Last Updated on June 21, 2023
Do You Know Who Invented the Sewing Machine? Since ancient times, people have been sewing fabrics to get their attires. People resorted to a variety of methods and used various devices to sew.
For the first time, the sewing machine was discussed at the end of the 15th century, and the first person who proposed to improve the sewing process was none other than Leonardo Da Vinci, but this project did not find further development.
The first mention of the sewing machine appeared in 1755 when the German Karl Weisenthal patented the first invention that copied stitches by hand. After, several more sewing machines were invented, which were in less demand.
Who invented the sewing machine in the industrial revolution?
Who invented the sewing machine in the industrial revolution? Only 100 years later, in 1845, the American Elias Howe invented the sewing machine with the first lockstitch. Of course, his invention had several shortcomings, but it remained the perfect product. The movement of the curved needle in the sewing machine was horizontal, and the fabric was located vertically, which could have been more convenient.
The needle moved vertically in the sewing machine of A Wilson in 1850 and Singer and Gibbs in 1851. And the machine pressed the fabric with a special foot.
In 1851, the sewing machine with a needle that made a vertical movement appeared for the first time, and Isaac Merritt Singer invented it. Although Singer never considered this invention himself, he only modernized the best unit then, Walter Hunt’s sewing machine. The Singer sewing machine worked on a principle close to modern machines: a gear wheel moved materials, and an iron foot held the products horizontally so that the needle, evenly and clearly, fell into the fabric.
Despite all the machines’ shortcomings, the old Singer sewing machines can still work properly. However, modern machines that replaced the Singer immediately and irrevocably ousted this model of the sewing machine from the world market. And the Singer company later went bankrupt because no one wanted to buy new cars for themselves. After all, their old Singer worked perfectly for them.
Much has changed since people learned to sew and used sewing machines skillfully. Our parents’ models were replaced by new, improved sewing machines, which immediately and irrevocably took a leading position.
Modern Sewing Machine
Today, all sewing machines can be divided into 2-groups: electronic sewing machines and electromechanical sewing machines.
Electronic Sewing Machine
The first and very tangible difference is the number of operations that can be performed on these two models. An electronic sewing machine allows you to carry out many functions without restrictions. A similar result is achieved due to the presence of an electronic unit.
Electronic sewing machines are very convenient to use, you need to press one button, and immediately, the sewing machine will start working according to the set parameters and settings. Resetting parameters or stopping the sewing machine is easy with just a few buttons.
Electromechanical Sewing Machines
The stitch parameters must be set manually with the function wheel on electromechanical sewing machines. Inside the sewing machine at this time, a similar process occurs as when switching the speed on a manual transmission of a sewing machine.
Decorative stitches, eye loops, embroidery elements, embroidering the alphabet, and much more. However, all these advantages do not mean that an electromechanical sewing machine is worse since even with this type of sewing machine, you can do just fine with any sewing.
So How Do Modern Sewing Machines Differ for the Better From Their Predecessors?
Firstly, modern sewing machines differ from their predecessors in the variety of the shuttle. The hook is the main part or heart of the sewing machine. The first of them is a classic shuttle. The classic or vertical shuttle was the first innovation still used by many famous manufacturers.
The vertical shuttle works, making oscillatory movements during operation. The horizontal shuttle replaced the vertical one not so long ago but has already won its loyal fans. A modern horizontal shuttle will make it easier to maintain your favorite sewing machine since the hook does not need to be lubricated, and sewing machine oil is now only required by service engineers who repair sewing machines.
There is another type of shuttle movement called “rotary.” Shuttle vertical double run around with bobbin case. This type of shuttle is installed on industrial sewing machines, as it is famous for its high speeds. On household machines, you can find such a shuttle on Bernina sewing machines, models 1404, 1405, 580, and 750. These machines are considered high-end sewing machines.
In addition to the shuttle, there is another essential requirement that a modern electronic sewing machine must meet. This is the presence of adjustments for the length of the tie and the width of the line, the thread tension, and the foot’s pressure on the fabric. It is the presence of these and other adjustments that allow the tailor to achieve a high-quality seam.
The needle threader and thread cutter are not even discussed advantages of the operation of a modern sewing machine. It is also necessary to note the illumination of the work area. All modern sewing machines have a backlight. But for some, such as Brother Innov-is series sewing machines, Bernina sewing machines starting with the Activa series, and Juki “F” series, the backlight is provided by fluorescent lamps, which does not damage the eyes. Therefore you can devote a little more time to what you love.
Conclusion
So, sizes gradually decreased, and the mechanism of work evolved. For the first time, drawings of a more modern sewing machine appeared only at the end of the 17th century.
By the end of the 19th century, the American inventor Elias Howe created sewing machines, which people then used worldwide. Behind him and secured a patent for this invention. In the 20th century, machines began to be equipped with motors for automatic sewing and more stitches.
We can confidently say that the sewing machine’s history will continue, as it has a critical applied role in human life. The catalog on this site contains the most modern sewing machines for home use and small-scale production.
We wish you success and good luck!
“I like to turn a piece of string into something that I can wear.” I am dedicated to sharing knowledge on the necessary sewing equipment in The Sewing Stuffs.
