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The Sewing Machine 35* holes in the fabric for the passage of the needle proper. This needle was provided with a simple notch instead of an eye to carry the thread. By means of this notched needle the thread was carried downwards through the material to form a loop upon the underside of the latter. The loop and the material were then moved forward automatically a predetermined distance, when the next hole was bored to admit the needle, and another loop was formed as before. This cycle of operations was con- tinued until the task was completed. It will be seen that the stitch made by the Saint machine belonged to what is known now as the single or chain type. The method of operation was satis- factory within its limits. Saint, however, does not appear to have prosecuted the line of development which his fertility had indicated. At all events, there is no further record of his work in this field, because he never took out another patent connected with the sewing machine. In the course of the next few years other inven- tors produced some entirely novel machines, but for some reason or other they were not appreciated. Then, in 1830, a French tailor, Barthélemy Thimmonier, of St. Etienne, brought out a sewing machine which also belonged to the chain-stitch category. This effort is notable for carrying only a single needle, pointed to drive its own passage through the fabric, and notched at one side to carry the thread. The loop, or stitch, was formed by the thread being wrapped round the needle, which with- drew it through the material. The latter then moved forward a certain distance to permit the needle to