Sewing Machine
Paulina Sivilay
History and Development
In 1790 Thomas Saint was the first to patent a design for a sewing machine, but he didn't advertise it. In 1807 an Australian tailor started developing the first sewing machine and presented the first working one in 1814. Later in 1830 Barthélemy Thimonnier, a French trailer patented a sewing machine that sewed straight seams. By 1841 he had a factory with 80 working machines and sewed uniforms for the French army. The factory was later destroyed by French tailors that feared they were going to lose their jobs.
Primary source
William Newton found Saint's drawings in the London patent office and made adjustments to the looper and built a working machine that is currently owned by the London Science Museum.
Long term effects
The impact of the sewing machine was huge. Because of sewing machines, we have clothes, blankets, shoes, and etc. It helped other industries grow like, metal companies for needles, thread companies, and lots more. The creation of the sewing machine helped companies to experiment with technology, revolutionize the textile industry and focus a product for women. Now people are famous for making and designing clothes and are able to accomplish things by using the sewing machines.
Why I chose the sewing machine
I chose the sewing machine because I like clothes and it interested me. It fascinated me because the making of clothes looks really hard and it's cool how a little machine could do that.
Books, Movies, and Documentaries
1. 1958 Simplicity sewing book
2. 1936 Vogue's book of Smart Dressmaking
3. Documentary- the Secret Life of Sewing Machines
What I learned..
I learned that sewing machines were more efficient for society because it was quicker to use a machine than hand sew. If it weren't for the sewing machine, we probably wouldn't have as big of production of clothes as we do now.