US Patent 9512547 Apparatus for stitching vehicle interior components

A method for stitching an interior component is provided. The method including the steps of: stitching an outer skin layer of the interior component with a single needle chain stitch machine having a rotary looper; descending a needle of the machine through the interior component; retracting the needle after is has descended through the interior component; engaging a thread loop formed during the retraction of the needle after it has descended through the interior component with a hook of the rotary looper, wherein a portion of interior component is located above and below the rotary looper as it rotates; and moving the interior component relative to the needle and rotary looper in order to establish a stitch length.