A spar for an airfoil comprises a core, e.g. a foam core, a central structural member extending through the core, an outer structural layer surrounding the core and central structural member and a plurality of yarns extending through the central structural member.

A sewing machine needle (1) is described, which reduces the friction between the blade (2) of the sewing machine needle (1) and the fabric and which can be manufactured economically in large numbers. The sewing machine needle (1) includes a needle eye (3) and at least one recess (5), wherein the distance between an upper edge (6) of the recess (5) and the lateral position of the axis (12) of the needle eye (3) differs from the distance between a lower edge (7) of the recess (5) and the lateral position of the axis (12) of the needle eye (3).

A sewing machine needle (1) is described, which reduces the friction between the blade (2) of the sewing machine needle (1) and the fabric and which can be manufactured economically in large numbers. The sewing machine needle (1) includes a needle eye (3) and at least one recess (5), wherein the distance between an upper edge (6) of the recess (5) and the lateral position of the axis (12) of the needle eye (3) differs from the distance between a lower edge (7) of the recess (5) and the lateral position of the axis (12) of the needle eye (3).

A needle assembly for a stitching machine comprises a stitching jig comprising a needle holder, a needle clamp hoop and a fixing jig. The needle holder has needle sockets to hold a plurality of needles. The needle clamp hoop is connected to the needle holder to retain needles in the sockets. The fixing jig is connected to the needle clamp hoop to couple with a reciprocating bar of the stitching machine. A method for manufacturing an article of footwear upper comprises laying out a first sheet of material; positioning a second sheet of material to overlap with the first sheet of material at an overlap; positioning a felt material adjacent the overlap so that the second sheet of material is between the first sheet of material and the felt material; and felting the felt material to draw fibers of the felt material through the first and second sheets of material.

A needle assembly for a stitching machine comprises a stitching jig comprising a needle holder, a needle clamp hoop and a fixing jig. The needle holder has needle sockets to hold a plurality of needles. The needle clamp hoop is connected to the needle holder to retain needles in the sockets. The fixing jig is connected to the needle clamp hoop to couple with a reciprocating bar of the stitching machine. A method for manufacturing an article of footwear upper comprises laying out a first sheet of material; positioning a second sheet of material to overlap with the first sheet of material at an overlap; positioning a felt material adjacent the overlap so that the second sheet of material is between the first sheet of material and the felt material; and felting the felt material to draw fibers of the felt material through the first and second sheets of material.

A needle assembly for a stitching machine comprises a stitching jig comprising a needle holder, a needle clamp hoop and a fixing jig. The needle holder has needle sockets to hold a plurality of needles. The needle clamp hoop is connected to the needle holder to retain needles in the sockets. The fixing jig is connected to the needle clamp hoop to couple with a reciprocating bar of the stitching machine. A method for manufacturing an article of footwear upper comprises laying out a first sheet of material; positioning a second sheet of material to overlap with the first sheet of material at an overlap; positioning a felt material adjacent the overlap so that the second sheet of material is between the first sheet of material and the felt material; and felting the felt material to draw fibers of the felt material through the first and second sheets of material.

A needle assembly for a stitching machine comprises a stitching jig comprising a needle holder, a needle clamp hoop and a fixing jig. The needle holder has needle sockets to hold a plurality of needles. The needle clamp hoop is connected to the needle holder to retain needles in the sockets. The fixing jig is connected to the needle clamp hoop to couple with a reciprocating bar of the stitching machine. A method for manufacturing an article of footwear upper comprises laying out a first sheet of material; positioning a second sheet of material to overlap with the first sheet of material at an overlap; positioning a felt material adjacent the overlap so that the second sheet of material is between the first sheet of material and the felt material; and felting the felt material to draw fibers of the felt material through the first and second sheets of material.

A sewing system for attaching or re-attaching buttons is provided. Embodiments of the sewing system have a single- or multi-strand thread of one to ten woven threads, the threads having a length of at least one inch with one needle pre-attached, terminating in free strands, an opposing end securement, or two needles attached to opposing ends of the thread. The appearance of a professionally sewn button is provided while eliminating the need to make multiple passes through the button holes and fabric.

A sewing system for attaching or re-attaching buttons is provided. Embodiments of the sewing system have a single- or multi-strand thread of one to ten woven threads, the threads having a length of at least one inch with one needle pre-attached, terminating in free strands, an opposing end securement, or two needles attached to opposing ends of the thread. The appearance of a professionally sewn button is provided while eliminating the need to make multiple passes through the button holes and fabric.

The present invention comprises ornamental interchangeable defensive comfort devices for high heeled shoes and low heeled shoes. The defensive compact shoe comfort device has also a unique glow in the dark components which can be included but not limiting to in the bow section of the device making it completely different from any defensive shoe device. The defensive compact shoe comfort device has an elastic band which is used to secure the defensive compact shoe comfort device to the high heel. The elastic band is located at the bottom of the compact shoe comfort device. At the center of the compact shoe comfort device is a decorative bow. The compact shoe comfort device also provides a flap which is inserted into the back of the shoe and keeps the compact shoe comfort secured to the high heel shoe and the back of the foot with comfort because of the gel strip that is attached to the flap of the compact shoe comfort.