Abstract: A device for incorporating the leading edge of material such as threads or stitches in the initial stitches of a workpiece is provided by the utilization of a pneumatically activated clamp and cutting knife mounted forward of the throat plate and presser foot assembly of a sewing or stitching machine. The device for clamping, cutting and incorporating the leading edge of threads or chain stitches in the initial stitches of the workpiece is achieved by clamping, severing and thereafter adjustably releasing the threads or stitches after a predetermined number of needle penetrations.

Abstract: An automatic placket shirt front forming machine and method for sewing placket shirt fronts is provided which utilizes an apparatus and method to automatically position, sew, mitre cut and remove a sewn placket shirt front and stack the placket shirt front. The method and apparatus requires the operator to only master the task of properly layering the material which may be facilitated by utilizing a set of guides. Once the material is layered and aligned, the operator has only to activate a start or reset button to clamp, transfer and position the placket shirt front and automatically start the sequential operation of sewing and mitre cutting, thread cutting and stacking of the finished placket shirt front.