Thomas Saint a British cabinet maker is most often credited with patenting the first sewing machine in 1790.  Saint's invention was designed to sew leather and canvas on boots. When an attempt was made to replicate his invention in the1880's it would not work.   It is somewhat doubtful he ever built his machine.

In 1830 Barthelemy Thimonnier, a French taylor patented the first practical sewing machine.  It was used mainly to sew uniforms for the French army.

Other taylors feared they would loose their livelihood, and destroyed his machines.

In 1833 Walter Hunt an American invented the first lockstitch machine, but did not patent it.

In 1846 Elias Howe Jr. obtained the first American patent for a sewing machine.

Isaac Merit Singer invented the first truly practical machine in 1850, it could sew any kind of seam, and was simpler to use than Howe's invention.  Singer founded a company that became the worlds largest manufacturer of sewing machines by 1860.

The first machines were used in garment factory production lines.  It wasn't until 1889 that the first sewing machine for home use was designed and marketed.  By 1905 the sewing machine was in wide use in the home.