Best Sewing Machine for Leather: 10 Picks

Mending your leather products at home? Then you probably know how tough it is to sew leather. One single mistake, and all your good work goes in vain. You can not really undo the hole once your needle pierces through it. So you really need a reliable, sturdy, easy-to-use, and the best sewing machine for leather at your home.

After a deep dive into what experts say and what customers mostly complain about, We came up with a list of the 10 best sewing machines for leather. If you want my personal recommendation Singer 4411 Heavy Duty is one of the best machines. At the end of this article, you will be able to buy a true workhorse for your leather sewing. You will also know the essentials to consider before buying a machine to avoid returns and time waste.

At a Glance

1. The SINGER 4411 Sewing Machine

This heavy-duty Singer sewing machine is a real workhorse for those professionals who are sewing leather at home, or on a larger scale than the noobs. It has 69 Stitch applications in basic sewing techniques like mending, crafting, repair, etc. You can also use different techniques with 4 different presser feet that come along with this machine.

It sews with a very high speed of 1100 Stitches Per minute and allows you to complete your 3-hour long project just in an hour. This machine has a very easy and automatic 4-step buttonhole feature that increases your work accuracy and has fewer ill-placed needles.

It comes in a heavy-duty metal frame body which helps to make it the best sewing machine for leather to be sturdier and has less chance of misplacing or skipping the leather stitches. The Heavy-duty metal frame body also gives it a plus in durability and lets you use it for years to come.

Most sewists are annoyed by bobbin loading and monitoring, so here SINGER provides you with a transparent and clear cover to monitor thread supply. The bobbin loads from the top thus it is easy to insert. Also, the drop feed has the capability of expanding. It can be done simply by 

Switching the drop feed lever to disengage the feed dogs. It’s perfect for darning socks and pants, attaching buttons, and creative free-motion sewing.

What Could be Improved?

This machine is a little bit tricky to use for beginners so before buying one, you should read the manual and user guide. A few customers are also having issues with the needle positioner on top of the machine, thus they aren’t able to sew in a straight line.

Our Personal Thoughts

This machine is recommended to professionals working at home. Beginners and industrial-level professionals should not go for it.

Also Read: Best Sewing Machine for Heavy Fabrics – Top 10 Picks

2. The Janome HD3000 Heavy-Duty

Janome is known for manufacturing high-quality and Heavy-Duty sewing machines. This model HD3000 comes in an aluminum heavy-duty body which helps in its strength and sturdiness to make it the best sewing machine for leather. This makes sewing skip-free and the fabric stays calm under the presser foot, on the feed dog without moving sidewise.

It has 18 stitches and a one-step buttonhole feature. This really eases making buttonholes in a flow. The different stitches allow you to sew and mend things your way and with creativity. Stitches can be selected by the stitch selection dial. 

You get a built-in needle threader that helps sewists who feel annoyed while threading the needle every now and then. No need to worry if you are using this machine, as Janome got you covered. It will save you a ton of time where you have to spend at least 5 minutes on your fight with the needle eye and the thread. Now it will be threaded in no time and you complete your projects in a flow. It also comes with a built-in thread cutter. Don’t forget to use that as well.

What? Getting a step back? No issue, just pull down the lever of reverse stitch and there you go!. You know better how important it is for sewers.

The speed of this machine is 860 stitches per minute, which is less than SINGER 4411 and other models but it is easier to control the machine at this speed. With 18 stitches, the maximum stitch width is 6.5 mm while the maximum stitch length is 4 mm It’s a nice heavy-duty machine allowing you to quilt, hem, and sew what you wish. 

Adjustable presser foot pressure is another wow factor helping expert sewists who want to have control over the presser foot pressure according to the fabrics. You can adjust it by the presser foot pressure dial in 3 steps. 

Now you don’t have to wind the bobbin yourself and spend your precious minutes. This HD3000 provides you with an automatic push-pull bobbin winding. Just wind your bobbin with it automatically and save your time. 

What to Compromise?

Janome HD3000 with all its features has a flaw too and that is Its speed is uncontrollable thus it should have had a speed dial. 

Our Personal Thoughts

This Janome workhorse is recommended to all those who want to sew thick, and tough fabrics, be it denim or multiple layers of fabrics without getting into problems. It is a real beast as the best sewing machine for leather. 

Also Read: Heavy Duty Sewing Machines Reviewed – Top 10 Reviewed

3. The Singer 4423 Heavy Duty

Among the big brands come SINGER. Why they are this much authority in the sewing machines niche? It’s simple because they are age-old players in the market as well as they know and fulfill customer needs. 

SINGER 4423 is one of the brand’s heavy-duty sewing machines which can tackle thicker fabrics like leather and Denim and can make long seams without skipping. Extra-High Sewing speed helps this machine to sew your big project in half time. It sews with 1,100 Stitches per minute. 

With 97-Stitch applications, this model allows you to sew your fabric in almost any way whether you want to do basic sewing, decorative sewing, or differently. You have got the stitch selector dial here. Just turn the dial and select your stitch.

Easily create buttonholes with its 1-step buttonholes feature even if you are a newbie you can do it. It also gives you Needle-threader to give you an effortless start in no time. All these are only to save you time and get your project done sooner than your deadlines.

Bobbin loading is not a problem anymore as SINGER 4423 comes in with an easy-to-load top drop-in Bobbin system. It is covered with a transparent clear cover so the bobbin is spotted clear enough to sewists.

This machine comes in a full metal frame to be more durable as well as sturdy. It helps you in your sewing for decades to come even your kids may use it in the future. The metal frame also helps it not to move sideways on the table while sewing. 

Presser Foot comes in the way if a thick fabric like canvas or denim is placed under it. To overcome this problem SINGER 4423 comes with an extra presser foot lift. It helps a lot when one sits for quilting or sewing leather.

With a 25-year warranty from SINGER, this machine is a very good fit for those professionals who want to sew thick fabrics like leather, denim or canvas, etc.

What Could Be Improved?

Despite all the perks of this machine, there are a few things we don’t like about this machine. Firstly, you don’t get proper customer support from SINGER in case you face a problem, which is so bad. Secondly, If there is any problem with the machine, SINGER would fix it under warranty but they won’t cover shipping charges.

Our Personal Thoughts

If you have been a SINGER user previously and love how amazing it works with its powerful motor, then I would suggest you go for it but if you can not manage the high speed of SINGER machines then you can go down the list as other options are also available for you. 

Also Read: Best Sewing Machine for Clothes – Top 7 Reviewed

4. The Singer 4452 Heavy Duty

Another SINGER model comes to the list. The SINGER 4452 is a better version of its previous models from the brand. This is a real beast when it comes to sewing with a ton of features and improvements as well.

This machine comes with 110-stitch applications that help you in a variety of sewing basic sewing, decorative sewing, and much more. Just select your stitch by turning the Stitch selector dial and there you go…!

Similar to previous SINGER machines this model also comes with an extra high speed of 1100 Stitches per minute which allows you to get your 3-days project done by tomorrow. It really saves loads of time.

This SINGER 4452 also comes in with a built-in needle threader helping you to thread your machine without requiring a thing from you. You are also given a 1-Step Buttonholes feature to make buttonholes on the go. This helps in a time-saving and effortless experience.

The durability of a machine is measured by its body material. This machine comes in a full metal body frame making it long-lasting, sturdy, and the best sewing machine for leather sewing. It is a heavy-duty machine and sews almost everything. Due to its weight, It doesn’t move back and forth on the table like other lightweight machines while sewing.

The bobbin is easy to load from the top and it has a clear cover so it can be seen from the outside if there is anything wrong with it or if it works fine. There are also 7-presser feet included with it to enhance capability. Each of them is different and used for a different technique. Drop feed expands capability and disengages the feed dogs. It helps in perfect button attaching, and free-motion sewing.

One Thing We Don’t Like About It!

Although there are tonnes of features in SINGER 4452, still there is not any control dial for its speed so newbies are going to sew fabrics in breaks instead of a flowing seam.

Our Personal Thoughts

This SINGER 4452 is one of the market’s best-performing sewing machines to date and sews thick fabrics like leather without any trouble. This is a very recommended machine if you are looking for a machine for big and hard projects and even multiple layers. You won’t face a tough time just go for it if you have been sewing for some time. If you are a beginner then there can be other options for you so don’t rush for it as it is a heavy-duty machine.

Also Read: Best Sewing Machine for Free Motion Quilting – Top 7 Beasts

5. The Brother ST371HD Sewing Machine

One of the authorities in sewing machines is the “Brother” brand. From the very beginning, it has been manufacturing machines that sewists just love. Brother ST371HD is one of the best-performing sewing machines in the market. What makes it this special? Well, there are definitely reasons why sewists love it let’s discuss them and see if it fits your needs or not.

The machine has 37 built-in stitches allowing you to show your creativity with it. It also has an automatic-sized buttonhole feature so you don’t have to adjust it every time. You get 6 different feet with it for different applications. The thing that really interests me in this machine is it comes with an instructional DVD to guide you even if it has a manual with it already. 

You also get an automatic needle threader to experience effortless sewing without hustling with threading your needle manually every time. It has a top drop-in bobbin system and it is jam-resistant so you don’t have to really worry about it being jammed as “Brother” takes care of that.

The next good thing is it comes with a versatile free arm, that allows you to sew cuffs, skinny jeans, and more everyday projects, especially which are cylindrical in shape. You know how difficult it is to sew cylindrical items. You can use the free arm by removing the accessory tray. 

What makes me love it is its 25-year warranty and technical support from “Brother”. You can get free technical support via online live chat or phone for the life of your machine.

What Do You Need To Know Before Buying It?

This machine has a very critical and bothering point too. It is to sell in the US only, so won’t be able to claim a warranty if you are not in the US This machine can be only used in areas where the Voltage is 120V. You can not use a voltage converter for it as it uses a motor and it will burn out as soon as you do so. So if you are in an area where voltage is different than this then don’t go for it and you should choose another one.

Our Personal Suggestion

We do recommend this machine to you if you want to have a strong, tough, reliable as well as a durable sewing machine for leather, then go for it however just ignore it if you don’t have 120V voltage in your area. You should go for another machine.

Also Read: Best Computerized Sewing Machines – Top 7 Picks

6. The Brother CS6000i Sewing & Quilting Machine

The “Brother” manufactures a big variety of sewing machines and they know well how to make it up to the market needs. This model Brother CS6000i is a bit more advanced model than the previous model reviewed. It means it eases the sewing process even more.

The machine comes in with 60 built-in stitches including decorative and other stitches. There are also 7 different styles of auto-sized buttonholes. You need to keep in mind that this machine is an improved version of its previous “Brother ST371HD”. So if you are unsatisfied with that machine, you better check this out.

Looking at the bobbin is a drop-in top bobbin system. It requires less of your precious time to troubleshoot the problems as it is jam-resistant and convenient. The automatic needle threader is another big advantage that sewists get to save the time taken on threading the needle manually every single time.

It also has a wide table that makes larger quilting projects easier than before. It comes with a hard case that makes it more durable. It comes with 10 different sewing feet, a needle set including twin needles, 3 bobbins, and more accessories as well. Brother provides 25 years of limited warranty on almost all of its machines. CS6000i is one of them. The free technical support is for the life of the product.

One of the best things this machine has is its LCD screen to select the stitch you want as well as check your selected stitches. Beginners and newbies love this machine once they start using it. Sewists really enjoy sewing and quilting with this machine as it is very user-friendly and portable.

Room For Improvement:

However, this machine has a flaw as well and that is its voltage issue. It’s intended to be sold in the US only. The reason is it runs on 120V only so you can not use it on other voltages otherwise the machine would burn out even if you use an adapter because it uses a motor. In case you use it on other voltage and the machine burns out, you can not claim your warranty so be sure to check the User Manual and Warranty guide.

Our Thoughts:

This machine Brother CS6000i is recommended to the ones who want a user-friendly experience regardless of being an experienced or a beginner. You don’t need to be a pro to use it.

Also Read: Best Sewing Machines for Advanced Sewers – Top 7 Reviewed

7. The Singer Quantum Stylist 9960

One of the most amazing and best machines is this SINGER QS9960. There are several things that make it unmatchable. You get a large selection of stitches including basic, decorative, fashion, quilting, home decor crafting, and stretch stitching. You can even do font selection to personalize your project the way you wished. It comes with a total of 600 Stitch selections.

It also includes an automatic needle threader to overcome your work and protect you from eye strain and frustration. The speed of this machine is 850 Stitches a minute which is quite high and best to finish your project quickly and accurately.

The one-touch stitch selection feature helps sewists select their desired stitch among the 600 Stitches with just a press of a button. Also, the 8 most commonly used stitches are directly selectable from the buttons provided. An extension table is also a part of the QS9960 and it is very helpful for increasing the work area during quilting and other larger projects.

The bobbin is inserted from the top just like previously reviewed SINGER machines and it is easy to load. The clear cover also keeps it visible for sewists to spot the working bobbin without having to uncover it. The QS9960 comes in a heavy-duty metal frame. This makes it one of the best sewing machines for leather. Also, It helps in being sturdy not allowing the fabrics to move here and there.

Something We Don’t Like About It!

Besides all the good points QS9960 has its own bad points to know before purchasing it. Firstly, it has no reverse stitching feature and most sewists use it very frequently so they need to know this before getting one. Secondly, few users complain about the tension adjustments. So before buying one you need to go through the USER MANUAL.

Our Personal Thoughts

No doubt this is one of the most amazing and best sewing machines for leather by SINGER with awesome features. We give this machine a score of 100 for features, design, and the heavy-duty work it does in big projects with no hiccups. You can buy Quantum Stylist 9960 if you are searching for a computerized, multi-stitch application, and heavy-duty machine

Also Read: Best Sewing Machine for Quilting and Embroidery – Top 7 Models

8. The Janome JW8100 Computerized Sewing Machine

Janome produces real workhorses for sure and Janome JW8100 is here. Let’s see how it competes with the other machines. It is also a computerized machine with 100 Built-in stitches among which 20 are basic stitches, 18 quilting stitches, 27 heirloom stitches, 28 for home decor stitches, and 7 buttonholes. This enables you to showcase your sewing creativity in your projects.

Easy convenience buttons are available to do various jobs with a press of buttons and get your job done precisely. Right to the needle you will find the START/STOP button that helps you in sewing as well as quilting for accuracy. There is also a locking button and needle UP/DOWN button near the LCD display. You will also find a reverse stitch button to strengthen the seam.

It consists of a heavy-duty metal frame which prevents it from skip-free sewing and also makes it the durable and best sewing machine for leather. A bonus extension table is included to increase the sewing area for improved working specifically for large projects like quilts. 

The bobbin is loaded from the top drop-in and easy to insert. The 7-piece feeding system allows feeding smoothly even if hard fabrics are fed like knits, wool, and fleece.

The Stitch settings (length and width) are automatically set to the most optimal settings. You can customize them as well. You also get even feed feet which will help you in quilting and heavy fabrics’ layer sewing.

What Could Be Improved?

Although the machine’s interior is of metal the exterior is plastic which some users don’t like so you need to know this. Also, a Few users also face problems in adjusting the bobbin tension.

Our Personal Suggestion

If you want a computerized heavy-duty sewing machine for leather and love Janome machines then you should go for Janome JW8100.

Also Read: Best Sewing Machine for Embroidery – Top 7 Reviewed

9. The Janome HD1000BE Heavy Duty

This one is also Janome. Why again? Because sewists do love them. This Janome HD1000BE is the Black edition and very unique and unmatchable if we talk about the design and color. Its interior frame and outer body both are aluminum-made. It comes with 14 Stitches and 4-step buttonholes. You can make buttonholes quite easily and effortlessly.

It also has an automatic needle threader that does not require you to thread the needle but rather does itself. You can also adjust the stitch length and zigzag width according to your requirement. You can do this by simply turning the dials and adjusting settings for your stitch.

There is a removable free Arm to help you in sewing cuffs, sleeves, and other cylindrical items in your projects and they become way easier to sew with this free arm instead of a presser foot struggling with them.

There are multiple accessories with this model including a hardcover, 4 presser feet, needles, bobbins, and some more inside the box.

The drop feed with 3-piece feed dogs helps in the smooth feeding of fabric regardless of the fabric fed. It works great in multiple layers of fabrics and quilting. You would start loving it if you start quilting on this machine. Yes! that’s right. It is that much made for quilting.

What Could Be Improved?

Like every other sewing machine, Janome HD1000BE also has a couple of drawbacks. Some users complain that it has some jamming issues but that is not the case with all. This issue is with used machines only so you should go for a new machine instead of buying a used machine.

Our Personal Thoughts

This model is best for the ones who want a simple and heavy-duty machine mostly for in-house basic use at an affordable price. The basic sewing and quilting are done very amazingly with it. It can also assist you very well as the best sewing machine for leather even in 2022.

10. The JUKI DDL8700H Industrial Sewing Machine

You probably would have heard the name JUKI for it is a leading brand in the sewing machines industry. Juki produces high-quality sewing machines popular for their fine quality sewing. Juki DDL8700H is one of its great performing machines.

If you are sewing at home for quite a time now, you might have planned about getting to an industrial level or scaling your current sewing setup then you might need this industrial sewing machine.

It is popular for its extra high speed. At maximum, it can sew at a pace of 5,500 stitches per minute which makes it very useful for the ones who sew for commercial purposes be it at home business, small industry, or even professionals at home. This amazing stitching speed also makes it the best sewing machine for leather in the current market.

It comes with a 110 Volts Servo motor which performs heavy-duty work like a piece of cake. Most of the sewists are annoyed by the noise of the machine but this machine is very quiet so you don’t have to worry about that. 

Another big plus is the auto lubricator that keeps the machine working finely and makes the seam sewn in a flow. It does lubricate by itself so you don’t have to really stop and worry about it.

What Could Be Improved?

What you should know about it before buying it is it is very heavy. With shipping, it weighs well over 100 pounds, which will require a good amount of energy to assemble and move. Secondly, you have to arrange a good wide place for this machine to fit in because the whole unit along with the table is about 48 inches high so it is not that portable.

Note: The machine comes unassembled so you have to assemble it the below video might help you out.

Our Personal Thoughts

JUKI DDL8700H is best only for sewists who need a quiet and real workhorse machine for an industrial level. We also recommend it as the best sewing machine for leather.

BUYING GUIDE – To Get The Best Sewing Machine For Leather

You have come to the end and yet did not decide which machine to buy. Well, we are here to assist you with the most important things to look for when buying a sewing machine. It will help you even if you want to buy in an offline market so you should check it out.

We have made the list of the most well-performing machines by keeping some major points in our mind that helped us select those.

Speed

As a professional, you might want to finish your project as soon as possible but the speed of the machine may stop you from sewing to your full potential. You need to know how important it is for you to have a high-speed sewing machine. In case you want to buy a machine with high sewing speed then SINGER 4411, and SINGER 4423 are recommended.

Motor

A machine with a strong and powerful motor will never let you down to heavy fabrics like denim, leather, canvas, vinyl, etc. Every sewist wants a powerful machine and that depends totally on the motor of the machine. A good machine with a powerful motor is JUKI DDL8700H. You will never regret the choice if you are heading for an industrial one however if you want to have a powerful motor machine for basic sewing or sewing at home then go for SINGER 4452.

Heavy-Duty Frame

The best sewing machines for leather have to be heavy. Why? Simply because the more it is heavy the more sturdy and thus sturdy machine will not move to one side or another of the table rather it will stay firm and stitch great. If you are looking for a Heavy-duty metal frame machine then go check out QS9960.

Buying the best sewing machine for leather in your set budget!

The budget you’re going to spend on a leather sewing machine should always be your first decision. Setting a budget within your means will help you not to spend too much.

Even if you don’t have to spend a fortune on a leather sewing machine that comes with many features that you’ll never use, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t go for the cheaper option:

• An inexpensive machine will be made of low-quality material like plastic parts that will eventually crystallize and break.
• A higher-quality sewing machine will last longer and allow you to do heavy sewing projects like sewing leather and other heavy fabrics.
• An expansive machine must last you many years. If you consider new types of crafting and other things, go for one that must have all the necessary features.
• However, you will go with your set budget, but the right investment on time will also save you from extra expenses in the future.

Home vs. Industrial Leather Sewing Machines

If you have never sewed leather before, you may not know that the most important thing you need is a machine that can continuously sew leather for you at very low speeds. Any professional leather sewer would think of sewing leather from a home machine. That’s not true. However, you can go with a home sewing machine if you only want to sew thin leather, like vegan leather.

If, on the other hand, you want to buy a sewing machine for thick leather, I suggest you go for an industrial sewing machine and get rid of the fear of using an industrial machine for the first time.

Some Tricks & Tips for Using Leather Sewing Machines

• Always carefully examine the leather before starting sewing. Strange as it may seem, it can have a lot of stress, wrinkles, and other things.
• A tight stitch may cause thread breakage.
• As synthetic threads are good and durable, always try to use synthetic thread instead of cotton; except for synthetic threads, nylon threads are also suitable for sewing leather.
• Always have a large number of needles because, in sewing thick leather, the needles dull quickly.
• In ironing leather, always put a cloth between because direct ironing can destroy your leather.

Our Final Verdict

We have come up with this list after a ton of researching customers’ needs and machine specifications and put a very clear unbiased list in which you saw every machine. Now you will be able to get a nice workhorse for you based on your needs. Go and get the best machine for you right now and start sewing today and finish your projects as soon as possible.

If you still have any questions about which sewing machine is best for your leather sewing projects, leave a comment below this blog post, and we will be back to you as soon as possible.