Sewing Machines & Needles
Sewing Machine
The sewing machine forms a lockstitch: the needle carries the upper thread down through the cloth, the hook catches it and wraps it around the bobbin thread, and the take-up lever pulls the join tight. Everything else — the feed dogs, the tension discs, the presser foot — exists to make that one action repeat cleanly at speed.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Mechanical or computerised lockstitch |
| Stitch patterns | 12 - 100+ depending on model |
| Max stitch length | 4 - 5 mm |
| Max stitch width | 5 - 7 mm (zigzag models) |
| Built-in needle threader | Common on modern models |
| Presser feet supplied | Zigzag, zipper, buttonhole |
Technical parameters
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bed type | Flat bed, free arm for cuffs |
| Feed | Drop-feed dogs, four-motion |
| Bobbin | Front-loading Class 15 or top-drop |
| Speed | 700 - 1100 stitches per minute |
| Motor | 70 - 90 W domestic |
| Weight | 5 - 12 kg |
Safety
Keep fingers clear of the needle and presser foot whenever the machine is plugged in, even when it is stopped. Unplug before changing the needle, threading the bobbin case, or cleaning out lint. A needle that breaks at speed sends fragments outward — wear glasses if you need them for close work.
What it is for
A lockstitch machine, mechanical or computerised, that forms the stitch every other technique on this site is built on.
Compatible fabrics
Compatible stitches
Working notes
- Thread with the presser foot raised, so the tension discs are open and the thread seats.
- Change the needle every six to eight hours of sewing; a blunt needle causes more faults than any other single part.
- Run a test seam on a scrap of the actual fabric before you start on the garment.
- Clean lint from the bobbin area every bobbin, not every spring.
Related tools
Serger / Overlock
A three- or four-thread overlock machine that trims, stitches and neatens a seam edge in one pass.
Needle Set
Universal, microtex, jeans and ballpoint needles, and the size-to-fabric table that decides which one belongs in the machine.
Bobbin
The lower thread supply. The wrong bobbin class, or one wound unevenly, breaks the stitch before any setting will fix it.