Work aids are extra machine parts that can be attached to sewing machines to improve productivity, quality, and reduce workload. Some common work aids include: 1. Guides help ensure sewing is done in the proper position or distance from fabric edges to increase quality and productivity. Edge guides are used on overlock machines. 2. Compensating feet can sew very close, 1-2mm, from fabric edges and are used for thicker fabrics like collars. 3. Specialized feet attach trimmings like piping very close to the fabric edge. Work aids automate processes to improve efficiency and consistency in garment production.

1. Work Aids of Sewing Machines
Definition
The extra machine parts which may be attached to speed
up the production and improve quality in the sewing
machine are called work aid.
Objectives
• To increase the production.
• To improve the quality of garments.
• To reduce the work- load on operator.
• To reduce the time for handling.
• To control the garments quality.

2. 1. Guide
o Guides are used for correct sewing in
predetermined position or in a determined and
proper distance form edge of fabric.
o It is also used for straight and curved sewing to
increase the quality and productivity.
o Edge guides are used in over edge machine.
Different types of work aids used in Sewing Machine

3. 2. Compensating Foot
o This type of pressure foot has two sections and each section can
perform their works in different height with the help of spring.
o It is suitable to sew 1-2 mm distance from the edge of fabrics.
o Specially used for sewing more thickness fabrics, i.e. collar
closing, seam pocket etc.

4. 3. Specialized pressure foot
o It is used for attaching piped shape trimmings like
braid or elastic.
o It is suitable for sewing very close to chain or pipe.

5. 4. Stitching Jig
o Specially used for sewing small parts of garments.
o Dye cutting parts are attached with the stitching jig.
o It is made with two aluminum or plastic seat whose one end is
joined with wage.
o Two or more fabric pattern is placed properly in jig; the seats
are closed together and sewing along slot line.
o Extensively used in collar and cuff.
Disadvantages of Stitching Jig :
 The additional allowance is required due to not movement of
the fabric during sewing in stitching jig. So fabric wastage is
more.
 Skilled and experienced operator is required for the controlling
of stitch length properly.
 The jig should be changed when the style is changed. For this,
much time and cost required.

6. Fig : Stitching Jig

7. 5. Rack Guide
o It is used to attach lace, braid and elastic with garments parts.
o Rack guide is used at the front of pressure foot for the
placement of lace or braiding the predetermined position from
the rolls.
o The lace or braid rolls are placed in rack guide.

8. 6. Light
o Marking with chalk or pencil is required on the fabric for sewing
of parts of the garments.
o The chalk spot or marking are found after washing and sewing.
o In order to remove this problem special marker used which are
not visible in normal light but visible in ultraviolet ray.
o The light can reflected as thin beam along needle.

9. 7. Folder
o A sewing machine attachment which folds one or more
materials into the desired configuration for sewing is called
folder.
o It may be placed in the middle of pressure foot or in front of
pressure foot.
o It is used to increase the production and to ensure the quality of
products.

10. 8. Slack Feeder
o Lace, braids, tape or elastic are supplied in roll
forms exists tension and attached in the garments in
tension condition, seam pucker may be created due
to shrinkage. Slack feeder is used to avoid this
problem.
o In slack feeder, lace or braid is opened from rolls
with the help of motor and roller. Then hangs as a
loop form. So tension is reduced before sewing.

11. 9. Elastication
o It helps to join elastic to the garments easily and at a
higher speed.
o Elastication can be made using folder in the front of
pressure foot.
o Computerized elastication machine is used to
increase products quality and productivity.

12. 10. Thread Cutter
o This is a mechanical device in sewing machine used to cut
thread at a regular distance.
o After completing the sewing, the thread is cut by ‘Manually
operated sewing machines’ or ‘Automatic operated sewing
machines’.

13. 11. Latch Back Device
o In over edge sewing machine, the thread cutting
ends can be secured with the air flow called latch
back. In this method, one end can be latch back.
o In present, in latch back sewing machine, electronic
edge sensor is added and both ends of thread can be
latch back.

14. 12. Compressed Air
o It is used to remove curling from fabrics, specially
knitted fabrics.
o The compressed air is flown vertically with the
fabric edge in front of edged trimmer to become
straight by reducing the curling of fabric edges.

15. 13. Stacker
o It is used to shift garments from one machine to
next machine through hanging layer.
o It reduces time, manpower and also protects the
garments from unexpected fold, dust and dirt.

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