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Top 13 Best Sewing Machines for Thick and Heavy Fabrics

Are you looking for a sewing machine that could easily sew thick fabrics? Do you want to invest in a sewing machine that could sew heavy fabrics for a long duration without any problem whatsoever?

Then a heavy-duty sewing machine is what you must consider. These sewing machines are meant for those tasks that a simple sewing machine would not do easily.

If you wish to sew things like slip-covers, quilts, or blinds or wish to sew fabrics like leather or jeans, you require a heavy-duty sewing machine instead of a portable light sewing machine.

Using a light sewing machine, you are only wasting your energy, time, and efforts, and also, your results would not be as great.

In this article, I will walk you through my top 13 picks of the best sewing machines for thick fabrics:

You can see the overview below. So let’s get started!

How to Choose a Sewing Machine for Heavy Fabrics?

There are a few factors to consider while choosing a sewing machine for heavy fabrics.

The first thing you need to consider is that these sewing machines would be heavy, so it would be an inconvenience to move them around.

It would help if you had a specific place in mind so that these sewing machines aren’t moved around unnecessarily.

These sewing machines are also extremely durable—meaning they are also on the pricier side.

The last factor that you need to consider is the speed of the sewing machine. You need to understand that these sewing machines have high stitches per minute, and it will help you finish your projects fast!

Now, let us look at the different sewing machines best for sewing heavy and thick fabrics.

Top 13 Best Sewing Machines for Heavy and Thick Fabrics

#1. SINGER Heavy Duty 4432 Sewing Machine

This is a universal sewing machine—meaning it can sew anything from a piece of simple cotton fabric to even canvas! It is one of the popular sewing machine models for thick and heavy fabrics.

The number of built-in stitches that the SINGER Heavy Duty 4432 Sewing Machine has is 32. These stitches can be adjustable for a width of up to 6 mm.

The speed of this sewing machine is just terrific—1100 stitches per minute! It can complete most of your sewing projects within no time at all.

It has an automatic needle threader, a seam ripper, a buttonhole foot, a zipper foot, and quilting guide, and so much more! This means that it is a feature-rich sewing machine.

Coming to durability, it is top-notch. The bed-plate is made of stainless steel, and the frame of this sewing machine is made of metal. It comes with a 25-year guarantee.

If you decide to invest in this sewing machine, be sure that it will last you for a very long time.

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#2. Singer 4411 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine

This is another sewing machine from the Singer brand. It can also sew all types of fabrics. Thanks to its 60% extra efficient motor than the regular sewing machines—it is swift and efficient.

The speed of this sewing machine is 1100 stitches per minute. The speed is a factor that one must consider while investing in a heavy-duty sewing machine.

This sewing machine’s stitches number is 11—1 buttonhole, 4 decorative, and 6 basics.

Of course, this sewing machine has the same durability as the previous sewing machine. It comes with a bedplate that is made of stainless steel and a frame made of metal.

This sewing machine is also far cheaper than the previous model. Therefore, you must carefully consider all the pros and cons before purchasing any sewing machine for sewing thick fabrics.

3 adjustable needle positions can be used to adjust the needle during either sewing a top-stitch or a zipper. You can also control the presser foot—meaning you can sew lightweight and heavyweight fabrics with ease! All these factors make this sewing machine a great option to consider.

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#3. Brother ST371HD Strong and Tough Sewing Machine

The Brother ST371HD is a sewing machine that can easily tackle sewing different fabrics, from silk to even quilts.

The speed of this sewing machine is a little slower when compared to the Singer brand sewing machines. However, it is enough while sewing with heavyweight fabrics. The speed of this sewing machine is 800 stitches per minute.

The number of built-in stitches in this sewing machine is 37. This makes sure that there is a stitch type for every single sewing need of yours. There are 6 different types of presser feet and a needle plate made of metal, ensuring that the fabric gets fed to the sewing machine smoothly. It also comes with heavy-weight needles.

This sewing machine from the Brother brand is an interesting choice of a sewing machine because of its high number of built-in stitches and moderate speed. Now, you get to decide if this is the perfect sewing machine for you.

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#4. Singer Heavy Duty 4452 Sewing Machine

This sewing machine from the Singer brand has very negligible features than the other sewing machines from the Singer brand. The Singer 4452 sewing machine has a speed of 1100 stitches per minute, just like the other sewing machines from the Singer brand. It also has a frame made of metal and a bedplate made of stainless steel, which adds to its durability and smooth feeding of the fabric.

The number of stitches that this sewing machine has is 32. This includes decorative, buttonhole, basic, and stretch type stitches. There is also a needle threader that is fully automatic so that you can focus on being creative rather than spending your time and energy threading the needle.

Now, this sewing machine looks an awful lot like the other sewing machines discussed above. What is the difference, you ask?

Well, here it is—

Apart from the look of the sewing machines, we couldn’t find much difference. The price is also pretty much the same.

Consider purchasing this sewing machine because it works extremely well on thick fabrics, and it is extremely durable.

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#5. Janome HD3000 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine

This sewing machine is the priciest one amongst all the sewing machines reviewed so far. However, it is worth the price because it gives professional quality results while being extremely easy to use—both at the same time!

This sewing machine’s body is made of aluminum, so it is quite strong and stable. It also has a reverse function that runs very smoothly. There is an automatic needle threader which releases quite an amount of your load.

Other features include having different feet that are snap-on, a foot presser that is adjustable with different types of presser feet, etc. There are about 18 different stitches that this sewing machine can sew. These are not a lot. However, most sewers don’t usually need more than that.

This sewing machine can sew through 7 different layers of fabric together, so you can be sure that there won’t be any problem with the sewing. If you are ready to pay a little extra for the professional level sewing, this sewing machine is the right choice!

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#6. Janome Memory Craft 6300P

Janome MC6300P is one of the most advanced and most professional sewing machines that we could find. The price of this sewing machine is quite high. However, if you own a business, the price is justifiable for the quality you get.

The number of stitch types that this sewing machine has is 66. It has 5 stitches, especially for sewing blankets, and 4, especially for sewing buttonholes.

The LED display at the top of the sewing machine tells you everything you need to know about the stitch you are using and the machine’s current state. Some of the sewing machines’ other features include an automatic needle cutter, drop feed, and knee lifter.

The sewing machine is computerized, and so, it has a memory that stores all the data about your favorite stitch settings, etc. The speed of this sewing machine is 1000 stitches per minute.

The varied number of stitches and the speed makes it a professional sewing machine. If you want a sewing machine for domestic use, you should look for other sewing machines rather than this one. However, if you are a business owner and do heavy-duty stitching regularly, this is the perfect sewing machine for you.

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#7. Brother PQ1500SL High-Speed Quilting & Sewing Machine

Though Brother PQ1500SL is not widely known as a heavy-duty sewing machine, in fact, it is. Apart from quilting, it can handle just about any other thick fabric.

The speed of this sewing machine is 1500 stitches per minute. This is a very high speed. It has an automatic needle threader, which helps greatly in saving your time and energy.

It also has a knee lifter for when your hands can’t be taken off of the fabric. Other features include an automatic thread cutter, adjustable dog feed, adjustable pressure feet, etc.

This machine is one that can sew through all types of fabric, including the thick ones. Now, the basic amount of time that this machine is durable for is 25 years.

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#8. JUKI TL-2000Qi Sewing and Quilting Machine

This quilting and sewing machine is not a widely considered option for choosing a sewing machine for sewing thick fabrics. However, this sewing machine does a great job at sewing thick fabrics, and so, we decided that it must be mentioned in the list.

This sewing machine has a low vibration because of its aluminum frame. Also, it has an extended table that makes it easy to work with fabrics of bigger sizes. This sewing machine features include an automatic needle threader, presser foot(adjustable), needle foot, and so on.

The speed of this sewing machine is 1500 stitches per minute. Now, though there aren’t many stitch types to choose from, this semi-industrious sewing machine does a great job at sewing thick fabrics. Read the full review here. 

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#9. Singer Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine

This is another sewing machine from Singer. It has a speed of 1100 stitches per minute. This amazing sewing machine can sew every type of fabric. It comes with a 25-year warranty, which ensures that there is great durability in this sewing machine.

The number of stitch types present in this sewing machine is 23. This includes stretch, basic, decorative and also, buttonhole stitches. The automatic needle threader ensures that your work gets extremely easy.

Now, this sewing machine is very reasonably priced, and you might want to consider purchasing it.

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#10. Janome HD2200 Sewing Machine

This is another sewing machine that we have on our list from the Janome brand. It is the Janome HD2200 sewing machine. It is a perfect choice of sewing machine for both beginners and advanced sewers. There won’t be any problem for a person, regardless of their sewing level, for handling the Janome HD2200 sewing machine!

This sewing machine features include a horizontal rotary hook, auto-size one-step buttonhole, adjustable foot presser, needle threader( automatic), and so on.

The number of built-in stitches that this sewing machine has is 23, and still, this machine is considered a little less powerful than the previous Janome model we have on our list. However, the price of this model is a little less, too.

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#11. Janome HD3000 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine

Do you want to perform multi-sewing tasks with your sewing machine? If yes, then the Janome HD3000 is the right choice of sewing machine for you.

The body of this sewing machine is made from aluminum, and hence, it is quite durable. Also, the number of built-in stitches that this sewing machine has is 18.

This sewing machine allows you to sew fabrics with different thickness levels and lets you sew in places where it is hard to reach. With this sewing machine, you get various accessories like universal needles, bobbins, hardcover, glide foot, etc.

This sewing machine is usually the perfect one for you if you can invest in a few bucks and you want good results with your sewing.

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#12. Janome HD1000 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine

Janome HD1000 is a heavy-duty sewing machine. The number of stitches that it has is 14. It includes stretch, basic, decorative and also, buttonhole stitches.

The body of this sewing machine is made from cast aluminum metal. The best part about this is that it doesn’t rust, and it is easy to maintain and clean. This sewing machine comes with accessories like bobbins, screwdrivers, needles, hem guide, seam ripper, and so on.

This sewing machine is an amazing one to consider because it has free arm sewing that lets you sew pants, collars, and cuffs with ease. Also, it consistently performs on different types of fabrics, regardless of the thickness of the fabric. It also has a system of drop feed, which makes sewing all the more enjoyable.

Do consider purchasing this sewing machine as all you require for sewing thick fabrics is present in this sewing machine.

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#13. Janome MOD-8933 3 and 4 Thread Serger with Differential Feed

This sewing machine is a lightweight one that is well-known for its durability and rich features. The best part about it is that it is very budget-friendly, too.

This sewing machine’s speed is 1300 stitches per minute, and you can sew at various lengths, right from 1 mm to 6 mm.

The adjustable differential feed, the openable machine’s housing, and the thread guide color-coded make this a desirable sewing machine. The upper knife can also be retracted from those fabrics which do not require any cutting.

This sewing machine comes with a 25-year warranty and is easy to both carry around and use. However, it is a manual sewing machine.

Do consider this sewing machine when you are looking for sewing machines to sew thick fabrics!

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Final Thoughts

If you own a business and need to do a lot of heavy-duty sewing, you might want to consider purchasing one of the above sewing machines.

By purchasing a sewing machine from our list, you will be way beyond your competitors, and you will be making profits by a greater margin because of your speed and stitch quality.

Now, ensure that you do your proper research before you invest in any sewing machine.

Happy Sewing!

Related Read:

Top 11 Best Sewing Machines for Curtains 

Top 13 Best Sewing Machines for Denim

Top 13 Best Sewing Machines for Thick and Heavy Fabrics