1.

Running Stitch
Not to be confused with the running man, the running stitch offers a quick way to outline
a design. There are two methods you can use.

The first is the sewing method: Simply weave the needle and floss through the fabric in
one continuous motion to create several stitches at once, as if you were sewing a seam.

The second is the "punch and poke" or "stabbing" method: Push the needle through the
fabric to the back, then poke it through to the front a short distance away, creating one
stitch at a time.

2. Backstitch
The backstitch is great when you need a solid line, like when you're creating outlines
or hand embroidered letters .
Begin by pulling the needle and floss up through the fabric and do one stitch forward.
From underneath, space the needle out the length of your desired stitch, pull up through
the fabric, and bring the needle and floss back down through the end of the previous
stitch.
Parts of a Sewing Machine and Their Functions:

Functions of different parts of sewing machine with

images:
Sewing machine parts name and their functions are described below.

1. Foot pedal:
It controls the speed of the machine which depends on the force exerted on it. But it is not an
essential part of high-speed sewing machines as the machine speed can be set by one single
adjustment and start and stop of the sewing machine is then controlled with the push of a
button.
2. Power cord and switch:
The electricity for the machine is supplied by the power cord which has to be connected tightly
to the machine for constant supply of power. The power switch is used for switching ON and
OFF of the sewing machines electrically.
3. Hand wheel:
It is used for slowly raising and lowering the sewing needle manually to provide better control to
position fabric under the needle. The clutch knob positioned inside the wheel acts as a safety
feature, that is, when the knob is pulled out, it avoids the needle from jabbing up and down while
winding a bobbin.

4. Reverse lever:
It is situated on the front side of the machine. This is used for making reverse stitching while
sewing at the end of every seam to secure it.
5. Spool pin and holder:
It holds the sewing thread besides controls the sewing thread direction as it goes through the
machine.
6. Bobbin winder:
It is used to wind the bobbin thread on the empty bobbin. Bobbin winders can be located at the
top or right side of the machine.
7. Pattern selector:
It is used to decide the kind of stitch to be sewn on the fabric, such as straight stitches or zigzag
or an embroidery stitch. Based on the machine type, a variety of stitches can be selected beside
straight stitche
8. Stitch length adjustment:
 Stitch length determines the length of the stitch
 The range on the machine is from 0 to 4. 0 is the shortest stitch, 4 is the
longest.
 The stitch length adjustment adjusts the length of stitches the sewing machine
makes. The adjustment takes place at the feed dog not the machine needle.
 Shortening the stitch length shortens the amount of fabric that is fed under the
presser foot before the needle comes down and vice versa.
9. Tension disks:
Thread tension determines the looseness or firmness of the stitch. Tensions disks
control the pressure applied to the thread for uniform feed to the machine needle. The
main functions of tension device is to

 Position the thread to needle

 Regulate the flow of the thread
 Maintain the smoothness in stitching
 Control the thread passage precisely
There are two kinds of tension device, such as direct tension device and indirect tension device. Both
types have parts like (a) pressure disk, (b) tension spring, (c) thumb nut, (d) tension mounting bar and (e)
pressure releasing unit.

On high speed and modern machines, the tension dial with numbers graduated on it is used for varying
the tension. The higher the number, the greater the tension and vice versa. When the tension is
adjusted correctly, the stitch line will be straight and even on either side of the fabric.
10. Needle and needle clamp:
The needle fits into the needle bar, which holds it in place with a small screw. The needle clamp
is used to fix the needle in place.
11. Take-up lever:
The take-up lever moves up and down during the stitch formation to provide the extra thread
while forming the loop and takes back the needle thread after each stitching to set the stitch. It
is used to regulate the needle thread tension at an optimum level.
12. Presser foot:
It is used to grip the fabric from the top counter to the feed dog; therefore, the feed dog can
move the fabric through the machine. It applies downward pressure on the material as it is fed
under the needle.
13. Presser dial:
The presser dial determines the quantity of pressure to be exerted on the fabric through the
presser foot. Lighter weight fabrics necessitate higher pressure for better control of fabric during
stitching and vice versa.
14. Feed dog:
Feed dogs are a ‘teeth-like’ component that combines with the presser foot to transport
the fabric by one stitch. It also regulates the stitch length by adjusting the fabric
movement per stitch.
15. Face plate:
It is a cover that conceals all the internal working elements of the machine.
16. Throat plate:
It has a hole for the needle to go through to the bobbin casing, a pair of slots for the
feed dog to move and stitching guide lines. It is a removable part, which covers the
bobbin and bottom of the sewing machine.

17. Sewing light:

It aids in threading the needle and allows you to see the stitching in both day and night.
 Figure-19: Sewing light
18. Presser foot lever:
It is used to engage and disengage the presser foot on the fabric against the feed dogs
gently. When it is in the upward position, the tension disks are disengaged and vice
versa.
 Figure-20: Presser foot lever
19. Thread cutter:
Sewing machine thread cutters are usually located behind the needle of the sewing
machine, so that it is convenient while the fabric is moved to the back of the machine,
the sewing thread can be cut using the thread cutter.
 Figure-21: Thread cutter
20. Slide plate:
It is a plastic cover that protects the bobbin case from the dirt and dust. It also gives the
open space for accessing the bobbin zone under the sewing machine for changing the
bobbins and other maintenance work to be carried out in this area.

Figure-22: Slide plate

21. Bobbin case:
It is the case where the bobbin has to be fixed. This can be found under the needle
plate and usually has a piece of plastic that flips up to cover the bobbin case when not
sewing. Bobbin cases are not exchangeable in different sewing machines.
 Figure-23: Bobbin case
22. Bobbin:
A bobbin is a small package that carries the bottom sewing thread and is fitted onto the
bobbin case. Bobbins are filled on the bobbin winder and the thread should be evenly
distributed on the bobbin.
 Figure-24: Bobbin
You may also like:
1. Classification of Sewing Machines and Their Functions
2. Classification of Computerized Sewing Machines