If you include all the hand stitches, sewing machine utility stitches, sewing machine decorative stitches, serger stitches, and industrial manufacturing stitches, you have a bunch of stitches. On a moderately priced home sewing machine you will find twenty to two hundred different stitches plus variations in stitch length and stitch width as well as stretch factors. A top quality home sewing machine will have eight hundred to a thousand different stitches. Many sewing machines include multiple sets of alphabet letters.
There are several distinctly different types of sewing machines and each type uses slightly different systems to select and form stitches.
Mechanical sewing machines are the least expensive sewing machines and use the most primitive technologies. An AC electric motor turns a belt which turns the upper sewing machine shaft. The upper shaft transfers the mechanical energy along the shaft past the cam system to the needle system. A lever on a parabola connection transfers the mechanical movement down to the lower sewing machine shaft which may be split into a dual lower shaft one to drive the hook and a second to drive the feed dogs.
Stitches are formed in a mechanical machine by aligning cam trackers (levers that rub against a cam gear with bumps and shallows) with the cam gear so that when the cam gear moved the tracker lever will bounce back and forth. This movement is then transferred by lever to the needle assembly moving the needle bar back and forth and up and down to form the desired stitches.
Cam tracker alignment are adjusted by surface mounted dials, buttons, or levers. The position of the cam tracker lever determines the stitch produced. The position of the stitch selector lines up the tracker to form the selected stitch. If it gets out of line, it will fail to produce the desired stitch. To fix this, adjust the stitch selector connection on the cam tracker and align it with the proper groove on the cam gear. Also look closely to make sure the cam gear has not cracked or broken.
Sewing machines that use electronic controls and switches is called an electronic sewing machine. There is a wide range of machines in this category. Some use only limited electronics and depend largely on traditional mechanical systems. Others use electronic parts aggressively and may even include computer chip controls.
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.
To choose a stitch on a mechanical sewing machine turn a dial, move a lever, or press a button.
A button is used on an electronic sewing machine or stitch selection.
Touch the touch screen. Press a button on a keypad. Or, touch the button to choose stitches on a computerized sewing machine.
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.
Grasp the full potential of your sewing machine. Learn every stitch on your machine. Master the selection, settings, and use of each stitch. Then you will have real confidence sewing with your sewing machine.
There are several distinctly different types of sewing machines and each type uses slightly different systems to select and form stitches.
Mechanical sewing machines are the least expensive sewing machines and use the most primitive technologies. An AC electric motor turns a belt which turns the upper sewing machine shaft. The upper shaft transfers the mechanical energy along the shaft past the cam system to the needle system. A lever on a parabola connection transfers the mechanical movement down to the lower sewing machine shaft which may be split into a dual lower shaft one to drive the hook and a second to drive the feed dogs.
Stitches are formed in a mechanical machine by aligning cam trackers (levers that rub against a cam gear with bumps and shallows) with the cam gear so that when the cam gear moved the tracker lever will bounce back and forth. This movement is then transferred by lever to the needle assembly moving the needle bar back and forth and up and down to form the desired stitches.
Cam tracker alignment are adjusted by surface mounted dials, buttons, or levers. The position of the cam tracker lever determines the stitch produced. The position of the stitch selector lines up the tracker to form the selected stitch. If it gets out of line, it will fail to produce the desired stitch. To fix this, adjust the stitch selector connection on the cam tracker and align it with the proper groove on the cam gear. Also look closely to make sure the cam gear has not cracked or broken.
Sewing machines that use electronic controls and switches is called an electronic sewing machine. There is a wide range of machines in this category. Some use only limited electronics and depend largely on traditional mechanical systems. Others use electronic parts aggressively and may even include computer chip controls.
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.
To choose a stitch on a mechanical sewing machine turn a dial, move a lever, or press a button.
A button is used on an electronic sewing machine or stitch selection.
Touch the touch screen. Press a button on a keypad. Or, touch the button to choose stitches on a computerized sewing machine.
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.
Grasp the full potential of your sewing machine. Learn every stitch on your machine. Master the selection, settings, and use of each stitch. Then you will have real confidence sewing with your sewing machine.
About the Author:
Discovermore about repairing sewing machines from Dr. David Trumble. Enroll in one of his comprehensive sewing machine repair courses. Begin by getting his free beginner's sewing machine repair course.
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