Not Your Grandma's Sewing Machine

If you’re like many people, your first - or maybe only – exposure to sewing machines was watching your grandmother make homemade creations.  Or maybe it was in a high school home economics class.  Even if you yourself are a sewing whiz at home, you may be surprised that there are some significant differences in the machines used on a professional level. 

 

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 In the ISAIC factory, we have a variety of specialized machines.  Our team is constantly training to use the most appropriate and effective machine for the product we’re producing. In fact, our professional sewers have training sessions every Friday to increase their skills, knowledge and opportunities! 

 The most common machine we use is the single needle lockstitch, which creates the most basic stitch – a straight lockstitch. Our team uses this versatile piece of equipment to make everything from sports jerseys to medical gowns to the ISAIC T-Shirt. It’s also the first machine on which our students in the Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing and Innovation (FISP) class receive instruction.   

 But that’s just the beginning. We’re fortunate to have a wonderful partnership with Juki, the leader in industrial sewing machines. Juki has been with ISAIC since we launched, providing machines that got us up and running making PPE and continuing with providing our team with ongoing training. We are constantly amazed at the capabilities of the equipment we use, and since we get many questions about them, we thought it was the perfect time to start sharing some insider views.

This video from the ISAIC education team features machines we use in our classroom and in the factory. One of the biggest differences from a home machine is the speed, as this one can produce up to 5,000 stitches per minute, compared to a typical domestic machine that maxes out around 1,000 stitches per minute, so you definitely need instruction on how to drive one of these!  They are heavier and more durable than home sewing machines, too – so are built with their own table around them.  They are very flexible, and you can use attachments, rigs, or special feet to create all sorts of techniques! 

 

 FISP student have the opportunity to work on the single needle lock stitch to learn everything from threading and troubleshooting to navigating problematic materials! They also learn to use a serger and cover stitch machines, both of which we’ll explore in future videos.   

 So where does all the knowledge gained in FISP take someone? This class qualifies students to apply for apprenticeship at ISAIC, where they “earn while they learn” during a year of on-the-job training. That means more exposure to the many amazing machines!  Other students take their knowledge and skills and use them to help build their own brand.  And some will go on to work in other facilities as industrial sewers. There’s no shortage of opportunities as partner sites look to ISAIC to set the industry standard for training and regularly contact us about hiring our graduates. (Insider tip: we have an active jobs board with both opportunities within ISAIC as well as other locations)

 If you’re interested in learning more about training at ISAIC with FISP and taking a peek at some of these incredible industrial machines, we have a monthly open house to show you around and answer questions. Check our calendar for dates and join us!

 Katie O’Connor is ISAIC’s Education and Training Manager. Connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram.

 
Training, ManufacturingGuest Userindustrial sewing, apparel manufacturing, apprenticeship, sewing, Juki