A sewing machine is a machine used to sew fabrics and materials with yarn. Sewing was invented during the first industrial revolution to reduce manual sewing in clothing companies. Since the invention of the first working sewing machine, generally considered the work of Elias Howe and the Englishman Thomas St. in 1790, sewing machines have greatly improved the efficiency and productivity of the textile industry.
Home sewing machines are designed for one person to sew individual items using a single stitch type at a time. In modern sewing machines, the stitching process has been automated so that the fabric can easily slide in and out of the machine without the inconvenience of needles, thumbs, and other tools used in hand sewing. Early sewing machines were operated by continuous rotation of the handle or by a treadle mechanism. Then electrically powered machines were introduced.
Unlike household machines, industrial sewing machines vary in size, speed, and size, price, appearance, and function
Types of Sewing Machines in India
Sewing Machines can be categorized into five types:
- Mechanical Sewing Machine
- Electronic Sewing Machine
- Computerized or Automated Sewing Machine
- Embroidery Machine
- Overlock Sewing Machine or serger
1. Mechanical/Domestic Sewing Machines
Let’s get into Mechanical sewing machines, these machines are also called manual machines/tailoring machines/treadle sewing machines/domestic sewing machines. Where the basic settings are done manually by the user. These machines are best suitable for beginners, who want to learn sewing from the basics. These are simple “shilai machine” (sewing machines) with very few features, inexpensive, and easily repairable. These sewing machines have affordable prices when compared with computerized and electronic sewing machines. Looking into its features – it has a built-in presser foot, adjustable stitch length, bottom loading Bobbin, adjustable Tension, single (straight and reverse) stitch. Many of the latest model machines have more than one inbuilt stitch pattern. Mechanical sewing machines are not suitable for sewing thick fabrics like denim and leather. One thing about these sewing machines that irritates beginners is threading the needle again and again. Treadle and hand-operated machines have only one straight and forward inbuilt stitch capability.
2. Electronic Sewing Machine
Now coming to the next level of a sewing machine – “Electronic Sewing Machine”. Electronic sewing machines have more features than a mechanical sewing machine. These sewing machines are the combination of a mechanical sewing machine and a computerized sewing machine. Basically, at present, we Indians are getting crazy about DIY (Do It Yourself) and these electronic sewing machines are very useful for DIY -decorative crafting.
3. Computerized Sewing Machines
Computerized Sewing Machines are high technology sewing machines that can be connected to the internet, computer or design loaded cards. These machines are best suitable for industrial purposes. These sewing machines have inbuilt stitches capacity of a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 200.
Computerized sewing machines are big size machines with multiple needles and multiple spool spinners for a different color of thread spools for embroidering, sewing, quilting, smocking, and many more crafting. These machines work very fast and these are heavy duty machines more efficient and fast.
These machines are mostly used for industrial purposes, large scale fabrics are designed within very less time. This type of sewing machine will have a special feature called Autopilot stitching mode – where the machine automatically controls the speed (number of stitches per minute), thread tension, and stitch strength.
4. Embroidery sewing machines
Embroidery machines are meant for designing different patterns of embroidery on the fabric. Mostly electronic sewing machines can be used for embroidering; an embroidering presser foot can be attached to the machine.
Beginners better choose a zigzag machine for basic embroidering. Whereas professional or skilled level people choose electronic sewing machine models which have embroidering feature with varieties of patterns. Many varieties of computerized embroidering machines are available for industrial purposes.
These machines are expensive in comparison to mechanical sewing machines, maintaining these machines is also less expensive. People who don’t sew regularly or don’t need all these features better buy a mechanical sewing machine. Electronic sewing machines are the best choice for professionals/ tailors and expertise people.
5. Over-locker Sewing Machine or Serge
Overlock Sewing Machines are also known as Sergers they are named differently by different countries, in India we call these machines overlocks sewing machines. These machines are used to seam or overlock the fabric. In simple words these machines are for joining or sewing the edges of the fabric together (edging single fabric also), these machines are used by professionals or tailors, generally to give the finishing look for the garments. Garment industries use this machine for edging the fabrics like edging napkins, elastic Hemming, or elastic seaming in lingerie designing, edging curtains, overlocking on pillow covers, and many more decorative crafting.
