Best used sewing machines for leather?
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 5,007
Best used sewing machines for leather?
I'm planning to sew some pieced leather pillows and recover some couch cushions with a medium-weight leather. I have a few, old, domestic Singers that might do the job, but they're not walking foot machines and I worry that they might not be strong enough. Does anyone have experience sewing on "leather machines?" If so, which machines can you recommend for the home sewer?
Thanks,
C
Thanks,
C
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,386
I used my Juki TL2200qvp mini (straight stitch machine) to sew my husband a genuine leather golf putter cover and it worked great. It easily sewed through two layers of leather, pellon flex-foam and lining material. I used a Schmetz leather needle and lots of wonderclips to keep my little pieces together while sewing.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,401
My grandmother had her mother's Singer Treadle machine that the man across the street would borrow when he was sewing leather. I was never able to watch him do it, but I was fascinated that he could use it for that.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,166
Any basic heavy vintage home machine should sew through leather just fine. For the last 30 years or so I've been sewing on a vintage Remington (post-war Japanese machine similar to Morse) that originally belonged to a friend's Grandmother. It does upholstery/leather just lovely, like a dream even -- no problems with the crotch seams from denim. I have a vintage Pfaff in a cabinet that belonged to another friend's Mom. It sews silk and fancy fabrics like a dream, and does fine with the heavy stuff too. Never could really get a quality quilt stitch out of it though, but it was fine for piecing. I'd think my 301 would do fine with leather too, but since it's not in a stand I think it might get pushed around a bit too much.
This past August a friend gifted me with her used but lovely modern machine. I've got to admit, I love the self-threader and the foot lift knee peddle and the automatic thread cutter. But I still have mad respect for my vintage beauties.
This past August a friend gifted me with her used but lovely modern machine. I've got to admit, I love the self-threader and the foot lift knee peddle and the automatic thread cutter. But I still have mad respect for my vintage beauties.
#8
My mother used to recover aircraft cushions. She used her Singer 201 and it did the job. I just gave it to my granddaughter last Christmas. I also have a vintage Kenmore 158 that will sew through almost anything. Most any vintage machine should work.
#9
A leather needle, and a modern teflon foot for your shank machine might help.
My grandmother recovered her furniture, probably fake leather, but same idea using her singer treadle.
My good friend sewed canvas boat cushions with her featherweight. The right tools for the right fabrics!
What weight thread I wonder? Jeans thread? Button thread, surely not in a machine?
I wonder if 40 weight machine quilting thread would work?
My grandmother recovered her furniture, probably fake leather, but same idea using her singer treadle.
My good friend sewed canvas boat cushions with her featherweight. The right tools for the right fabrics!
What weight thread I wonder? Jeans thread? Button thread, surely not in a machine?
I wonder if 40 weight machine quilting thread would work?
Last edited by KalamaQuilts; 06-17-2019 at 05:15 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
lverano
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
6
01-14-2018 10:02 PM
Windblown
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
18
11-22-2013 07:16 PM
SingerSewer
Main
10
06-22-2013 06:24 AM
magpiefeather
Pictures
17
05-06-2011 10:45 PM