Points of Interest – The Machine Needle
Early attempts to invent a machine for sewing were unsuccessful mainly because a hand-type needle with the eye in the thick end was used.
In 1846, American Elias Howe created a needle with the eye different needles for industrial sewing machines. The needles at the point which lead to the first sewing machine featuring produced for domestic sewing machines would total less than a curved grooved needle with the eye in the point. Two years later John A. Bradshaw created a straight grooved needle with the eye at the point which set the future for sewing machines.
Today's sewing machine needle is a precision instrument and the performance is only as good as the needle being used.
A modern machine needle manufacturer produces over 10,000 different needles for industrial sewing machines. The needles produced for domestic sewing machines would total less than 100 different types and sizes.
Sewing machine needles are produced in different ‘systems’. A system is a series of needles all of the same general length, eye position and shank (the fixing end of the needle). Each system is then produced with a selection
