How many stitches are there? As I understand it, the US government has registered thousands of different stitches. These include hand stitches, utility stitches, decorative stitches, lettering stitch sets, serger stitches, and a variety of industrial stitches. The home sewing machine, however, had only a straight stitch for almost a hundred years. Modern sewing machines have between 25 and 1,000 different stitches.
Sewing machines are not all the same. Even sewing machines that look alike, can be very very different. Sewing machines vary in the stitches they offer as well as how they make those stitches.
The least expensive modern sewing machine is described as a mechanical sewing machine. These machines depend on an AC electric motor to drive shafts, gears, levers, and belts. Across the top, a series of mechanical devices the needlebar. Across the bottom, another shaft drives the hook and feed systems.
The mechanical devices that produce stitches are in the hundreds. Levers (cam trackers) rub against a cam gear with grooves and bumps that cause these levers to move back and forth. This motion transfers across the machine to alter the needle bars movement. The result is a needle bar that rises and falls in various positions left to right to form desired stitches.
Surface mounted dials, levers, and buttons known as stitch selector control the position of the cam tracker levers in relation to the cam gear. To produce the desired stitch, the cam tracker must line up precisely with the appropriate groove on the cam gear. Often this connection slips out of alignment, and requires realignment. Also it is common for plastic cam gears to split, deteriorate, or otherwise break. When this happens, it is necessary to replace the cam gear.
One step above the mechanical machine is a class of sewing machines that applies a variety of electronic devices. These devices are often used for better stitch selection. Usually, the electronics are used to improve power control. There are blended machines. Some blend mechanical machines with limited electronics. Others use loads of electronic devices even blending with computerized parts. Electronic sewing machines significantly improve the smoothness, dependability, and ease of sewing machine use.
Primarily the electronic machines add improved power control and smoother operation of the sewing machine. The hum of the mechanical sewing machines AC motor is reduced or eliminated. Electronic sewing machines offer many more stitches.
The next level of sewing machines is called computerized sewing machines. These machines have revolutionized the sewing machine industry with huge advancements in technologies. These machines offer far more stitches while making sewing smoother, easier, and more dependable. The computer technology has transformed the sewing machine like so many other products. It controls super quiet DC pulse motors, programs amazing stitches, and gives the user greatly expanded creative potential. A touch of a button or a spot on a touch screen yields up to a thousand different stitches.
Buttons, dials, and levers are used by mechanical machines to choose stitches.
A button is used on an electronic sewing machine or stitch selection.
On a computerized sewing machine, press a button on the computer keypad or touch the selection on a computerize touch screen.
You can get a handle on your stitches with this little exercise. Make your own stitch selection reference book. Cut as many 5 by 7 pieces of plain fabric as you may need. Select one stitch at a time, and sew one seam across the piece of fabric. Sew similar stitches (utility, decorative, etc.) on each piece but spread out for neat appearance. Repeat the process for every stitch on your sewing machine. If you only have a few stitches, try sewing a variety of lengths and widths. This is an inexpensive and practical way to really get a handle on all your stitches.
Understanding the stitches on your sewing machine and knowing how to select them and sew the on your sewing machine is a huge step forward. You may look at your stitch book and think, Wow, I didnt know my machine could do that. - 15431
Sewing machines are not all the same. Even sewing machines that look alike, can be very very different. Sewing machines vary in the stitches they offer as well as how they make those stitches.
The least expensive modern sewing machine is described as a mechanical sewing machine. These machines depend on an AC electric motor to drive shafts, gears, levers, and belts. Across the top, a series of mechanical devices the needlebar. Across the bottom, another shaft drives the hook and feed systems.
The mechanical devices that produce stitches are in the hundreds. Levers (cam trackers) rub against a cam gear with grooves and bumps that cause these levers to move back and forth. This motion transfers across the machine to alter the needle bars movement. The result is a needle bar that rises and falls in various positions left to right to form desired stitches.
Surface mounted dials, levers, and buttons known as stitch selector control the position of the cam tracker levers in relation to the cam gear. To produce the desired stitch, the cam tracker must line up precisely with the appropriate groove on the cam gear. Often this connection slips out of alignment, and requires realignment. Also it is common for plastic cam gears to split, deteriorate, or otherwise break. When this happens, it is necessary to replace the cam gear.
One step above the mechanical machine is a class of sewing machines that applies a variety of electronic devices. These devices are often used for better stitch selection. Usually, the electronics are used to improve power control. There are blended machines. Some blend mechanical machines with limited electronics. Others use loads of electronic devices even blending with computerized parts. Electronic sewing machines significantly improve the smoothness, dependability, and ease of sewing machine use.
Primarily the electronic machines add improved power control and smoother operation of the sewing machine. The hum of the mechanical sewing machines AC motor is reduced or eliminated. Electronic sewing machines offer many more stitches.
The next level of sewing machines is called computerized sewing machines. These machines have revolutionized the sewing machine industry with huge advancements in technologies. These machines offer far more stitches while making sewing smoother, easier, and more dependable. The computer technology has transformed the sewing machine like so many other products. It controls super quiet DC pulse motors, programs amazing stitches, and gives the user greatly expanded creative potential. A touch of a button or a spot on a touch screen yields up to a thousand different stitches.
Buttons, dials, and levers are used by mechanical machines to choose stitches.
A button is used on an electronic sewing machine or stitch selection.
On a computerized sewing machine, press a button on the computer keypad or touch the selection on a computerize touch screen.
You can get a handle on your stitches with this little exercise. Make your own stitch selection reference book. Cut as many 5 by 7 pieces of plain fabric as you may need. Select one stitch at a time, and sew one seam across the piece of fabric. Sew similar stitches (utility, decorative, etc.) on each piece but spread out for neat appearance. Repeat the process for every stitch on your sewing machine. If you only have a few stitches, try sewing a variety of lengths and widths. This is an inexpensive and practical way to really get a handle on all your stitches.
Understanding the stitches on your sewing machine and knowing how to select them and sew the on your sewing machine is a huge step forward. You may look at your stitch book and think, Wow, I didnt know my machine could do that. - 15431
About the Author:
Find out more about repairing sewing machines from Author Dr. David Trumble. Enroll in one of his comprehensive sewing machine repair courses. Grab your free beginner's sewing machine repair course.
