Hand sewing and the sewing machine

The electric sewing machine consists of a table and a body. By outward form its parts are the platform (base), pillar, arm, head, balance wheel, motor and foot pedal. There are five working mechanisms: needle, shuttle (hook), thread take-up, feed (teeth that move fabric one stitch length) and presser (the foot that holds the fabric down). The needle pierces the fabric, carrying the top thread to the shuttle and forming a loop, and the shuttle catches the top thread and interlaces it with the bobbin thread. Auxiliary mechanisms: bobbin winder, thread guides, tension regulator and stitch-length regulator. Pressing the pedal gently makes the machine sew slowly, pressing hard makes it fast. An electric machine is several times faster than hand sewing and the work is more even. Modern machines sew zigzag stitch, buttonholes, buttons, decorative and programmed embroidery. To sew parallel and zigzag rows: iron-on interfacing is stuck to a 20×20 cm sample, stitch length is set to 4 mm and zigzag width to 5 mm, upper and lower threads are fitted, a test is made on scrap fabric, then parallel rows are sewn along a ruled line. The double seam and the inner seam are used for clothes and sheets. Safety (only under the teacher): only the teacher plugs the machine in; before threading, changing a needle, winding a bobbin or cleaning, take your foot off the pedal and unplug the machine; keep fingers at least 1 cm away from the needle and do not pull or push the fabric; take pins out before sewing since a needle hitting a pin can break and fly into an eye; long hair, scarves and wide sleeves must not catch in the machine; one pupil works at a time while others stand back; do not leave the cord underfoot or touch it with wet hands; oiling and lubricating are done only by the teacher with the machine unplugged; after work switch off, unplug and cover the machine. If a hand, hair or part is caught, take your foot off the pedal at once and tell the teacher.