Sewing Machine

invention · fabric · industrial revolution · clever machines

Stitches at lightning speed. Sewing machines can push a needle through fabric and tie knots with thread hundreds of times per minute, something that would take a person hours to do by hand.

Born during the Industrial Revolution. Thomas Saint, an Englishman, invented the first sewing machine in 1790 to help clothing factories make clothes much faster and more cheaply than before.

Changed clothing forever. Before sewing machines, tailors had to sew every stitch by hand, which meant clothes were expensive and took ages to make. After the invention, clothing became affordable for regular people.

Boosted factories everywhere. Sewing machines made clothing companies wildly more productive, so they could make way more clothes in way less time, which helped clothes become available to everyone.

Keeps getting smarter. Since 1790, sewing machines have improved a ton, becoming faster, more reliable, and easier to use, from simple mechanical machines to modern electric ones today.