Basic Sewing Tools and Equipment II – SS1 Fashion and Garment Making Lesson Note (First Term)

A sewing machine is a piece of equipment used to stitch fabric and other materials together with thread. It works by locking a top thread and a bottom thread to form a stitch. Its main parts include the balance wheel, tension disc, presser foot, feed dog and bobbin. Regular cleaning, oiling and needle care keep it working well.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• State the basic principle on which all sewing machines work.
• Name the main parts of a sewing machine and state the job of each.
• Describe the bobbin, the bobbin case and the bobbin winder.
• Follow the safety tip for using a sewing machine.
• Describe how to clean, oil and cover a sewing machine and how to care for its needle.

What is a sewing machine and why learn to use it?

Before sewing machines, people had to sew everything by hand, which took days.

In our lab, we mostly use the manual pedal machine (the one you pump with your feet) or the electric domestic machine. Both work on the same basic principle: two threads (one from the top and one from the bottom) lock together to form a stitch.

Why learn the machine?

• It is much faster than hand sewing.
• The stitches are stronger and more even.
• It allows you to make professional-looking clothes that will not fall apart.

What are the main parts of a sewing machine and their jobs?

Looking at a sewing machine for the first time can be scary because of all the metal parts. The lists below explain what the most important parts do.

Part A: the thread path

1. Balance wheel: This is the large wheel on the right side. You turn it toward you to move the needle up and down by hand.
2. Spool pin: This is the “stick” on top that holds your reel of thread.
3. Thread guide: These are small loops or hooks that keep the thread in line so that it does not get tangled on its way to the needle.
4. Tension disc: This controls how tight or loose the thread is. If your stitches look loopy or messy, the tension is usually the problem.
5. Take-up lever: This moves up and down with the needle. It pulls the thread from the spool and feeds it to the needle.

Part B: the working area

This is the area where the fabric sits.

1. Needle bar: This holds the sewing needle firmly in place.
2. Presser foot: This is the metal “foot” that holds the fabric down flat against the machine so that it does not jump around while you sew.
3. Presser foot lever: A small handle at the back used to lift the foot up (to put fabric in) or put it down (to start sewing).
4. Feed dog: These are the “teeth” under the needle. They move back and forth to pull the fabric through the machine automatically.
5. Stitch regulator: A lever or dial used to change how long or short your stitches are.

What is the bobbin and what does it do?

Most beginners forget that a sewing machine uses two threads. The top thread comes from the spool, and the bottom thread comes from the bobbin.

• Bobbin: A small metal or plastic spool that holds the bottom thread.
• Bobbin case: This holds the bobbin. You insert it into the “shuttle” area under the needle plate.
• Bobbin winder: A little pin (usually near the balance wheel) used to wind thread onto the bobbin quickly, using the machine’s power.

Safety tip: Always keep your fingers at least two inches away from the needle when the machine is moving. The machine cannot tell the difference between fabric and a finger.

How do you care for a sewing machine?

A sewing machine is like a car. If you do not look after it, it will start making loud noises and eventually break down.

1. Cleaning (dusting): Fabric produces a lot of “lint” (tiny fluff). This fluff gets stuck in the feed dogs and the bobbin area. Use a small brush to clean it out every week.
2. Oiling: Use special sewing machine oil (never vegetable oil or engine oil). Put a drop in the moving parts and the bobbin race once a month to keep the machine running quietly.
3. Needle care: If your needle hits a pin or gets blunt, change it immediately. A blunt needle will “pull” the threads of your fabric and ruin your work.
4. Covering: When you have finished, always cover the machine with a cloth or its case to keep dust out.

Evaluation

1. State the basic principle on which all sewing machines work.
2. Name the part that controls how tight or loose the thread is.
3. What is the job of the feed dog?
4. Name the three parts connected with the bottom thread and say what each one does.
5. List the four ways of caring for a sewing machine.

Assignment

1. List five parts of a sewing machine and write one sentence on the job of each.
2. Explain why a blunt needle should be changed immediately.
3. State the safety tip for using a sewing machine.