The invention of the sewing machine was supposed to make life easier, so why did it spark one of the messiest patent wars in history? In this episode, we unravel the dramatic story of the sewing machine, from arsonist tailors and prophetic dreams, to legal battles and backstabbing. And of course we have to mention Isaac Singer, who was a real life Count Olaf and treated adultery as an olympic sport. Who knew sewing could be so scandalous? Grab your thimble and thread and join us as we stitch together the crazy history of sewing!

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SOURCES

Goldstar Tool - The Complete History of a Sewing Machine

Windham Textile and History Museum - Sewing Revolution: The Machine That Changed America

Smithsonian Magazine - The Many, Many Designs of the Sewing Machine

Wikipedia - Sewing machine

Wikipedia - Barthélemy Thimonnier

ThoughtCo. - History of the Sewing Machine

National Museum of American History - 1854 - Walter Hunt’s Patent Model of a Sewing Machine

Wikipedia - Walter Hunt (inventor)

Wikipedia - Elias Howe

Wikipedia - Isaac Singer

Biography.com - Isaac Singer

American Business History Center - The Sordid Saga of Mr. Singer and his Sewing Machine

Wikipedia - Winnaretta Singer

Wikipedia - Overlock

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