Have you ever wondered who invented the first sewing machine? Well, it’s a story of innovation, hard competition and lost patents. The sewing machine has had a profound impact on the clothing and textile industries and has revolutionized the way we produce and create garments, providing us with the ability to quickly and efficiently produce clothing and household textiles on a large scale. Let’s tell you the short story!
Back to the 18th century
One of the earliest recorded attempts to create a sewing machine was made by Charles Frederick Wiesenthal, a German engineer, who created a mechanical device to automate needlework in 1755. He received the first British patent in this field for inventing a double pointed needle with an eye at the end. But this wasn’t a sewing machine yet.
Later in 1790, Thomas Saint, an English inventor, was credited with inventing the first sewing machine. The machine could sew leather and canvas and used a single thread and a hooked needle that was designed to pass through the fabric in a continuous loop, creating a lockstitch. He also created a wooden frame to hold the fabric in place while it was being sewn. However, Saint’s machine was never put into commercial production during his lifetime but his invention influenced greatly the development of sewing machines. His original patent and drawings were later rediscovered in the mid-20th century by William Newton Wilson who created a replica (which was donated to the London Science Museum).
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The tailors’ fear
It wasn’t until the 19th century that a more practical and successful sewing machine was invented. Barthélemy Thimonnier, a French inventor, created a machine which would sew straight seams using Saint’s technic. He patented his machine in 1830 and opened the same year the first clothing factory in the world which was machine-based to produce army uniforms for the French Army. However, the factory was set on fire by other tailors who were afraid of losing their jobs after the patent was issued.
Stamp from France, 1955.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Americans also tried to create their own sewing machine. Walter Hunt created in 1832 the first lockstitch sewing machine. Nonetheless, the machine was not reliable and had to be stopped regularly to reset it. He finally lost interest in the machine and didn’t even bother to patent it straight away.
A judicial battle
In 1844, English inventor John Fisher built a sewing machine that combined all the different elements of the previous 50 years of innovation into what is now recognized as the modern sewing machine. However, the patents for his machine were lost by the Patent office and he never received the recognition for it.
At the same time, Elias Howe, another American inventor, created a similar device to Fisher’s and a bit later in 1851, Isaac Singer, an American inventor too, patented a similar sewing machine. It used a foot pedal to control the speed of the needle. This design made sewing much faster and easier. Singer sewing machines quickly became popular and led to the establishment of the Singer Sewing Company. However, since Singer got inspiration from Howe, the latter filed a lawsuit and won, awarding him the right to claim royalties from Singer’s factory when his ideas were used.
National Museum of American History. CC BY-NC 2.0
Elmer B. Domingo. CC-BY-SA-4.0
The widespread use of sewing machines brought about many other innovations in the clothing and textile industries, such as the introduction of mass-produced clothing and the ability to quickly produce large quantities of clothing. As the technology improved and production increased, the price of sewing machines decreased, making them more affordable and accessible to the general population.
The home sewing machine
The advent of the home sewing machine in the late 19th and early 20th centuries also had a significant impact on society, as it allowed individuals to create their own clothing and household textiles, rather than being solely dependent on purchasing pre-made items. The home sewing machine also allowed for greater creativity, as people could experiment with different fabrics and designs, leading to the development of new styles and fashion trends.
As we move into the 21st century, the sewing machine continues to evolve, with new models featuring advanced technologies, such as computerized controls and built-in embroidery capabilities. Today, sewing machines are used for a wide range of purposes, from basic repairs to intricate decorative stitching, and have become a staple in many households.
