History of the Sewing Machine in Brief

Save it Now, Make it Later!

The history of the sewing machine is full of tension. Not the tension you associate with sewing, but a tension of burning factories and riots, as the sewing machine evolved. When the mechanics of the machine grew more efficient, patent infringements, copycat stealing of ideas, and lawsuits followed. The history of sewing machines makes for interesting reading as it ultimately led to what was known as the ‘Sewing Machine War’ with Singer, the brand we know today as one of the leading contenders for international fame.

The History of the Sewing Machine

This article will deal with the history of the sewing machine from its inception to modern times.

1755 – Charles Weisenthal

As early as 1755, there was an attempt at designing a needle with an eye suited for a sewing machine. This was designed by a German called Charles Weisenthal. There was no mention of a machine at that time, but since the design was for a needle, it was obvious a machine existed.

1790 – Thomas Saint

In 1790 a machine designed to be driven with a hand crank was invented by Thomas Saint who was a cabinet maker. It was made for use on leather and canvas. Although he must have had a working sewing machine, there is only limited evidence of a prototype. His machine used a single thread to create a chain stitch.

1810 – Balthasar Krems

Balthasar Krems invented a sewing machine designed for sewing caps.This machine didn’t use a thread, but instead, it mechanically punched the thread through the fabric. The machine design was not patented.

1815 – Josef Madersperger

Josef made his first attempt to build a sewing machine. His efforts, although innovative, didn’t result in a practical or widely used machine at this time.

1830 – Barthelemy Thimonnier

In 1830 a French tailor named Barthelemy Thimonnier invented the first sewing machine which was widely used. Like Saint’s, the machine used a single thread and a hooked needle to make a chain stitch. The machine was to make uniforms for the French army.

Unfortunately, the machine was met with resistance from the French tailors. They mobbed the factory owned by Barthelemy Thimonnier and set fire to it as they were afraid the machine would rob them of their jobs.

Thimonnier managed to escape the fire that would have killed him as his factory burnt to the ground. An American inventor, Walter Hunt, abandoned his invention for the same reason. However, in years to come, the sewing machine created jobs for both men and women.

1844 – John Fisher

In 1844, an Englishman named John Fisher invented a machine to make lace. Unfortunately, the patents for the machine were lost and he got no recognition for his invention. Fisher was not interested in the machine so he left America and went to England. Two years later, he returned to America to find his machine had been copied.

1845 – Ellias Howe

In 1845, a year later, an American called Ellias Howe invented a sewing machine that used two threads. This machine produced the lockstitch, which differed from the chain stitch.

Ellis Howe’s machine had a needle with an eye at the point. The needle and thread went through the fabric to loop with a thread in a shuttle on the underside of the fabric. This machine was the patent for th efirst practical sewing machine.

1851 – Singer Machines

In 1851, Isaac Singer began manufacturing sewing machines. Singer sewing machines soon became the most popular sewing machines on the market. This machine began modern machines with a foot pedal and up-and-down needle action.

The manufacturers of the Singer sewing machines took ideas from Fisher’s machine and Howe, Hunt, and Thimonnie’s machines.

1854 – The Sewing Machine Wars

In 1854, Howe took Singer to court for patent infringement, and Howe won the case. This was a shock for all inventors of sewing machines and caused what became known as a ‘Sewing Machine War.’ Lawyers saw the different patents exposed and called this a ‘patent thicket.’

It was decided by a lawyer, Orlando Brunson Potter, that the different factions of the sewing machine war should come together and design a patent pool. This idea was accepted, and all patents were merged into a pool called ‘The Sewing Machine Combination.’ This sensible move allowed the further development of sewing machines.

1860 – Sewing Machine Manufacturing

Although Isaac Merritt Singer did not invent the sewing machine, he manufactured sewing machines. His brand of machines, the Singer, was the world’s most popular brand by 1860.

One of the reasons for this great success was the introduction of the hire-to-purchase concept by Isaac Merritt Singer. This purchase method enabled more people to buy machines and have them in their homes.

Singer was a flamboyant character who was very good at promoting his machine. He opened the doors to affordable machines, and with the accessibility of these machines, more jobs were, in fact, created. Factories could commit to mass production and machine-sewn clothes.

In the 1860s, women started forming sewing circles and discussing the use of the home sewing machine.

1900s – Electric Machines

In the early 1900s, the machine was beginning to be modernized with electricity, and the hand machine was replaced with a foot pedal. Unfortunately, due to the World being at war, the further development of the sewing machine took a back seat.

1947 – First Zig-Zag Stitches

After the war in 1947, an Italian company called Necchi introduced the first zig-zag stitch with the needle being able to move from side to side.

This was followed in 1950 with a lighter-weight portable machine by a Swiss company, Elna. The machine’s body was made of a lightweight alloy, not the heavy cast iron used previously. Elna continued to add value to their machines, and in 1952, Elna added cams or discs that were interchangeable and could make different decorative stitches. The cams enabled the machine to sew forward, backward, and side to side.

1970s – Mass Production

Sewing machines and their different brands continued to evolve through the 1970s and 1980s. From there, sewing machines looked and performed much as we know them today.

21st Century

Modern sewing machines are highly sophisticated, offering a range of functions from basic stitching to intricate embroidery, controlled through computer interfaces. There are many types of sewing machines including the mechanical sewing machine, embroidery machine, industrial sewing machines and quilting machines.

History of the Sewing Machine FAQs

Who invented sewing machine in 1846?

The sewing machine, as we recognize it today, was invented by Elias Howe in 1846. Howe’s invention was a key development in the history of sewing machines, as it introduced the lockstitch mechanism using a needle with an eye at the point.

What was the first sewing machine used for?

The first sewing machines, including the one developed by Elias Howe, were primarily used for industrial purposes, specifically for sewing uniforms and other garments on a large scale. Prior to the invention of the sewing machine, all sewing was done by hand, which was a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.

Did Singer invent the sewing machine?

Isaac Merritt Singer did not invent the sewing machine, but he made significant improvements to the existing design and was instrumental in popularizing it. The first practical sewing machine was invented by Elias Howe in 1846. However, Singer’s contributions, which he patented in 1851, were pivotal in making the sewing machine more efficient and user-friendly.

History of the Sewing Machine – In Conclusion

The real history of the sewing machine spans 150 years from the first functioning machine in 1830 to the fully motorized sewing machines in the 1980’s. Today’s machines are a credit to the home industry, and avid sewers also use computerized machines and sergers.

Did you know that September is actually celebrated as National Sewing Machine Month? President Ronald Regan declared September National Sewing Machine Month in 1982 to honor the sewing machine. This month is marked with sewing fairs and festivities to commemorate this worthy machine that transformed the lives of so many women and designers throughout the world.

History of the Sewing Machine in Brief