Types of Industrial Sewing Machines
Which Sewing Machine is Right for Your Business?
If you’re in the business of garment production, you’re going to need industrial sewing machines to get the job done. These specific sewing machines run at high speeds and produce different results, depending on the kind you buy. Some machines are developed for specific seams and stitches, so you need to make sure you get the right kind of machines for your purpose.
If you’re looking to purchase new machines for your business but don’t know which is best for your needs, take a look at our guide to the different types of industrial sewing machines, as well as their most common uses.
Single Needle Lockstitch
A single needle lockstitch sewing machine forms lock stitches with one needle thread and one bobbin thread. The needle penetrates the fabric from the top and brings the needle thread through the fabric to the bottom to form a stitch. It is the most common mechanical stitch that can be made by a sewing machine.
This type of sewing machine is also known as the plain needle sewing machine. There are typically two types of this kind of machine:
• Single needle lockstitch machine – a single needle is used.
• Double-needle lockstitch machine – two needles are used with a single shank to give two parallel rows on the front of the fabric and a zig-zag stitch on the back.
These machines are very common in sewing factories and can be used to sew the likes of shirts, jackets, suits, overcoats, curtains, bags, leather, wool and bed covers. They are essentially used for joining two or more fabric piles together, typically for lightweight, medium weight and heavy materials.
At Stocks, we have the following lockstitch machines available:
Overlock Machines
An overlock sewing machine uses multiple threads to seam a fabric while also covering its raw edges. This machine can be used for both construction and finishing and can use as many as two to eight threads – but most techniques require three to four.
These machines are designed to stitch over the edge of fabric pieces to create a neat edge that will not fray. An overlock sewing machine will typically cut the edges of the fabric as it is fed through, though some do not have cutters. They run at high speeds and are used industrially for edging, hemming and seaming a variety of products.
The types of stitches overlock machines produce depend on the number of threads they use, such as in the following formations:
• One-thread – end-to-end seaming
• Two-thread – edging and seaming
• Three-thread – creating hems, finishing edges etc.
• Four-thread – decorative edging and finishing
• Five-thread – creates a very strong seam
These machines will help give your products a more finished, professional look.
Flatlock Sewing Machine
Flatlock sewing machines are used for completing a garment. Decorative threads are used to create a textured embellishment effect. The stitch creates a seam that is flat and has a matching appearance both inside and out, overlocking on both sides of the seam.
The stitch uses one needle and the upper and lower loops. They work similarly to overlock machines, but the flatlock doesn’t use layers on the underside; the seam is butted together, joining them together is a flat and single layer with thread.
Flatlock sewing machines are typically used on the likes of swimwear, sportswear and on baby’s clothes, or any project where a decorative exposed seam is required.
Chainstitch Machines
A chainstitch sewing machine is a kind of sewing machine that stitches looped stitches to form a chain-line pattern. It is an ancient craft, with examples of it being found in Chinese embroidery work as far back at the 5th to 3rd century BC. The stitch does not require the needle to pass through more than one layer of fabric, making it an effective embellishment on finished fabric.
The machine has two variants: the basic chain stitch and the double chain stitch. The basic stitch being the more common, as the double stitch requires two threads and thus uses up a lot of thread.
Chainstitch machines are common for use during hemming or making patterns on pieces of cloth. Its purpose is decorative. At Stocks, we have the following machines available:
As leading industrial sewing machine suppliers in UK, we have a wide range of industrial sewing machines available. We can offer you the right kind of industrial sewing machine to meet your requirements. Contact us today to speak to a friendly member of our team who would be more than happy to help.
