Sewing Machine Day

No records indicate why Sewing Machine Day is held on June 13. According to the English Patent Office, on July 17, 1790, Thomas Saint patented the first sewing machine. His sewing machine had a horizontal cloth plate, a vertical reciprocating needle, a continuous thread fed from a spool, an automatic feed, and a tool for tightening the thread. The sewing machine is one of the most widely recognized symbols of the Industrial Revolution and the movement towards production using machines instead of human labor. In 1842, John Greenough patented the first sewing machine in the United States. In 1846, Elias Howe was awarded the first United States patent for a sewing machine using a lockstitch design. Although sewing machines are not considered to be a household necessity anymore, they are an important technological innovation that people still use to this day!

Celebrate this unusual holiday by pulling your sewing machine out from storage! Fix those out-of-fashion jeans with holes in them. Grab a pair of overalls, sew patches on them, and walk around like a hillbilly. Have a family member teach you how to sew, or join a sewing class. Wear the sweater that Grandma sewed for you last winter. Wish a friend a “Happy Sewing Machine Day!” However you decide to spend this unique holiday, appreciate the clothes you have on your back because most likely, they were made with a sewing machine.

Interesting Facts About Sewing Machine Day

• Sewing machine manufacturers typically advise replacing your needle after six hours of continuous use.
• The part that holds the fabric in place on a sewing machine is called a presser foot.
• Early sewing machines cost about $300, which was the equivalent of almost a year’s wages at that time.
• In 1755, Charles T. Wiesenthal designed and patented a double-pointed needle.
• In 1834, Walter Hunt designed a double-thread shuttle sewing machine.
• Elias Howe’s sewing machine was U.S. Patent #4,750, issued on September 10, 1846.
• In 1849, Benjamin Wilson introduced an automatic feeding system for sewing machines.
• In 1851, Isaac Merritt Singer created the first sewing machine scaled for home use.
• In 1889, the first practical electric sewing machine was introduced by the Singer Sewing Machine Co.
• By 1900, Singer claimed 80% of the worldwide market share in sewing machines.

How to Celebrate Sewing Machine Day

• Drive to a fabric store, like Hobby Lobby, and buy some crazy fabrics to start a new project!
• Visit the library and rent a book or video about sewing machines.
• Ask a family member or a neighbor to teach you how to sew.
• Watch a sewing machine documentary online.
• Read about Sewing Machine Day on WeirdHoliday.com!

Alternative titles for this holiday include: National Sewing Machine Day, International Sewing Machine Day, Sewing Machines Day, National Sewing Machines Day, and International Sewing Machines Day.

When is Sewing Machine Day in 2025?

Sewing Machine Day is observed on June 13 each year.

Observations