Welcome to another bonus episode of Calm History, an extra treat for my soapclos members.

This is the History of Sowing, Part 3.

You can find part one in bonus episode number 85, in which I covered the history of sewing needles and threads.

Part 2 is in bonus episode number 91, which covered the history of spinners, weavers, and Luddites.

In this third and final episode,

I'll finally tell you all about the wild history of sewing machines.

You'll hear about the failures, regrets, successes,

and huge profits of brilliant inventors, as well as scandalous behavior related to singer

sewing machines, one of the worst fires in U.S. history, which involved sewing machines, and the fascinating story of an invention that was created in three hours,

and you have it in your home right now.

In the near future, I'll stitch these three episodes together

so you can enjoy an extended Sok Plus bonus episode about the

history of needles, threads, spinning, weaving, and sewing. But for now, lean back, put up your feet and allow some calm history to distract and

relax your overactive brain squirrels.

The History of Sowing Part 3, Rise of the Sowing Machines.

By the 1800s, almost every key step in the textile industry was being done by machines.

Selling needles used to be hand-carved from bone or ivory, but now they were being made out of metal by machines.

Threads used to be hand-spun from various plant fibers and other items, but now there were machines like the spinning mule doing it much more quickly.

And lastly, fabric used to be woven by hand, but now a single power loom could weave faster than

30 hand weavers.

As a result of these machines, factories were producing

mountains of fabric at a breakneck pace.

...