SPECIAL SEWING MACHINE FOR LEATHER

special sewing machine for leather are specialized industrial machines that are used for stitching together either leather, canvas, denim, tarps, vinyl, sunbrellas, or other very thick material. Both because of the type of material that they are stitching and the fact that only industrial applications would need this type of equipment this type of machine is built very differently than a consumer sewing machine. The materials are heavier grade, the motors are far more powerful and they are engineered for a long useful life.

This type of heavy-duty sewing machine generally also has a specialized feature called a “walking foot” which keeps layers of material from shifting while sewing. Another specialized type of leather sewing machine is a leather embossing machine. What this type of machine does is emboss materials onto leather (such as hot foils) or you could do other types of appliqué work besides the traditional embossing machine which stamps a pattern into the leather.
Leather sewing machines come in many varieties depending on the number of pieces that you were trying to stitch and their thickness. It is necessary to use a chisel tip needle and nylon thread because of the thickness of the material. For home sewing machines generally you are limited to very thin leather. The type of leather sewing machine that is designed for bridles and saddles is overkill for a simple application such as leather checkbook covers or billfolds. Leather sewing machines are available both new and used and refurbished, like all other types of industrial sewing equipment.

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THREE SPECIAL LEATHER SEWING MACHINES

Here are special sewing machines for leather on the market right now.

Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist

Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist is the best-rounded sewing machine on the market right now, and it is particularly good for sewing leather. It’s not a specific heavy duty sewing machine like the others on our list, but it’s perfectly set up to handle leather, with an impressively smooth fabric feed, strong feed dogs, and an extension table when you’re working on larger projects. The 9960 Quantum Stylist is the best sewing machine for clothes making, which many of you working with leather will be doing. It’s got an incredible 600 built-in stitches, lots of editing and customization options and numerous easy-to-use features to boot.

Pros

• Ideal for garment production
• Superior coil insertion system
• Extension table
• Needle up/down button
• It comes with lots of accessories

Cons

• There might be too many features for people who want a simple leather sewing machine
• Singer customer service leaves a little to be desired

Brother ST371HD

If you are looking for a cheaper sewing machine that can handle leather, the Brother ST371HD should be at the top of your list. While not quite as heavy duty as some of the more industrial, expensive machines on this list, it’s very well suited to beginners and those on a budget. It’s easy to use, a great sewing machine for leather, and good for other sewing projects besides.

Pros

• Cheap
• Easy-to-operate automatic needle threader, jam-resistant Quick Set plug-in top spool
• Brightly lit
• Smooth fabric feeding
• 37 built-in stitches

Cons

• Not particularly robust

Janome HD3000 sewing machine

Janome are famous for their high quality sewing machines and the HD3000 is the perfect hybrid between a domestic and industrial leather sewing machine. It’s very easy to use, with an automatic needle threader and jam proof top-loading bobbin system, while also incredibly effective on heavy duty fabrics, particularly medium weight leathers.

Pros

• Easy-to-use automatic needle threader and anti-jam bobbin
• 18 built-in stitches
• Easy stitch selection
• Adjustable presser foot pressure
• Free arm
• Excellent stitch quality

Cons

• Heavy, not portable
• Not so good on light fabrics

SPECIAL SEWING MACHINE FOR LEATHER TOOLS

Maybe you want to experiment with special sewing machine for leather but your machine isn’t cooperating and you don’t want to invest in a new leather sewing machine. Whatever your reason, here are some extras that can improve your overall experience.

• Stronger dog food

The feed provides a mechanism to hold the material in place as you sew, and is designed to gently push the fabric so that the sewing needle can do its job.

• A stronger sewing needle

This is important because a dull needle will start skipping stitches, which will ruin your work.

• Special legs

The presser foot is the part of your machine that holds the fabric in place as you sew, and there are a variety of types available for different purposes, including sewing leather. One type of special foot is the Teflon or roller foot. Another useful type of foot is a foot that has additional feeders to help guide thicker fabrics such as leather.

• Waxed thread

When sewing leather, you should always use waxed thread, which is stronger and less prone to breaking than regular thread.

• Adjustable Stitch Length

You might not think it would make much difference, but being able to adjust your machine’s stitch length is key when you’re sewing with leather. A shorter stitch length (around 2mm) is better for penetrate the thicker leather fibers without leaving big holes. Too long of a stitch and the holes will be visible and weaken the structure of your project.

HOW TO SEW- LEATHER-SPECIAL SEWING MACHINE

Special sewing machine for leather. All fabrics behave in different ways: chiffon is soft, polyester stretches, and leather has its own properties to keep in mind when sewing leather. Some types of leather are known to be “sticky”, meaning that when it comes time to use the sewing foot to hold the fabric in place, the leather can stick to the heel. Due to the unforgiving nature of the heavy fabric, you can’t use pins to hold the material down unless you plan to have these holes as part of your design, one of those timeless skills that were once essential to everyday life but have since been replaced by mass production. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be useful or even beautiful.

There are a few things to keep in mind when sewing leather. Leather is a more durable fabric than most, so you’ll need to take extra care when handling it. The good news is that sewing leather by hand or by machine is not as difficult as it may seem. With a little patience and practice, you’ll be sewing leather like a pro in no time. Regardless of the type of sewing equipment you have at home; you will need different tools for sewing leather than for working with standard thinner fabrics.

SOME IMPORTANT FEATURES TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A SPECIAL LEATHER SEWING MACHINE

In addition to machine type and feed mechanism, there are other features to consider when purchasing special sewing machine for leather:

• Maximum sewing thickness

Some machines are designed for sewing light and medium leather up to 1/4″, 3/8″ or 1/2” thick, while others are designed for sewing thick and heavy saddle and harness leather up to 1” thick. Choose a machine designed to sew the thickness of the leather you will be working with.

• Thread sizes

Some machines can use up to 207 or 277. Many heavy duty machines can use up to 415. Most leather goods like purses and bags use #69 or #92 thread, but you may want to use a larger size thread. For more information on thread types and sizes, see our nylon thread buying guide.

• Needle sizes

In general, the thicker the material being sewn, the larger the needle size should be. You should always choose the appropriate needle size to match the material and thread size used on your machine.

• Motor

A variable speed servo motor is always recommended when sewing leather goods because it allows you to control the sewing speed and sew one stitch at a time. A speed reduction pulley is often added in combination with a servo motor to further reduce the sewing speed (down to less than 1 stitch per second.

• Warranty and support

With the right technical support, you’ll be able to minimize downtime and get back to sewing. This means that if you have any problems with your machine, you can call or email us and consult a technician directly. From there, they will guide you through any repair or modification needed to get your machine back into service. There is no need to send the machine anywhere or pay for expensive repairs. This service is free of charge and is part of the warranty for the lifetime of the machine.

CONCLUSION

Buying a new special sewing machine for leather will usually represent a significant investment for a business. The quality of the machine is important and therefore worth the price of the machine. Leather craftsmen who produce quality leather goods use a leather sewing machine that is built to perform and last. The proof of quality is really the stitching of the leather sewing machine and the precision of these stitches.