What is a needle feed sewing machine?
Needle Feed sewing machines are a very common type of sewing machine used to create uniform, even stitching when sewing a garment or project. There are two sources of thread for this machine. There is the thread that is fed through the needle from the top spool of thread and the thread that is caught by the top thread from a bobbin wound with the same type and color of thread which is located usually just below the stitching surface of the machine. The threads usually match the fabric making for a clean, unobtrusive seam. This type of two-thread stitch does not unravel easily.
This type of sewing machine is used extensively in commercial sewing. Needle feed sewing machines can sew quickly and efficiently making it an excellent choice for fast production. Factories may have many sewing stations each with a needle feed sewing machine. Needle feed sewing machines may not be appreciated for their speed as much as for their uniform stitch length and flexibility when doing personal sewing in the home.
Needle feed sewing machines usually have feed dogs which is a type of gripper or feeder, located above the bobbin and below the needle, that assist in evenly guiding the fabric through the machine when sewing. For many models of needle feed sewing machines, the manufacturers make various presser feet which help to hold the fabrics flat against the sewing surface of the machine base or assist with special sewing needs. They include, but are not limited to, zipper foot, button hole foot, ruffler, and beading foot.
Needles for these types of sewing machines come in different sizes depending on the types of fabric to be sewn. The U.S. needle size numbering system is from 8 to 18. The guide to follow when deciding what needle to use with each project is that the lower the needle number, the more delicate the fabric. There are jeans needles (size 16) for sewing denim or canvas, universal needles (size 12-14) for sewing cottons and medium weight fabrics, wing needles (size 12-16 depending on how large a hole you wish to make) for heirloom sewing on linen, leather wedge needles (size 14-16) for leather and vinyl, and ball point needles (size 10-12) for light-weight knits and (size 14) sweatshirt knits. Some machines can use double or triple needles for those sewing projects that require this decorative or stablizing technique.
Used extensively in both home settings and large scale textile production companies, the needle feed sewing machine is considered to be one of the best options when the sewing technique calls for rapid stitching with a high degree of uniformity. Offered by a number of different manufacturers, needle feed sewing machines can be equipped with several different features that can make the device even more desirable for a variety of sewing projects. One of the advantages of the need feed sewing machine over other models is that it is possible to achieve a high level of uniformity in stitch length while still moving at a rapid pace. This helps to make the machine especially popular with manufacturers of items such as goose down jackets and sleeping bags. The ability to run sections of material through the sewing process and obtain a even stitch, while still keeping production levels at a high rate of efficiency, translates into more production in less time. Since more finished products means
