Clothing manufacturers were the first sewing machine customers, and used them to produce the first ready-to-wear clothing and shoes. In the 1860s consumers began purchasing them, and the machines—ranging in price from £6 to £15 in Britain depending on features—became very common in middle-class homes. Owners were much more likely to spend free time with their machines to make and mend clothing for their families than to visit friends, and women's magazines and household guides such as Mrs Beeton's offered dress patterns and instructions. With a sewing machine someone could produce a man's shirt in about one hour, compared to 14+1⁄2 hours by hand. (Taken from Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewing_machine
Referenced from: Draznin, Yaffa Claire (2001).Victorian London's Middle-Class Housewife: What She Did All Day (#179). Contributions in Women's Studies. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 66–68. ISBN 0-313-31399-7.)
When you need a quick sewing job done sometimes it's easier to grab a needle and thread and just whip it up. Some repairs are much more suited to a hand sewn stitch. An example to sew shut a sofa cushion. Unless there is a zipper it is not likely you can fit the cushion under the foot of the machine. So then we might need a hand-sewn stitch. My favorite hand sewing stitch is the invisible ladder stitch. Shown below.
Even though my machine sews buttons on, I find it more practical to just double thread a needle and sew it on by hand. Moreover you may carry an extra button and sewing kit in your pocket but not a sewing machine.
I love the look of hand sewn button hole.
I'd love to have that talent
These pictures were borrowed from pinterest
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