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The Old Sewing Machine |
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Evaluations of Accomplishments |
STORY OF THE QUILT SQUARE, THE OLD SEWING MACHINE, BY
THE CHURCHLAND EXTENSION HOMEMAKERS CLUB FOR THE HARNETT COUNTY
HISTORICAL QUILT, 1989 The Old Sewing Machine The
sewing machine was one of the home appliances that has become one of the
most popular. Sewing machines are also widely used in clothing
manufacturing and in other industries. Most
sewing machines utilize a two thread stitch, called the lockstitch, that
requires two separate sources of thread. The main spool is located on
the top of the machine on a spool pin. The thread from the spool is
threaded through a mechanism that keeps it under tension. The thread
then passes through a take-up lever and finally through the sewing
machine needle, whose eye is near its point. The take-up lever moves up
and down to unwind thread from the spool and provides tension or slack
as needed. The
second spool is a small metal, later plastic, one called \ the bobbin.
The bobbin is placed in a bobbin housing located in a chamber in the
base of the machine just below the needle. The end of the thread is
brought to the surface, through a hole in the plate covering the
chamber. In sewing, the material to be sewn, is placed on this plate,
through which protrudes a serrated part called a feed dog. The feed dog
advances the fabric after each needle stroke, the distance depending on
the stitch length selected. The
sewing machine was developed in the 19th century, chiefly by American
inventors. Walter Hunt developed the eye-pointed needle and the
lock-stitch in about 18)2, but he never patented his invention. Elias
Howe also invented a lockstitching machine, which he patented in 1846.
However, the machine patented by Isaac Singer in 1851 was the real fore
runner of modern machines. It had a straight vertical needle and a
presser foot and used a treadle for power. In the same year Allen B.
Wilson invented the rotating bobbin hook, and in 1854 he devised the
gripper mechanism now used for moving the fabric. The
quilt square, an early model of the treadle machine, was embroidered by
Pennie McKoy Williams for the Churchland Extension Homemakers Club. Written by: Pennie
McKoy Williams, President Churchland
Extension Homemakers Club Quilt Square: Row
7, Number 39 Embroidery by.
Pennie Williams Churchland
Extension Homemakers Club |
