Machines & tools

Cumulative strain on hands, wrists, neck, or shoulders from repetitive sewing motions and poor posture, managed through breaks, stretching, and ergonomic workspace adjustments.

A control that, when engaged, reverses the feed dog direction so the machine sews backward, commonly used to lock stitches at the start and end of a seam.

A narrow, tightly wrapped edge finish produced on an overlocker by adjusting the stitch finger and tension so thread coverage rolls the raw fabric edge under.

A curled, funnel-shaped presser foot that folds a narrow raw fabric edge twice as it feeds, producing a tiny finished hem in a single pass.

A round, razor-sharp blade mounted in a handle, rolled along a straightedge to cut fabric, especially multiple layers for quilting and garment pieces.

Practices for handling a rotary cutter safely, including closing the blade guard between cuts, cutting away from the body, and keeping fingers clear of the blade path.

A rotating mechanism beneath the needle plate that catches the upper thread's loop and carries it around the bobbin case to form a lockstitch.

An attachment with an adjustable blade and gear mechanism that folds fabric into controlled pleats or gathers as it feeds beneath the needle.