A sewing machine is a machine used to sew cloth and other materials together with thread. During the first industrial revolution, sewing machines were invented to reduce the amount of manual sewing in clothing companies. Since the invention of the first working sewing machine in 1790, which is usually regarded as the work of Thomas saint, the sewing machine has greatly improved the efficiency and productivity of the clothing industry.

The home sewing machine is designed for a person to sew a single stitch. In modern sewing machines, the fabric is easy to slide in and out of the machine without inconveniences to the needles and thimbles used in manual sewing and other such tools, thus automating the sewing process and saving time.

Compared with household machines, industrial sewing machines are larger and faster, and differ in size, cost, appearance and task.