Shopping around for a heavy duty sewing machine? There are a lot of options out there to choose from that will fit your skills and preferences.
What then is the best heavy duty sewing machine to buy. Well, that depends on many factors including your skill level and budget. My suggestion to you is that before you buy one, assess your needs and skills.
A good heavy duty sewing machine will cost you a few hundred dollars that will allow you to do many clothing and crafts projects or quilting.
If you are very experienced, spending more on a sewing machine can get you additional automated functions.
A top-of-the-line machine will cost you thousands of dollars and the good thing is that you will get professional-quality designs and you don’t even need to know how to sew.
Below are my recommended heavy duty sewing machines for you to consider. I’ve narrowed them down to these four based on independent reviews of users and professional sewers.
SINGER Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine
This is one of the best heavy duty sewing machine that comes with 23 built-in stitches that include basic, decorative, stretch & buttonhole stitches that enable you to sew a variety of projects, such as fashions, home décor, quilts, crafts and much more.
This quality machine is designed by Singer, one of the world’s leading sellers of sewing machines, with a great history of producing innovative products.
FEATURES
1. Automatic Needle Threader: One of the cool things about this machine is that it has an inbuilt feature that allows you to quickly thread the eye of a needle without much eye strain or frustration.
2. Fast Speed: This machine has an incredible speed doing a maximum speed of 1,100 stitches-per-minutes enabling you to sew your projects fast. Its motor is designed to provides greater piercing power for thick seams
3. Heavy Duty Metal Frame: This sewing machine is designed to do heavy workload. Its been manufactured using a heavy-duty metal interior frame.
The bedframe is made of stainless steel and its extra-high sewing speed & powerful motor enables you to sew through heavy fabrics providing long lasting stability
4. Extra Accessories: When you purchase this machine, there are a number of accessories that come with it including a buttonhole foot, all-purpose foot, button sewing foot, zipper foot, sewing foot, bobbins, seam ripper/lint brush, screwdriver, quilting guide, needles, auxiliary spool pin and spool pin. These accessories are stored in an accessory tray.
5. Bobbin: This machine is designed in such a way that the drop-in bobbin is easy to insert and remove. Its clear view cover enables you to see the bobbin and monitor the thread supply as you use the machine.
6. Warranty: This sewing machine comes with a 25 Year limited warranty
7. Stitches: This machine has 23 Built-in Stitches; these are 6 Basic Stitches, 12 Decorative Stitches, 4 Stretch Stitches and 1 Buttonhole
What I Like About This Machine
* Its has a low noise level, easy to use and its fast speed. The speed, ie 1100 stitches per minute is impressive compared to the conventional speeds of 400-500 stitches per minute.
* You do not have to adjust the tension when changing fabric weights
* This is a mechanical machine as opposed to a computerized one, which will make it easier on you when you want repair it.
* Its a machine designed to do heavy work and handle thick material or heavy fabric. One user of this machine said that he used it through 6 layers of vinyl upholstery as well as plastic piping without a
struggle.
* Sews well through multiple layers of fabric.
What Needs To Be Worked On
* Some say the automatic threader is a bit cumbersome, but that’s a minor point
* Someone said that the instructions that come with the package when you buy it are not very detailed, but there are many instructional videos on Youtube to help you out.
* Its said the tension sometimes goes nuts for no good reason, resulting in loud noises or even freezing. You correct this problem by re-threading.
Extra Tips On Using This Machine
* If you find that the bobbin is racking in the bobbin space, then use the felt bobbin spacer case.
* Only use the plastic bobbin, not the metallic one.
* Make sure you use the correct thread tension. When threading, give a slight tug to ensure that the thread has seated correctly into the blind tensoner.
* Ensure that you drop the presser foot because its easy to forget when setting up thicker fabrics/upholstery.
Singer 4432 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
This is another Singer heavy duty sewing machine that I would recommend to you to consider. Designed to be a true workhorse just like her sister, the Singer 4423.
What’s the major difference between the 4432 singer machine and the 4423? The 4432 model has 32 Built-In Stitches compared to the 23 built in stitches found in the 4423 model. The other difference is that the 4432 model does not have a light while the 4423 does have.
This machine has been built with a heavy-duty metal interior frame and sits on a stainless steel bedplate. Its also built with a high sewing speed and powerful motor doing upto 1100 stitched per minute. The machine is designed to sew a number of heavy duty fabrics.
Other features include:-
* The machine has a built-in needle threader, built-in 1-step buttonhole, top drop-in bobbin, three needle positions, adjustable presser foot pressure control, snap-on presser feet, on board storage, built-in reverse, adjustable stitch length and drop feed for button.
* Reverse Stitching: Has a built-in reverse lever so you can sew in reverse and reinforce stitches.
* Accessories: The accessories that come with this machine include: a button sewing foot, a zipper foot, a seam ripper/lint brush, edge/quilting guide, bobbins, a buttonhole foot, screwdriver, auxiliary spool pin, needles and spool pin felt. A soft-sided dust cover is also included in the packaging
* The machine has been designed to allow you easy access to difficult to reach areas such as collars, cuffs and pant hems. The presser footer controls give you the ability to sew a big range of fabrics.
* The needle position can be changed for individual projects, such as inserting zippers or cording and top stitching.
* This machine comes with a 25 yrs limited warranty.
* The needle position can be changed for individual projects, such as inserting zippers or cording and top stitching.
* This machine weighs 17.42 lbs. Doesn’t have an LCD screen.
* Stitches: Built-In stitches are 32, decorative stitches are 18, stretch stitches are 7, utility stitches are 6
What I Like About This Machine
* The clear bobbin window that allows you to see how much thread is remaining as you work
* The LED light is a useful addition.
* The seam allowances are stamped onto the plate with fractions.
* You are able to do long runs such as drapery adjustments at fast speeds speeds with even stitches
* Goes through several layers of thick fabric.
Some Disappointments
* The instruction booklet that come with the machine are pretty basic. Use Youtube for detailed guides
* It can take some time to “know” the machine..but i know you are a fast learner 🙂
* Some complain its a little bit too loud..
Janome HD3000 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
The third heavy duty sewing machine I would confidently recommend to you is the Janome HD3000. Its an impressive machine with features that many advanced sewers would be impressed with. The standard accessories that come with this machine include:-
* Blind Hem Foot G
* Buttonhole Foot R (Automatic)
* Hemmer Foot 2mm D
* Overedge Foot C
* Bobbin
* Felt, Lint Brush, Quilting Bar, Screwdriver (large), Screwdriver (small)
* A seam ripper, a set of needles, a large & small spool holder and a spool pin
The Janome HD-3000 is a heavy duty machine that is designed for beginners as well as experienced sewist. The machine comes with a a handy instructional guide that you will find at the top tray door of the machine.
KEY FEATURES
* 18 Stitches
* 6.5mm Stitch Width
* Heavy-duty frame
* 5-piece feed dog
* Free Arm
* Drop Feed
* Hard Cover Included
* Extra High Presser Foot Lift
What I Like About This Machine
* Great machine that sews well over thick fabric with no tantrums..
* Doesn’t require oiling and the stitches created are always consistent
* The machine uses better feed dogs which enables it to sew thick fabric materials and straight to very thin without a hitch
* The stitch guide on top of the machine offers a very handy reference
* Lots of storage space for different sewing feet
Cons
* Not cheap. But I guess if you want quality, its only right for someone to dig deeper into their pockets
Brother ST371HD Sewing Machine
The is the last heavy duty sewing machine that I am recommending to you. The Brother ST371HD is a great machine that is designed to handle everyday sewing and handle heavy outdoor fabrics to lightweight silk material.
The machine comes with a metal needle plate for smoother fabric feeding which includes a #16 needle for heavyweight fabrics such as canvas, denim or duck cloth; a #14 needle that is suitable for sewing layers of fabric and a #11 needle for everyday sewing and lightweight fabrics such as silks.
Other features of this machine include:-
* 37 unique built-in stitches, including one 1-step auto-size buttonhole. These include the most popular stitches that you can use for normal sewing, with blind hem, decorative, zigzag, reinforcement and stretch stitches.
* 6 sewing feet including nonstick, blind hem, buttonhole, blind hem, nonstick, spring action zigzag, zipper, button sewing
* Drop feed for more free motion sewing flexibility
* Quick-set drop-in top bobbin system
* Built with a handle that allows the machine to be stored easily when not in use.
* Has an inbuilt easy needle threader, an automatic bobbin winding system plus a free arm for sewing stuff such as cuffs and sleeves.
* Maximum sewing speed of 800 stitches per minute
The stitches are printed on the front right hand side of the machine and can easily be selected by turning a dial.
Accessories Included:
* Twin needle
* 3-piece needle set
* 4 bobbins
* 6 feet
* Extra spool pin
* 2 spool caps, screwdriver, instructional DVD, product manual, quick start guide and machine dust cover.
Other points to note
* Comes with a 25-year limited warranty
* Free technical phone support
What I Like About This Machine
* Strong machine that is able to sew through heavy garments.
* Durable mechanical machine with many features designed to satisfy a wide range of sewing demands.
* The seams come out even & the pressure foot holds the material correctly over the dog feed
