Understanding Sewing Machine Parts and Their Uses

Sewing machines are great tools for crafting clothes and crafts; however, some individuals have difficulty understanding all their parts. Every sewing machine requires several essential pieces for optimal functioning, as outlined below: 1. Thread Guide. This piece acts as an arm that pinches thread to help guide it through the machine. Needle The needle is the component of your sewing machine that creates stitches. Its shank (the flat side that goes into the machine) and point are typically constructed of hardened steel coated with nickel, chromium or titanium for extra durability and to reduce wear-and-tear that could result in bent or broken needles. Needle sizes depend on fabric thickness and the purpose for which you are sewing. Their point shapes range from ballpoint for knit fabrics to chisel shaped needles designed specifically for leather projects. There are various kinds of needles, each offering specific advantages or drawbacks. Embroidery needles feature a rounded tip with an eye large enough for threading, along with a scarf to prevent thread from shredding. Used primarily in embroidery work and decorative stitching on clothing such as shirts and pants, leather needles make straight stitch lines in leather materials such as faux/artificial leather materials while topstitch needles have similar designs but are used together or triples on one shaft at once sew multiple threads (often decorative) at once; this requires a special machine capable of supporting multiple thread feeds as well as throat plates large enough for the needles - these require special machines with multiple thread feeds as well as throat plates with holes wide enough enough holes that accommodate multiple thread feeds as well as throat plates with wide enough holes wide enough throat plates accommodating multiple thread feeds that will accommodate multiple thread feeds and throat plates with large enough holes wide enough to accommodate their needles to fit comfortably on. Thread Guide Sewing machine thread guides are metal frames designed to guide the upper thread from its source down through a "u"-shaped hook and onto its take-up lever hook at the top left of the machine during sewing, so that bobbin thread moves with needle movement. The needle bar thread guide includes a first thread introduction portion designed to open in only one direction and a second threading portion located below it, with its proximal end featuring a thread locking portion. There is an assortment of thread available, from all-purpose polyester thread to embroidery thread and heavy-duty cotton, so it is wise to select the thread most suited to your project and fabric type. Weight/thickness considerations also play a vital role - thinner threads tend to work best on lightweight fabrics while thicker, heavier threads suit heavier fabrics like denim and canvas better. Bobbin Case The bobbin case serves to protect and secure bobbin thread while sewing machines create stitches. Constructed from hard materials for optimal durability, its purpose is also to protect bobbin thread from becoming tangled within the sewing machine and avoid getting caught. Bobbin work, or heavy decorative threads such as yarns and cords that cannot fit through a needle eye, requires using an extra large amount of thread; to help manage this task a bobbin case is required to support such large amounts of bobbin thread that must be sewn. The bobbin case features an interior chamber 74 that is configured to firmly grip a bobbin 10. To achieve this result, its bottom portion tapers or reduces in cross section from middle diameter 78 downward. Furthermore, this chamber ensures proper seating in only one orientation to reduce user error that could otherwise degrade sewing quality. Feed Dog The feed dog is an arrangement of metal teeth which use friction to push fabric towards the needle for stitching. It can be found above and behind the bobbin case in the hook area of a sewing machine; too high a feed dog height may snag and tear fabric or cause skips in stitches. Feed dogs may be mistaken for presser feet due to their similar shape; both have sharp metal teeth which resemble that of feed dogs; however, there is one major distinction: feed dogs act like grips on fabric that grip and pull it while presser foot pressure keeps it in place. To achieve greater control when working with very thin or delicate materials, you can lower the feed dogs for increased control. Reducing the feed dogs on a sewing machine typically involves opening the hook cover in the bobbin area and moving the drop lever right (please consult your manual for details). Some users also employ a Supreme Slider sheet as an additional measure to cover their feed dogs and prevent accidental fabric grabs or tears.