What is the best sewing machine for heavy duty sewing.?

Question

I want to purchase a new sewing machine and need one that will handle thick fabric. I sew mainly drapes and bedding for my home. I have been sewing for about 20 years and have yet to find a sewing machine that I love. I bought a Juki industrial last year only to find that it was way too fast for me. I need the ability to slow the machine down for more intricate sewing. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Answer 1

I'm a Bernina sewing machine technician and I would suggest you stay away from machines that run with a belt. Go with an older strictly gear driven machine. There are many on eBay and usually (but not always) the price is a bit higher. A Singer 201 is a good one as is a Singer 401. Phaff has some, Husquavarna.But most any gear driven machine that has been serviced by a good tech will work the best for you. Oh, and a strong motor. Be sure that any tabletop machine you might get has at least a 1.0 amp motor. New is definately not better as far as sewing machines. Especially for basic sewing. Mid 1950s and eatrly sixties produced many good ones. Stay with solid metal machines and gear driven. They will most likely outlive us all properly cared for. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

I have an older Universal that is good for heavy stitching (up to 5 layers of denim). Look for a machine that doesn't have many fancy stitches, just the basics. These tend to be more durable and able to handle thick fabrics like denim. You might also look into a machine for quilting (Husqvarna Viking has a nice one) as they are designed to handle multiple layers of fabrics.

I sew mostly fine fabrics like silks, chiffon and organza and carried samples to the sewing shop when I was looking for a new machine. I had the salesperson show me how to operate the machine then I practiced on my samples. You can't "test drive" a machine at WalMart, but most reputable machine stores will have models you can try out yourself.

You may also want to check out and/or join some of the Yahoo sewing groups. The members in these groups can be quite helpful. I've included a few links below. Some groups are public and others require approval.

Good luck!
Owner of 1 Universal, 1 Kenmore, 2 Husqvarna Vikings