An Improvement in the Process of Hemstitching Linen, Cotton, Union, or other Fabrics.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Process of Hemstitching Linen, Cotton,
Union, or other Fabrics.
I, RICHARD THOMAS WEBB Manufacturer Newtownards Co. Down Ireland
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
That the object obtained by this invention is the securing of the loose threads on
the body of the hemstitched material so that these loose threads when the material
is washed or put into use shall not be moved out of place across the open work of
the hemstitch thereby spoiling & obliterating the characteristic appearance of this
stitch. The securing of these loose threads when done hitherto has been by the
slow process of hand work with a knotted stitch or a whipped stitch whereby the
loose threads have been bound up in place to the body of the fabric. This invention
does away with the necessity of this stitching by hand by the simple process of
passing across the "shire or open portion of the hemstitch, just below, or on, the
outermost loose thread, so as to securely bind it, a line of fine sewing machine
stitching.
"
This line of fine machine stitching takes a firm hold of the upright threads and
prevents the loose cross threads of the body of the material from working down out
of place across the open work of the hemstitch & achieves the same result as the
hand stitching but at a reduced cost in time & labour.
In the accompanying sketch which represents a portion of a hemstitched fabric
B. is the body of the woven fabric shewing the warp & weft threads crossing
each other.
H. is the hem & H. S. the hemstitches.
O. are the open spaces or "shire" lefts, with a view to ornament, open & clear
of threads.
L. T. is the nearest of the loose threads in the body of the fabric which, unless
secured, work down across the open spaces O.
P. is the fine line of machine stitching which is passed across the "shire" &
taking a firm hold of the vertical threads prevents L T. & the other loose threads
above it from working down across the open spaces O.
Dated this 15th day of March 1892.
RICHARD THOMAS WEBB.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Process of Hemstitching Linen, Cotton,
Union, or other Fabrics.
I RICHARD THOMAS WEBB Manufacturer, Newtownards Co. Down Ireland
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object obtained by this invention is the securing of the loose threads on the
body of the hemstitched material so that these loose threads when the material is
washed or put into use shall not be moved out of place across the openwork of the
hemstitch thereby spoiling & obliterating the characteristic appearance of this
stitch. The securing of these loose threads when done hitherto has been by
the slow process of hand work with a knotted stitch or a whipped stitch whereby
the loose threads have been bound up in place to the body of the fabric. This
invention does away with the necessity of this stitching by hand by the simple

page_text: process of passing across the shire" or open portion of the hemstitch just below,
or on, the outermost loose thread so as to securely bind it, a line of fine sewing
machine stitching.
This line of fine machine stitching takes a firm hold of the gathered threads and
prevents the loose cross threads of the hody of the material from working down out
of place across the open work of the hemstitch and achieves the same result as the
hand stitching but at a reduced cost in time & labour. In the drawings left with
the Provisional Specification which represent a portion of a hemstitched fabric,
B is the body of the woven fabric, shewing the warp & weft threads crossing
each other. H. is the hem & H. S. the hemstitch. O. are the open spaces or
"shire left with a view to ornament open & clear. L. T. is the nearest of the
loose threads in the body of the fabric which unless secured work down across the
open spaces O.
93
P. is the fine line of machine stitching which is passed across the "shire" and
taking a firm hold of the gathered threads prevents LT. & the other loose threads
above it from working down across the open spaces O.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
⚫claim is
The making use of a line of machine stitching across the open spaces of a hem
-stitch so as to prevent the loose threads of the body of the fabric, so stitched, from
working down across the open spaces of the hem stitch.
Dated this 7th day of December 1892.