Sewing Machine Terms

Whether it’s your first time sewing on a machine, or you’ve been using one for years, you might not know the  name of all the parts on your sewing machine  – or even what they do! All sewing machines have the same basic parts. So here’s an introduction to the basic parts of every sewing machine, and what their main function is.

Bobbin: The bobbin is a spindle or cylinder placed on the bottom of the sewing machine. You wind thread around the bobbin and use it to form the lower part of the sewing machine stitches.

Foot Pedal: Step on the foot pedal to power your sewing machine.

Presser Foot: This is NOT the same as the foot pedal on the floor that you step on to make your sewing machine work. This is the part of the sewing machine that holds the fabric steady while the fabric is being stitched. It can be pulled up and down, off the fabric, with a lever or a button.

Hand Wheel: Use the hand wheel to adjust the needle height.

Spool Pin: This part of the sewing machine keeps the spool in place while the thread is fed through the machine.

Thread Cutter: Some sewing machines come with built-in thread cutters. As the name implies, this cuts the end of the thread.

Feed Dog: The toothed metal piece underneath the stitch plate that moves up and down to push the fabric along.