This sewing needle holding device (10) is provided with: a holder (24) which holds the base end side of a sewing needle (14) provided with, from the leading end side toward the base end side in the extension direction, a small diameter portion (16), an outer diameter varying portion (20a), and a large diameter portion (18); and a presser member (26) which is mounted to the holder (24). The holder (24) causes at least the small diameter portion (16) and the outer diameter varying portion (20a) of the sewing needle (14) to protrude from a holder leading-end surface (34). The presser member (26) has a counter portion (46) that faces the holder leading-end surface (34). The counter portion (46) has formed therein an insertion hole (50) through which the small diameter portion (16) can be inserted. At least a part of the insertion hole (50) is provided with a pressure-receiving surface (52) that comes into abutment with the outer diameter varying portion (20a).

A stitching system includes a jig capable of joining two shoe parts and capable of being used in an automated stitching machine. The jig includes a lower member capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine and an upper member also capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine. The two shoe parts are held in place between the lower member and the upper member. The lower member, the upper member and the two shoe parts therebetween are moved by the automated stitching machine in accordance with a pattern stored in the automated stitching machine.

A stitching system includes a jig capable of joining two shoe parts and capable of being used in an automated stitching machine. The jig includes a lower member capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine and an upper member also capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine. The two shoe parts are held in place between the lower member and the upper member. The lower member, the upper member and the two shoe parts therebetween are moved by the automated stitching machine in accordance with a pattern stored in the automated stitching machine.

A sewing machine includes a movement mechanism, a swinging mechanism, a presser device, a guide portion, a processor, and a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include acquiring pattern data used for sewing a couching pattern in which a plurality of motifs are continuously arranged. The motif is configured in a predetermined shape by a plurality of stitches including a main stitch and a sub-stitch. The processes include correcting at least one selected from the group of a start point position and an end point position of the main stitch of one of the motifs, such that the length of the main stitch of the one motif is longer in a second case than in a first case, and driving the movement mechanism and the swinging mechanism in accordance with the corrected pattern data.

A sewing machine guiding tool includes a presser foot, a holder and a gauge. The presser foot includes a bottom wall and a rear support. The bottom wall is formed with a needle-passing hole and with a slit extending from the needle-passing hole to the front end of the bottom wall. The rear support is connected to the rear end of the bottom wall. The holder, attached to a presser bar of the sewing machine, holds the presser foot pivotally about a horizontal axis. The gauge, supported by the rear support to be slidable in parallel to the horizontal axis, includes a ruler plate and a guide portion. The ruler plate has a surface marked with a scale. The guide portion extends from the ruler plate. The ruler plate is disposed above the bottom wall with its surface inclined to become higher as proceeding rearward.

Felting assembly for a sewing machine. In some embodiments, a felting assembly may include a felting needle clamp including one or more felting needles. The felting assembly may also include a needle plate defining one or more needle openings arranged to allow the one or more felting needles to reciprocate therethrough. The needle plate may be configured to be attached to a sewing machine over a rotary hook of the sewing machine. The felting assembly may also include a connector configured to attach the felting needle clamp to a needle bar of the sewing machine such that the felting needle clamp is offset from the rotary hook of the sewing machine to avoid the one or more felting needles from contacting the rotary hook when the one or more felting needles are reciprocated through the one or more needle openings in the needle plate.

A sewing machine includes a feed mechanism which feeds a workpiece by a feed dog partially protruding out upward from an upper surface of a throat plate and moving along a predetermined feeding direction; a presser foot which presses the workpiece on the upper surface of the throat plate from above; a feed guide which has an abutting surface along the feeding direction and guides feeding of the workpiece; and a control device. The feed mechanism includes a lateral feed mechanism which adds a moving component in a direction along the upper surface of the throat plate and orthogonal to the predetermined feeding direction, to the feed dog. The control device controls the feed mechanism to feed the workpiece by adding a moving component to a side of the abutting surface of the feed guide by the lateral feed mechanism, in addition to the feeding along the regulated feeding direction.

A sewing machine includes a feed mechanism which feeds a workpiece by a feed dog partially protruding out upward from an upper surface of a throat plate and moving along a predetermined feeding direction; a presser foot which presses the workpiece on the upper surface of the throat plate from above; a feed guide which has an abutting surface along the feeding direction and guides feeding of the workpiece; and a control device. The feed mechanism includes a lateral feed mechanism which adds a moving component in a direction along the upper surface of the throat plate and orthogonal to the predetermined feeding direction, to the feed dog. The control device controls the feed mechanism to feed the workpiece by adding a moving component to a side of the abutting surface of the feed guide by the lateral feed mechanism, in addition to the feeding along the regulated feeding direction.

In a pressing device, a first member is movable in an up-down direction along with a presser bar of a sewing machine in a mounted state in which the pressing device is mounted on the presser bar. A second member supports a presser foot. The presser bar applies, through the second member, a presser force to the presser foot downward in the mounted state. A third member is disposed between the first and second members in the up-down direction in the mounted state. A gap-adjusting member adjusts a gap between the first and third members by contacting at least one of the first and third members. An urging member urges the second and third members away from each other with an urging force smaller than the pressing force of the presser bar. A guide part guides movement of the second and third members relative to the first member.

In a pressing device, a first member is movable in an up-down direction along with a presser bar of a sewing machine in a mounted state in which the pressing device is mounted on the presser bar. A second member supports a presser foot. The presser bar applies, through the second member, a presser force to the presser foot downward in the mounted state. A third member is disposed between the first and second members in the up-down direction in the mounted state. A gap-adjusting member adjusts a gap between the first and third members by contacting at least one of the first and third members. An urging member urges the second and third members away from each other with an urging force smaller than the pressing force of the presser bar. A guide part guides movement of the second and third members relative to the first member.