Gussie returns home with Jacob Gerstein, a cutter from the factory. He brings a sewing machine that Rose can borrow for a week to practice. Rose initially has difficulty working the foot pedal and running the fabric under the moving needle. Rose also finds Jacob handsome and wonders if he is courting Gussie. Jacob promises to bring some fabric scraps for Rose to practice with, saying that the men at the factory aren’t inspected as closely as the women are when they leave. The women are also paid less. Jacob leaves shortly after Mr. Garoff returns home. Mr. Garoff thinks that Gussie spends too much time working on union issues, which he believes are bound to be unsuccessful.

Despite gaining confidence with the sewing machine, Rose is intimidated by the prospect of working in the large Triangle factory. When they meet other seamstresses, Rose learns that Gussie lost her position as a sample-maker on the eighth floor because she came in late on the day she went with Rose to confront Moscovitz. The demotion also comes with a pay cut. Rose notes that there is a line of workers waiting to use the elevators to enter the factory. The women use the elevators in the morning but must use the stairs at the end of the day.