Abstract: A thread shield, for a sewing machine having means to interrupt needle bar reciprocation and a take-up with a threading slot to an eyelet thereof, to discourage thread escape from the eyelet or double threading of the eyelet by loose, slung around thread. The sewing machine take-up moves in an up and down path from an uppermost position, where thread may be drawn to the eyelet by way of the threading slot, to a lower position where appreciable slack thread forms when the needle bar reciprocation is interrupted. At the position where appreciable slack thread forms, the take-up moves closely adjacent to an upstanding rib which overlaps the entry to the threading slot thus to deter thread loops from reentering the threading slot. The forward surface of the upstanding rib is tapered in a horizontal plane towards the take-up lever to impede thread, which might otherwise move from the eyelet rearwardly down the threading slot to the threading slot entry.

Abstract: A take-up lever and thread guide for a sewing machine includes a first arm portion and an overlying second arm portion forming an open-ended slot communicating with an aperture spaced from the open end. The second arm portion includes a depending detent spaced from the aperture in the direction of the open end and is adapted to prevent a thread from moving outside of the slot during the operation of the take-up lever.

Abstract: A thread control mechanism for an overedge sewing machine uses only the movable driven components of the needle, lower looper, and upper looper, in combination with stationary thread guides, for feeding and controlling the threads used by the machine to form a seam. The lower and upper looper threads, i.e., the threads which pass through the eye of the lower and upper loopers, respectively, are each engaged by movable thread guides carried on the looper carriers for both loopers so that the coordinated movement of the two loopers cooperate to control and feed both looper threads. A needle thread takeup cam mounted on and driven by the needle arm drive shaft cooperates with stationary thread guides to feed and control the needle thread.