334 CHARLES M. KARCH 



The needles made are of various lengths and patterns to 

 suit the requirements of the different sewing machines. Be- 

 sides those differing generically, such as straight and curved, 

 or specifically, such as long, short, round pointed, and chisel 

 pointed, there are many peculiar patented needles for use in 

 particular sewing machines. Among the endless varieties of 

 sewing machine needles the most prominent is the common 

 needle used in the household sewing machine. This needle 

 has the eye at the pointed end, with a long groove on one side 

 and a short groove on the opposite side, and is used in con- 

 nection with a shuttle or other device for carry^ing a second 

 thread, which is passed through a loop of the thread in the 

 needle, thus forming the double lock stitch. The purpose of 

 the grooves is to protect the thread from wearing or tearing 

 in the operation of the machine. 



In addition to the common household sewing machine 

 needles there are needles for use in sewing leather, including 

 many varieties to suit the various machines. Some of these 

 needles, in distinction from the common sewing machine 

 needles, have a hook instead of an eye. The material to be 

 sewed is perforated with an awl, and the thread is then pulled 

 through by the hook. In most leather sewing machines, 

 however, the needle itself perforates the material and pulls 

 the thread through. In sewing cloth only the needle with a 

 round point is used; but for sewing leather there are points 

 of various shapes, known as twist, reverse twist, wedge, cross, 

 chisel, reverse chisel, and diamond. A very interesting needle, 

 used in the manufacture of boots and shoes, is that of the 

 Goodyear welting machine. This needle is a segment of a 

 circle in shape and puts welts upon boots and shoes with re- 

 markable rapidity and accuracy. 



The steel spring and latch needles used in making hosiery 

 and in stockinet work are extensively manufactured in the 

 United States. The former is constructed by reducing the 

 working end on a taper to an approximate point, and then 

 bending the reduced portion over upon itself so as to form 

 an open loop, a groove having been previously made in the 

 needle so as to come opposite the point. In the operation 

 of the needle the point stands out at the proper time for the 



