EXPERIMENT NO.

4
Title:
Stitching Exercise –I on paper practice sheet-I using lock stitch machine.
Objective:

 To grasp the procedure and points of the straight stitching, fixed position stops which are
the basic of sewing machine operation and reverse stitching using a lockstitch machine.

Theory:
Sewing machines may come from different manufacturers, they are all threaded basically the
same, with only a few very minor differences. Many times, when problems arise with the
machine not stitching properly, it is the way the machine has been threaded

Working Principle:
The basic working principle of sewing machines is very simple: two threads, one needle, up and
down, stitch formed. However, when we look at sewing machines, they seem much more
complicated. They are made of many pieces which synchronously work together to form stitches
in various forms and shapes.

Figure 1. Basic stitch formation

Preparation:

 Sit straight with both hands on either side of the stitching area.

 Place the practice sheet on the predetermined position as shown before and after the
practice.

 Neither attach the needle nor passing the thread (be sure to securely tighten the needle
 clamp screw after removing the needle).

 Review the way of attaching the needle.

 Check well the fitness of the needle.

 Students could also use the plane paper initially for practicing with the needle before
starting stitching on the practicing sheet.

 Students could also stitch in between the lines on the sheet along with the lines to enhance
your stitching expertise.
Requirements before the lab conduction:

1. You are required to understand the steps involved in the study of the correct position of
body, ON/OFF of the switch, how to put the foot on the pedal, how to operate the pedal,
and how to operate the knee lifter of a lockstitch sewing machine.

2. The instructor will ask you to demonstrate the steps learnt one by one.
Requirements before the use of lock stitch machine:
1. Correct body position
If the sitting posture is not right, the operator soon gets tired and cannot sew well.
In addition, if the operator has a bad habit at the beginning, it is difficult to cure the habit. Keep
securely the right posture.
Following is some of the common points which ensure the correct pose of the body:

I. Adjust the height of the chair in accordance with the operator's height.

II. The position where the center of the body aligns with the needle bar is that of right
posture.

III. Sit in the chair deep enough with the straight backbone. Sit down while keeping a space
of two fists between the sewing machine table and the body.
Keeping in view the above principles, decide the operator's most convenient posture to work
considering the hand movement and the knee lifter operation.
2. On/Off of the switch

I. On pressing the ON button on the power switch, the power is ON, and on pressing the
OFF button on the power switch, the power is OFF.

II. Keep the habit to surely turn the power switch OFF after using the sewing machine.

III. In addition, the sewing machine does not run unless the pedal is depressed even when the
power is ON.
3.Correct position of feet during stitching

 The way of using both feet is very important since the sewing machine is mainly run by
the pedal operation.

 Operate the machine in accordance with the following two steps:

I. Slightly put out the toe of the right foot forward from the pedal.

II. Slightly put out the heel of the left foot backward from the pedal.

4.How to operate the "pedal"

  The following four functions of the sewing machine are controlled by the pedal
operations:

I. Start

II. Stop

III. ~peed adjustment

IV. Thread trimming (For Auto-trimmer Machine Only)

So, it is important more than anything else to learn the correct pedal operation in order to quickly
make progress in the sewing machine.

 Confirm and understand the pedal operation by the following description:

Low Speed (Start Position)
Depress the toe of the right foot lightly forward.
High Speed
Depress the toe of right foot further forward. The further the pedal is depressed, the faster the
sewing machine speed becomes.
Stop position
Depress the heel of the left foot lightly backward and return the angle of the pedal to the initial
position.
Thread trimming

 Depress the heel of the left foot further backward, the thread trimming device actuates
and trims the thread and the sewing machine stops with the needle in the upper position.

 In case the auto lifter is used, the switch is ON between 'Stop & Thread Trimming'. When
the pedal is depressed backward, the presser foot will go up. Further depress the pedal
backward, and thread trimmer will actuate
5.How to operate the knee-lifter

 The basic purpose of using the knee-lifter is to raise or lower the presser foot of the
sewing machine.

 When sitting in the right posture as discussed earlier, in front of the sewing machine, the
knee pad of the knee-lifter will touch the right thigh of the operator.

 On lightly pressing the knee pad with the right thigh, the presser foot will go up, and the
presser foot will come down when the thigh is returned to the original position.

Procedure

 Practice mainly the stitching on the line of the practice sheet - I. On the practice sheet,
line A1 is used for straight stitching and line A2 for fixed position stop (midway stop)
 repeat.

 Practice using line A3 for straight stitching and line A4 & A5 for fixed stop position
(midway).

 Keep the speed of your machine low while practicing at the line of the A-series.

 Repeat the practice of each line 15 times without the needle and then with the needle
without thread.

 Practice the lines of B-series using the machine at high speed.

 Repeat the practice of each line 15 times without the needle and then with the needle
without thread.

 Practice the lines of -series for reverse stitching.

 Practice on the line C1 for reverse stitching (midway on the line) using the reverse
control lever of the machine.

 Practice on the line C2 for reverse stitching only at the end point of the stitching line.

 Practice on the line C3 for reverse stitching both at the start and end points during
stitching.

 Repeat the practice of each line 15 times without the needle and then with the needle.

Figure 1. Stitching exercise sheet I.

Submission
Submit the practice sheet at the end of the practical session (stitched using only the needle).
Observations& Calculations
Conclusions
Draw your own conclusions according to the observations.
In conclusion, the stitching exercise on paper practice sheet using the lock stitch machine
provides invaluable hands-on experience in mastering the fundamentals of sewing. Through
repetitive practice, learners can enhance their skills in controlling thread tension, guiding fabric,
and maintaining stitch consistency. This exercise lays a solid foundation for proficiency in
sewing techniques, fostering confidence and precision in future projects.
Questions:
 What are the main precautions taken before, during and after sewing?

o Precautions before, during, and after sewing include ensuring proper machine setup,
using sharp needles, and keeping fingers away from the needle

 How the pedal position should be kept during stitching?

o The pedal should be pressed evenly for consistent speed control during stitching.

 What is the function of knee lifter? Why is it applied in sewing machine?

o The knee lifter raises the presser foot, facilitating fabric movement.

 Why is lock stitch machine mostly used in apparel industry?

o Lock stitch machines offer durable, secure seams, ideal for apparel production.

 What type of bed is used for lockstitch machine?

o Lockstitch machines typically use a flatbed configuration.

 What are the main defects in sewing?

o Main sewing defects include uneven stitches and puckering.

 How the thread breakage could be avoided?

o Thread breakage can be minimized by using high-quality thread and adjusting tension
appropriately.
 What is the relation of thread tension with proper stitching?

o Proper thread tension ensures neat, balanced stitches without puckering or loose loops.