As a natural product, the leather may have a rough-textured surface, fissures, or pockmarks that further add to its aesthetic. That being said, they clearly distinguish it from cloth and make it a distinct material to deal with. If you want to use leather for your next masterwork, the best place to start is by selecting the best leather sewing machine.
Whether you’re sewing a belt, a jacket, or a bag, leather is the ideal material and the best option to use because for obvious reasons, it looks amazing and never goes out of style. Due to its versatility, leather is an excellent choice for any artisan. Whether you’re a seasoned seamstress or a beginner. Certain leathers, such as suede, are thin, light, and flexible, but many others, such as belt leather, are heavy, stiff, and tough.
Strong industrial sewing machines are now available to assist in the sewing of leather fabrics. Having such a machine will not only help you create distinct leather pieces, but it will also help complete certain heavy-duty projects, bump up your enthusiasm and involvement in sewing.
If you don’t have a good sewing machine for leather, you’ll struggle to work with it and risk ruining a very valued expensive piece of material.
As a result, we’ve created this useful guide to assist you in making the choices that will make stitching leather better for you!
Contents
Best Leather Sewing Machine: Buying Guide
Factors to Consider for The Best Leather Sewing Machine
- Choose the best leather sewing machine of the available types.
- Domestic/Heavy-duty:- Often a flatbed or a cylinder arm machine will suffice.
- Industrial:- Buy this while you’re working on a considerably larger project.
- Durability — These sewing machines are designed to last forever, but on an average, the machine wears between 5-25 years.
- Motor — The powerful motor, frame, and foot of a leather sewing machine set it apart from the rest. Must choose the motor type that fits best your level of skill and requirements. There are two sorts of motors: clutch and servo.
- The Needle — The needle is sharp and powerful enough to stitch smoothly without rupturing the leather cloth.
- Reliability — There is also a trusted and reliable feeding dog. The foot is wide enough to support your workpiece and does not cling to leather.
- Cheap to service — If you sew leather regularly, your machine will require more maintenance, so choose a model that requires low maintenance and can be serviced by your local technician without having to send it somewhere for an extended length of time.
- Budget and Warranty — Keep in mind the budget and warranty for the machine you want to buy for you as such machines are worth the investment.
Sewing With Best Leather Sewing Machine — Tips
- Leather needles — Leather needles are needles that are explicitly meant for sewing leather.
- Strong nylon or polyester thread— Pure cotton thread will deteriorate due to the chemicals in the leather, so use a strong polyester or nylon thread. Leather threads that have been waxed are available.
- Foot — You’ll need a Teflon foot for domestic machines because it won’t stick to the leather and prevent stripped stitches.
- Long stitches — prevent the leather from being perforated by the punctures.
- A leather thickness — that your machine can accommodate.
Best Leather Sewing Machine Reviews
1. SINGER- Quantum Stylist 9960 Portable Computerized Sewing Machine for Leather
Look/Performance:
One of the most popular sewing machines in recent years is the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960. With a weight of little over 28 pounds, this is one of the Best Leather Sewing Machine, though it isn’t one of the smallest sewing machines in the industry it does an excellent job of seeming approachable.
The sewing machine’s white and grey tones give it a sleek and professional appearance, yet its distinctive green “start/stop” button stands out.
Description:
Brand: SINGER
Colour: White
Material: Metal
Stitches: 600 stitches, plus 13 automatic step buttonholes, are built-in.
Item Weight: 20 Pounds
Power Source: Corded Electric
Comparison: Craftsmen may like the Quantum Stylist 9960 because it comes with a retractable extra-wide work table, unlike the others.
Pros
This is a feature-rich machine
- On-the-machine stitch editing now possible and hence great value for money
- Included are an extension table and a durable dust cover.
- For your convenience, your machine may come pre-threaded.
- The bundled accessories can be found in the storage compartment at the front of your machine.
Cons
- Black and white display
- Push-button control rather than a touch screen
What’s New
It’s no surprise that many people consider it to be the best all-around sewing machine! Large projects, such as leather works, benefit from an extension table since it allows you to view more of your work while stitching.
Why should you buy it?
The Singer 9960 will sew through garment weight leather without difficulty; no extra settings are required, but you will need to use leather needles and the Teflon foot that comes with the machine. Heavy-duty needles can also be used, although leather sewing needles are the best.
2. Brother ST371HD Sewing Machine for Leather
Look/Performance:
The Brother ST371HD Sewing Machine is a heavyweight when it comes to thick textiles. Its two heavyweight needles can handle heavyweight textiles in layers. The metal needle plate is well renowned for its ability to feed cloth smoothly.
The metal needle is also extremely durable. It glides over the layers and difficult-to-reach seams with ease.
Description:
Brand: Brother
Colour: Free Arm Option
Material: Metal
Weight: 6.6 Kilograms
Dimensions LxWxH: 7.87 x 16.1 x 12.21 inches
Power Source: Treadle Powered, Electric
Comparison:
The needle is sharp and strong enough to stitch smoothly without puncturing the leather. The ST371HD can handle layers of heavier fabrics like leather since it has a metal needle plate for smoother fabric feeding and heavyweight needles as compared to other Leather Sewing/Multipurpose machines in the market.
Pros
- It’s ideal for amateurs as well as those on a tight budget.
- It’s simple to operate, does excellent leather sewing, and is suitable for a variety of other sewing jobs.
- One 1-step auto-size buttonhole among the 37 built-in stitches.
- Threading the needles is simple and sewing versatility using drop feed.
- Cuffs and sleeves can be sewed using your free arm.
Cons
- Might not be the most durable in the market.
- On numerous layers of heavyweight materials, this isn’t so great.
What’s New
The ST371HD is ideal for everyday sewing and mending on a wide range of fabrics, from tough outdoor textiles to lightweight, exquisite silks.
Why should you buy it?
This machine is again the best leather sewing machine that has a robust motor, chassis, and foot, the features that set it apart from the competition. A dependable feeding dog is also present. The foot is wide enough to hold your workpiece while remaining non-sticky on leather.
3. Janome HD3000 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine
Look/Performance:
Sewing through numerous layers of fabric, denim, and leather is a breeze with the Janome HD3000 high-duty sewing machine. Don’t be fooled by the robust plastic cover. This sewing machine is a powerhouse.
Imagine having a sewing machine that can do anything you desire and more. This sewing machine’s best feature is that it makes sewing seem like cutting through butter.
Description:
Brand: Janome
Colour: White
Material: Leather
Dimensions LxWxH: 19 x 10 x 14.7 inches
Power Source: Treadle Powered
Is Electric: Yes
Comparison: Heavy enough to stay put into place yet light enough to carry around which is a great feature not so easily matched by another Best Leather Sewing Machine in the market.
Pros
- It’s easy to learn and intuitive.
- The “sensitivity” of the foot pedal may be adjusted, which is a great benefit.
- Backward stitching is possible with the reverse stitch lever.
- 25 year Janome Warranty
Cons
- Heavy, not portable
- Not so good on lightweight fabrics
What’s New
With this Best Leather Sewing Machine, you’ll receive a consistent and professional-looking outcome.
Why should you buy it?
This Janome is a one-stop solution for all your sewing needs! This is a fantastic multi-purpose machine. Just put this machine through its paces with silky materials, lightweight leather, woven textiles, Heavy Leather stitching and fleece and batting combinations.
One can even use it to make a button and buttonhole. If you need a home machine that could handle all of the weird things you try (along with heavy-duty tasks), then this machine fits the bill perfectly.
4. SINGER 4423 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine, Grey
Look/Performance:
The Singer 4423 Best Leather Sewing Machine makes everything simple, from winding the bobbin to sewing a buttonhole, to designing a leather product. It also doesn’t fail to impress in terms of power, thanks to its metal frame and heavy-duty motor.
Description:
Brand: SINGER
Colour: Grey
Material: Metal
Dimensions LxWxH: 15.5 x 6.25 x 12 inches
Power Source: Treadle Powered
Is Electric: Yes
Comparison: The Brother CS6000i offers a lot of extra features and accessories, but it can’t compete with the Singer when it comes to thick, heavy-duty fabrics like leather and denim.
Pros
- Simple to use
- Motor with a lot of torque
- Can stitch at a rate of 1,100 stitches per minute.
- There are 23 built-in stitches.
- Buttonhole stitching is done automatically.
- Design that is light in weight
Cons
- No hard case
- Manual isn’t comprehensive
What’s New
The horizontal spool pin comes with a holder that you can slide on to keep your spool stable when bobbin winding or sewing, which is a feature reviewers particularly like.
Why should you buy it?
The Singer Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine is an excellent alternative for beginners, with a powerful motor and 23 easy-to-use stitches.
It provides excellent value when you consider the number of features it provides and the fact that this is a machine worth investing in whether you’re a true freshman sewer or someone seeking an industrial machine with a bit more power.
5. Schmetz Leather Machine Needle Size 18/110
Look/Performance:
If you wish to sew leather, you need to start with the correct needles. You can sew lightweight leather on nearly any machine with a nice leather needle of the proper size.
Working with leather is simple and efficient with the Schmetz Leather Machine Needles 110/18. These high-quality leather machine needles have a strong cutting edge that readily penetrates even the toughest leather to provide you with a professional finish.
Description:
Brand: Euro-Notions
Material: Wood
Item Weight: 0.0125 lbs
Comparison: This set comprises five 110/18 machine needles that are simple to use. They’re made for working with leather, synthetic leather, and thick non-woven synthetic textiles.
Pros
- Works great for sewing leather
- Can sew leather even on domestic sewing machines
- It is a 1.5 amp motor so that helps in sewing heavy leathers as well
Cons
- They leave wider holes than other needles, making them unsuitable for thin fabrics.
What’s New
Specially designed for use with leather, synthetic leather, and thick non-woven synthetic materials. These needles are extremely strong and can punch through multiple layers of seams, making them ideal for quilt binding, leather sewing and handbag stitching.
Why should you buy it?
Quilting hefty fabric or producing layered handcrafted masks works extremely well with no breaking and the machine operates smoothly using Schmetz grade durable sewing machine for leather needles at a reasonable price! Excellent value for money!
FAQs
Is it possible to stitch leather using a regular sewing machine?
Answer: Yes, if provided with a good set of accessories.
Does the type of leather determine the machine’s requirements?
Answer: Yes, the type of foot in the machine, as well as the needle size, are all determined by the type and thickness of leather used.
Should you go for an industrial-grade sewing machine?
Answer: No, most residential sewing machines will handle the leather thickness of 3/16” or 4-6mm.


I’m June Irvin, the owner of an online sewing machine store. With a wealth of experience in sewing, I am providing customers with top-quality machines and accessories to help them create their sewing projects with ease.