| Sewing machines are one of the great inventions | | | | to sew. |
| credited with transforming the economies of global | | | | All modern sewing machines run on electricity, while |
| societies. In 1851 that Isaac Merritt Singer, after studying | | | | their predecessors were powered by a hand crank or |
| a poorly working example, spent $40 and 11 days to | | | | a foot pedal operation known as a treadle. All sewing |
| develop a practical sewing machine that used an up | | | | machines feature mechanical parts, however today a |
| and down mechanism. The first Singer sewing | | | | sewing machine that is not computerized, is referred to |
| machine was introduced for sale across the United | | | | as a mechanical sewing machine. Electronic sewing |
| States that same year and the company became the | | | | machines sew faster and smoother while giving a |
| primary manufacturer and seller of sewing machines | | | | better stitch. Computerized sewing machines are able |
| within two years. | | | | to perform many standard functions for the home |
| Initially, sewing machines were manufactured for | | | | seamstress more efficiently and make embroidering a |
| garment factory production lines. The industrial sewing | | | | simple task. The price for basic, mechanical sewing |
| machines are generally designed to perform a specific | | | | machines for the home starts at $70; added features |
| sewing function such as embroidery or sewing straight | | | | push prices up to $1,200. Computerized sewing |
| stitches. Machines with different functions are used to | | | | machine pricing can start around $400 for the home |
| complete clothing items in a production line. | | | | machines, with top of the line models running as high as |
| Marketing sewing machines to individuals didn't begin | | | | $5,000. |
| until 1889, allowing for women to have the means to | | | | Most sewing machines are well built and will last for |
| create clothing for their family without the | | | | many years with only a few parts needing |
| labor-intensive hand stitching. The domestic sewing | | | | replacement. A great number of antique sewing |
| machine used in the home is manufactured to perform | | | | machines are still in operation, but parts can be hard to |
| many tasks from sewing straight or zigzag stitches | | | | find if the company is no longer in business. Typically, |
| and the creation of buttonholes, as well as stitching | | | | the manufacturer is the best location for sewing |
| buttons on to the piece of clothing. | | | | machine parts, but there are also many companies |
| Sewing machines have been mass produced | | | | specializing in sewing machine part replacements. |
| worldwide for more than two-hundred years. As a | | | | For more than two centuries, innovators have been |
| result, the wide variety of styles and manufacturers | | | | sewing themselves into the fabric of our world's |
| make antique sewing machines a favorite collectible. | | | | economy by answering the creativity needs of the |
| Some of the most favorite antique machines include | | | | home seamstress and major designers. The human |
| working miniatures that were salesmen's samples that | | | | need for textiles and continued economic gain ensures |
| doubled as child's sewing machines specifically for use | | | | that the sewing machine will continue to evolve. |
| by young girls, since they were expected to learn how | | | | |