The sewing machine's invention involved several key figures, but Elias Howe is widely recognized as the inventor of the first practical sewing machine. He was granted a patent for his machine in 1846, which used a unique lockstitch design that revolutionized garment manufacturing. Howe's invention was significantly more efficient and practical compared to earlier versions, and after legal battles, his patent was upheld, leading him to receive royalties for sewing machines made in the United States. However, the history of the sewing machine also credits earlier inventors such as Thomas Saint, an Englishman who designed the first sewing machine in 1790 mainly for leather and canvas, and Barthélemy Thimonnier, a French tailor who invented the first practical and widely used sewing machine in 1829, which used a chain stitch method. Despite these earlier machines, Howe's design is considered the foundation of modern sewing machines. In summary, Elias Howe invented the first practical sewing machine in 1846, but several others contributed to the machine's development before him, including Thomas Saint and Barthélemy Thimonnier.
