hole in the tip that the thread goes through. The eye of the needle is where the thread exits and then re-enters the fabric.
The Thread:
A sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric, cards and other materials together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing and upholstery factories.
The earliest sewing needles were made of bone or steel. The needle was pricked into the cloth and then pulled through to form a loop (or “stitch”). The thread was then pulled through the loop and tightened, forming a second loop next to the first.
This process was repeated over and over, forming a chain of stitches. It was very time-consuming and often resulted in uneven or even broken stitches.
In 1790, Thomas Saint patented the first sewing machine. His machine used a needle with an eye at one end and a point at the other. The needle was mounted on a horizontal shaft that could be moved up and down by a foot pedal. A second shaft held a shuttle which carried the thread back and forth through the fabric.
As the needle pierced the fabric, the shuttle would carry the thread under it and then over to the other side, forming a loop (or “stitch”). By depressing the foot pedal, the operator could control both the up-and-down motion of the needle as well as the back-and-forth motion of the shuttle. This resulted in much more even and consistent stitches than could be achieved by hand stitching.
While Saint’s machine was an improvement over hand stitching,
The Bobbin:
The bobbin is the part of the sewing machine that holds the thread. It is a small, cylindrical piece of metal or plastic that fits into the sewing machine and turns as the needle moves up and down. The thread from the bobbin is what forms the stitches on your fabric.
The Feed Dogs:
The feed dogs are the part of the sewing machine that moves the fabric along as you sew. They are usually found under the needle plate and look like a row of teeth. The top of the feed dogs is often grooved or serrated so that they can grip the fabric and move it through the machine.
The Stitch Length Lever:
The stitch length lever is one of the key components of a sewing machine. It is responsible for controlling the length of the stitches made by the machine. By adjusting the stitch length lever, you can change the appearance and strength of your stitches.
In order to properly use the stitch length lever, you will need to understand how it works. The stitch length lever is connected to a series of gears that control the movement of the needle. When you adjust the lever, you are changing the position of these gears, which in turn changes the distance that the needle moves with each stitch.
The further you move the lever, the longer the stitches will be. Conversely, if you move the lever closer to the center position, the stitches will be shorter.
It is important to note that not all sewing machines have a stitch length lever. Some machines have a dial or knob that controls stitch length instead. However, the principle behind these different types of controls is still essentially the same – they are all changing the position of gears in order to alter needle movement and, ultimately, stitch length.
The Presser Foot:
The presser foot is one of the most important parts of a sewing machine. It’s what keeps the fabric in place while you’re stitching and helps to feed it through the machine evenly. There are different types of presser feet for different types of sewing, so it’s important to choose the right one for your project. If you’re not sure which presser foot to use, consult your sewing machine manual or ask a experienced sewer.
The tension discs:
Sewing machines have been around for centuries, and their basic function is still the same: to stitch two pieces of fabric together. But how does a sewing machine actually work?
At the heart of every sewing machine is a pair of tension discs. These discs are responsible for holding the thread taut as it passes through the needle. Without tension discs, your thread would be loose and your stitches would be sloppy.
The tension discs are connected to a spring that applies pressure to the discs. This pressure keeps the thread taut as it passes through the needle. The amount of pressure applied by the spring can be adjusted, depending on the type of fabric you’re working with and the type of stitch you want to create.
When you start sewing, the tension discs rotate slightly to take up any slack in the thread. As you sew, they continue to rotate, making sure that there’s always just enough tension on the thread so that it doesn’t break or come undone.
So next time you sit down at your sewing machine, take a moment to appreciate those little tension discs! Without them, your stitches would never be nice and straight.
How to use a sewing machine?
If you’re new to sewing, or even if you’re an experienced sewer who has never used a particular type of machine before, it’s always a good idea to take a few minutes and read the instruction manual before getting started.
Once you have a general understanding of how your machine works, it’s time to get started! Here are a few tips on how to use a sewing machine:
- Make sure that your fabric is positioned correctly before starting to sew. This means that the top layer of fabric (the one you want people to see) is facing up, and the bottom layer is facing down.
- Start by threading the needle. To do this, first raise the presser foot, then thread the needle from front to back.
- Lower the presser foot and position your fabric under it. Then, using your right hand, hold the end of the thread and use your left hand to turn the handwheel towards you until the needle starts moving down into the fabric.
- Continue sewing until you reach the end of your seam, thenraise the presser foot and turn the handwheel towards you again until the needle moves all the way back up to the top. Cut off any excess thread and you’re done!
