Either you love to sew as a hobby or plan to start your own little business of leather and denim goods, the right sewing machine is the most important thing to choose. Leather is a thick and sticky material and if the machine is not right it can get marks and get wasted so a specialized machine is a wise option.
The machines for leather are quite pricey than regular ones but worth the investment. In the market, there are industrial and domestic heavy-duty leather machines available. We have done detailed research and short-listed the top 4 best sewing machines for denim and leather to help you buy the right one.
Comparison table:
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Top Pick
 |
SINGER – 4423 |
|
Check on Amazon |
|
Top Pick
 |
Janome-HD 3000 |
|
Check on Amazon |
|
Top Pick
 |
Brother-ST371HD |
|
Check on Amazon |
|
Top Pick
 |
Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 |
|
Check on Amazon |
Top 4 Best Leather and Denim Sewing Machines
No need to be overwhelmed by tons of sewing machines out there and with their big prices. We have brought you the best choices for leather and denim stitching that also are budget-friendly. With a complete guide and details of specs, you can easily choose what kind of machine will suit you the most and make an efficient decision.
Following are the four best sewing machines for denim and leather in 2021 available in the market that amazes us with their high quality and unmatchable performances.
1. SINGER – 4423
Singer is well-known for its product durability and efficiency in the sewing machine market. This heavy-duty sewing machine by Singer is no doubt one of the best sewing machines for jeans and leather that comes under a budget. With super-fast speed and high motor power, this machine stitches effortlessly with thick fabrics like leather.
Product features
Built-in stitches & applications
Singer 4432 sewing machine comes with 23 built-in stitches that include the basic, decorative, and buttonhole stitches. You can easily use it to make quilts, embroidery, or thick seam. It also includes 97 stitch applications for different styles and designs of stitching.
Powerful motor
What impresses most is the fast speed and incredible motor power of this machine. The motor of singer 4432 is 60 percent more powerful than other machines and offers high piercing power to stitch through multiple layers of thick fabric like leather. The speed of the motor is also remarkable with 1100 stitches per minute making it great for bigger projects that need fast working.
High presser foot
The Presser foot of this machine is extra high, which is good for thicker fabrics so that they don’t stick or get marks. Along with that, it includes multiple extra added features like automatic buttonhole and needle threader, easy loading bobbin pin, seam ripper, and many more.
Product specifications
- Warranty: 25 years
- Motor speed: 1100 SPM
- Weight: 5 pounds
- Size: 5 x 6.25 x 12 inches
- 97 stitch applications
- Powerful motor
- High presser foot
- Budget-friendly
- Less efficient on multiple layers
Final verdict
For domestic use or small home business, this machine is very efficient due to its powerful motor which gives great stitches on leather and denim. The motor speed and efficiency are the star highlights of this machine and people looking for a fast and powerful motor on a budget must go for it.
2. Janome-HD3000
Janome is a reputable brand and known by all for its superior quality machines. Janome-HD3000 is another great heavy-duty sewing machine by the company that is good for both industrial and domestic use.
Product features
Snap-on presser foot
The Janome-HD3000 sewing machine includes a Snap-on presser foot that has adjustable pressure through a turning dial. This comes in handy for multiple fabrics. Plus you can raise the presser foot as high as possible to stitch thick fabric or multiple layers with 9 feet adjustment.
Reverse-stitch lever
The reverse-stitch lever in this machine helps in working with heavy and big fabrics. You can easily sew quilts or canvas sheets without having to turn the fabric direction.
Bright LED light
When working on delicate patterns and precision design the bright LED light in this machine is very helpful to see clearly without hurting the eyes.
Product specifications
- Warranty: 25 years
- Motor speed: 860 SPM
- Weight: 23.7 pounds
- Size: 16 x 7.2 x 11.3 inches
- 18 built-in stitches
- Easy to use
- Adjustable free arm
- Variable feet pressure
- Heavy and large structure
Final verdict
What makes this machine one of the best sewing machines for leather and denim is the 9 feet adjustments and reverse lever that is very helpful in working with leather and other thick fabrics.
To buy Janome-HD3000 click here
3. Brother-ST371HD
Another budget-friendly and high-performing sewing machine for leather and denim are Brother-ST371HD. With a great variety of built-in stitches and foot presser settings, this machine is efficient to use for multiple fabrics and great for heavy fabrics like leather or jeans.
Product features
Stitch selector
An impressive feature of this machine is its automatic stitch selector via dial which is super easy and convenient. Choose from the basic, decorative, zigzag, or blind hem, and your stitch will be on the machine.
Multiple sewing feet
The machine includes six detachable sewing feet that are easy to attach and use and you can get whichever you like from zig-zag, button sewing, non-stick, zipper, buttonhole, or blind stitch.
Auto-size buttonhole
Another feature of this incredible machine is its auto buttonhole which creates perfect-sized buttonholes in one step only.
Product specifications
- Warranty: 25 years
- Motor speed: 860 SPM
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Size: 1 x 12.2 x 7.9 inches
- Easy stitch-selector
- Free arm
- Smooth fabric feed
- Multiple needle size
- Cheaper
- No automatic needle threader
Final verdict
The easy to dial stitch selector of this machine is convenient to use and this is great for beginners working on a heavy-duty machine.
To buy Brother-ST371HD click here
4. SINGER-9960 – Quantum Stylist
For those who would like to have manual function combined with the latest computerized technology, this machine by the singer is a must-have. With its brilliant customizing and editing features your whole sewing experience with leather and denim will be incredible.
Product features
Durable construction
The body of quantum stylist 9600 has heavy-duty metallic construction which makes it quite sturdy and durable during operations. The lighting integrated into the machine is quite bright giving perfect luminance on the stitch for perfect designing or embroidery.
DC motor
The motor of this powerful machine is a DC that provides constant speed and instantly stops or starts when required. As per speed, the machine gives 850 stitches per minute with powerful needle strength to pierce the thick fabric.
Extensive stitch options
With built-in 600 stitches and add-on accessories, you can have any kind of pattern or design of embroidery on your fabric with this amazing sewing machine without any hassle. From a one-touch stitching panel, you can easily select the desired mode and the automatic tension adjuster will vary the tension accordingly with the selected settings.
Product specifications
- Warranty: 25 years
- Motor speed: 850 SPM
- Weight: 20 pounds
- Size: 17.2 x 8.2 x 12 inches
- One-touch stitch selector
- Computerized functions
- Large no. of built-in stitches
- Many extra accessories added
- Extension table for a wide area of work
- Difficult to use for beginners
Final verdict
25 needle positions and 600 built-in stitches make this machine an industrial high-performing machine to work on complex and big projects with remarkable efficiency and design precision.
To buy SINGER-9960, Quantum stylist click here
Buying guide-Things to consider while buying a sewing machine for jeans and leather:
Leather and jeans are tough fabrics that need a special sewing machine to be stitched with accuracy and ease. While you go shopping for your domestic or industrial heavy-duty sewing machine there are some factors that you must pay attention to before making a decision. Following are the most important considerations:
Power and speed of the motor
For thick fabrics like jeans or leather, the needle needs more power to pierce through and stitch them. This power is provided by the motor of the sewing machine. While the speed of the motor is the no. of stitches it can make in a minute.
A leather sewing machine needs to be more powerful and faster to give perfect and quick stitches. Domestic leather sewing machines have 500 to 1000 stitches per minute speed that is great for normal stitching. In case you want an industrial machine to sew faster, you can get speed up to 6000 stitches per minute.
Needle strength
For thick fabrics like leather, a normal thin needle can easily get stuck or break while sewing and will ruin your project. It is better to choose a machine that offers using a variety of thick needles for different designs and stitch patterns.
Needle thickness and strength are very crucial to stitch the denim or leather fabric and you must opt for special needles made for leather. Usual needles for leather are 110/18, 80/12, 70/10, or 100/16.
Feed dogs
Leather can be ruined easily with a slight mark or scratch and that’s why it is essential to invest in a machine with a good feed dog. This will save your fabric from tearing while stitching.
Presser foot & reverse lever
Presser foot height and design are the most important factors when you are dealing with thick fabric. The more the presser foot’s height the thicker fabric you can sew. Also, there are specialized presser feet with multiple foot settings designed for fabrics like leather so they won’t stick while sewing and can be fed to the needle accurately.
Also, with heavy fabrics like denim or leather changing the direction of fabric during stitching is the default task, so check whether the machine has a reverse stitch lever. With this feature, you can stitch the fabric without having to change the direction.
FAQ’s
Machines categorized as heavy-duty are the ones used for bigger tasks like making a quilt or for complex patterns and design. Or when you have to work with thick fabric for stitching or stitch multiple layers of fabric that require a heavy motor and big needle power.
- Can a regular sewing machine in a home sew jeans?
In some cases, you can but there are chances for needle breakage or uneven stitch so it is always better to buy a heavy-duty sewing machine when dealing with thick fabric like jeans.
- What needle size is good for sewing leather?
For sewing leather, the prescribed needle size ranges from 70/10 to 110/18 depending on the thickness of the fabric and the machine you are using.
- How much does a general denim sewing machine cost?
Denim sewing machines cost a little higher than normal machines. The price of denim and leather sewing machines varies from 200$ to 800$ and if you want an industrial size then the prices can go up to 2000$.
Conclusion
Picking a machine for leather and denim is a tough and mentally tiring task due to the thickness and careful handling required with these fabrics. We have jotted down all the points answering what the best sewing machine for denim and leather must include.
Although all of the above products are some of the best machines, in our opinion the top 3 are:
- Best Budget: Singer 4432 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine
- Best Performance: Janome HD-3000
- Best for Beginners : Brother ST-371HD