How Sewing Machines Came to Be and How They Work
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Did you know that even the simplest of T-shirts contain about 1000 stitches? Imagine having to stitch all that up by hand and you can see why we are all so grateful for the invention of sewing machines.
But how did sewing machines come to be? After all, stitching used to be done by hand. In fact, hand sewing is over 20,000 years old with the first sewing needles made of bones.
So how did we go from sewing by hand to using machines? Well, it's a long and complicated story that even involves a riot. Yes! You read that right: a riot.
It all started with German Charles Weisenthal, who issued the first-ever patent related to mechanical sewing back in 1755. It was a British patent for a needle for a sewing machine however it did not include the rest of the machine.
The first actual patent with a machine was actually issued in 1790 to Thomas Saint. However, reproductions of his patent were found not to work. We told you the story was a complicated one!
So when did the first actual working sewing machine come to be? Why did it cause a riot and how do sewing machines actually work? Those are all questions we answer in this exciting video.