Isaac Singer produced the first sewing machine in 1851 that was successfully mass-produced and sold. The innovation that he added to the basic man-powered sewing machine was a foot pedal. All previous sewing machines were hand powered. In addition, the needle moved vertically instead of sideways providing for more efficient sewing.

Englishman, Thomas Saint in 1790, patented the designs for the first sewing machine although prototypes based on his drawings failed to work. In 1834, Walter Hunt invented the first functioning American sewing machine although he never claimed the patent for it. For fear of an increase in unemployment, he never released his invention to the public.

Due to Hunt’s reluctance, Elias Howe was issued the first American patent for the sewing machine in 1846. Howe’s innovation was the lockstitch. The needle pushed through the cloth,  creating a loop on the other side and a shuttle on the other side pushed a second thread through the loop. Other inventors adopted the lockstitch into their designs.

Unfortunately for Singer, Elias Howe sued him for patent infringement and won. The court ordered Isaac Singer to pay royalties to Howe on every machine sold. Commercially selling these new machines allowed for the textile industry to produce more with less labor. The sewing machine was an essential invention to the booming textile industry. The sewing machine was part of the step towards automation and part of the industrial revolution.

• Used for a majority of the research. It had lots of information specifically about the development of the textile industry. It also had biographical information about each of the inventors and all of the history of the sewing machine. Overall, it was a very good resource.

"Sewing Machine." Microsoft Encarta Electronic Encyclopedia Edition 2002.

• Used to double check the other sewing machine reference. It was not very detailed but had the basic outline needed for general information, but it has good pictures.