History Of The Sewing Machine – From First Inventions To Modern Times – Sewing Machines Los Angeles

The history of the sewing machines can be traced back to London, sometime in 1755. According to stories, it was actually Charles Weisenthal, a man who came all the way from Germany, who applied for a patent for his needle, which he needed to use for his sewing needs. However, because it’s very unclear as to the means of needles in a sewing machine, the first recognized inventor of sewing machines was Thomas Saint of England.

The sewing machines that Saint invented made use of awls rather than needles when trying to sew some materials. If one would examine the specifications of these models, they would fit into the heavy-duty category as you can actually sew canvas and, most of all, leather, which were made to cover boots. They also made use of single-thread system and could produce a chain stitch. The problem with Saint, however, is that it’s only a patent, which means nobody really knows for sure if he had actually completed the project or not.

History of Sewing Machines in the 1800s

It was actually Barthelemy Thimonnier, a tailor from France, who had patented the first economical sewing machine sometime in the 1830. With this model, you can utilize needle with hooked tips, very similar to the needle that is being utilized in embroidery. This needle could be lowered by pressing on the food treadle that’s connected to the one holding the needle with a cord. The needle could go back through a spring mechanism.

Moreover, the patented sewing machine of Thimonnier could also produce a chain stitch. His machine became very popular that he was able to build his own factory as well as was commissioned to sew the uniforms for the army. However, before the history of the sewing machine could take its full swing, Thimonnier saw the end of everything he had worked hard for. His factory was raided by several tailors, who saw the threat the machine could make on their own means of living. In the end, he didn’t make any fortune from his creation.

Though chain stitch was the major product of the earliest sewing machine, it was constantly criticized for the simple reason that it’s very weak. It couldn’t hold fabrics very well. Thus, Walter Hunt from New York came up with a sewing machine with double threads. It was introduced in the market during 1834. It possessed two sets of needles, the other one being carried by a shuttle. When a person would begin to sew, they could produce interlocking stitches. This could also be the first type of modern sewing machine. The project didn’t progress, though, as Hunt decided to put a stop to it.

The technology that is being employed by the newer sewing machines can be attributed to the genius of Elias Howe who created eye-pointed needles with grooves. It could produce straight seams. Isaac M. Singer, meanwhile, was the first person to create the sewing machine with very rigid arms. This is to prevent vibration, which could create crooked stitches. The sewing machine also included a table where you could place the cloth horizontally and conveniently.