Sewing contractors provide a wide range of industrial sewing-related services, including design, engineering, prototyping, fabrication and packaging. They often produce specially-made fabric products for individuals by custom sewing, which are not mass produced, or by commercial sewing services, which manufacture many uniform fabric products that end up on business shelves and are sold to consumers.
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While small custom sewing businesses may sew their products by hand or on a small sewing machine, most sewing contractors use industrial sewing machines. These machines are designed for one specific function. Some of the basic types of industrial machines are straight stitch, serger and blindstitch. Other machines, which are often computer operated, include lockstitch, chain stitch, overedge, walking foot, needle feed, double needle, zigzag, cylinder, bar tack, box tack, hook/loop fastener and more. Industrial machines differ from consumer sewing machines in many ways. They are significantly faster and able to sew much heavier fabrics and through more layers. The larger motors of these industrial machines are designed to run continuously throughout the whole day and many require little or no manpower or manual operation. Many of these machines are self-oiling. However, industrial sewing machines are complicated and usually require a mechanic to fix problems and perform regular maintenance to ensure they work properly.
Many types of fabrics are used by sewing contractors. Vinyl-coated nylon is a lightweight, durable material that is a popular choice for bags, presentation cases and protective covers, as it is tough and weather resistant. Neoprene and Hypalon are chemical and abrasion resistant and are used in industrial applications. Canvas, which is comprised of twill, soft flannel and felt, is a breathable material used for bags and curtains, as well as many industrial applications. A sewing contractor uses a variety of anti-static materials for products in the computer and electronics industries. Other materials include suede, leather, felt, webbing, plastic, cotton and polyester. These fabrics are often custom embroidered, which is a decorative embellishment made by stitching thread by a needle. They are graphic or descriptive text and images, and they are often used by companies and businesses that want to print their logo on their products and employee uniforms. Clothing labels are attached inside of all garments, bedding, textiles and clothing that are sold commercially. These tags contain information that lets the consumer know where the product was made, the materials it is made out of, washing instructions, and they often have a brand name, logo and garment size. These tags may be woven, embroidered or printed and made of satin, damask or taffeta.
Custom bags are commonly manufactured by sewing contractors. They are made to fit certain sizes and use specific materials to fit particular consumer needs. They are often made of canvas, a soft yet durable material. Pouches, which are small to medium sized carrying containers, are also often custom made. They are made for products such as auto jacks, batteries, cables, cameras, flags, infusers and manuals. Pouches are produced with many different fabrics, including nylon, neoprene, hypalon, canvas, leather, felt, cotton and polyester. Soft luggage is made of durable fabric and is also produced by sewing contractors. They are often made of canvas, leather or plastic and are either carry-on size (up to 21 inches) or larger, which are checked in at the airport. Backpacks, briefcases and sports bags are also considered soft luggage. They are closed by buttons, clasps and zippers and provide an alternative to bulky hard luggage. Protective covers made of fabric are durable, waterproof and provide shelter from outdoor elements. They are often made of nylon or canvas that is coated with tar or paint. They may be fitted to cover specific objects or products, such as grills, machinery, outdoor furniture, cars and dumpsters. Tarps are larger, unfitted protective covers that are used to shelter swimming pools and cars during snow or rain and machinery during transport. They are also often used during camping as a ground or tent cover.
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Sewing Contractors and Sewing
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The ease with which air is able to pass through material. Air porosity
determines factors such as the air resistance of parachute cloth,
the efficiency of air filtration media and the wind resistance of
sailcloth.
- A device that performs
finishing operations, such has pleating or heat setting, under pressure
in a superheated steam atmosphere.
- Filament
threads consisting of two basic fibers or two variations of the same basic
fiber.
- Woven fabrics
measuring more than 18" in width.
- A fabric that is
woven in widths exceeding 29".
- A machine that consists
of two or more heavy rollers, which are sometimes heated, used to impart
various surface effects to fabrics. The fabric is passed through the
calender under heavy pressure.
- A generic term referring
to all materials formed from textile fiber, wire or felts.
- A fabric that
has been coated with a substance in firmly adhering layers to provide
specific properties, such as water impermeability. Coatings include
lacquer, varnish, resin, plastic and rubber.
- A thread numbering
system, mostly used for continuous filament threads, such as yarn. The
higher the denier, the sturdier the thread; the lower the denier, the
finer the thread.
- Decoration of
fabric using needlework
- Unfinished
and un-dyed knitted or woven fabrics.
- The bottom edge of fabric
that is sewn to create a uniform edge and to hide any fraying.
- The "fuzzy"
side of the fabric that is typically directional in nature.
- A fabric,
such as faux leather, suede and felt, that is not woven or knitted from
thread or yarn.
- Heavy-duty woven
canvas that is used as sails for boats.
- The fabric,
typically measuring from 1/4" to 5/8", that is between
the edge of the fabric and the line of stitching.
- A fabric or cloth
manufactured by knitting or weaving. Textiles are also the products,
such as yarn or fiber, used for knitting or weaving into cloth.
- Materials such
as cushions, springs, covering fabric and stuffing that are used on furniture.
- Interlacing two or
more yarns made of similar materials so they cross at right angles and
produce woven fabric.
