Last Updated on January 10, 2023
Are you looking for the best sewing machines for denim and jeans? Here is our complete guide to help you choose the right one.
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The fabric you sew on greatly affects the machine type and style that you will need to do the best job. This is especially true of thick and tough fabrics such as denim. Denim is a man-woven fabric specifically manufactured to be extra tough and this means that a special heavy-duty machine is needed to work with it.
These machines are specifically manufactured to be tougher and stronger on these harder-to-work with fabrics. They are not as common as regular machines though, and this can lead to some confusion when you are trying to purchase the right one for your needs.
We are here to help you out with this. Below are our top picks for the best sewing machine for denim and jeans.
Best Sewing Machines for Denim and Jeans
| Image | Title | Buy |
|---|---|---|
Top | Brother ST150HDH Sewing Machine, Strong & Tough, 50 Built-in Stitches, LCD Display, 9 Included Feet | Check Price! |
Top | Janome HD3000 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine with 18 Built-in Stitches + Hard Case | Check Price! |
Top | SINGER | Heavy Duty 4452 Sewing Machine with 110 Stitch Applications, Metal Frame, Built-In Needle Threader, & Heavy Duty Accessory Kit - Sewing Made Easy | Check Price! |
Top | Brother ST371HD Sewing Machine, Strong & Tough, 37 Built-in Stitches, Free Arm Option, 6 Included Feet | Check Price! |
Top | Janome HD1000 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine with 14 Built-In Stitches | Check Price! |
Top | JUKI TL-2000Qi Sewing and Quilting Machine | Check Price! |
1. Brother Machine, ST150HDH
- 50 Unique built-in stitches: The ST150HDH features 50 built-in standard, utility and decorative stitches including 5 auto-size buttonholes
- Advanced needle threader and drop-in top bobbin: This sewing machine includes an advanced needle threading function that easily pushes the thread through the needle with the press of a lever and a jam resistant drop-in top bobbin
- Included accessories: The STH150HDH heavy duty sewing machine comes with 9 sewing feet, set of heavy weight sewing needles, instruction manual and more
- LCD Screen: View your stitch selections, stitch size and recommended sewing foot on the LCD display
- At your side support: The ST150HDH sewing machine comes with Brother at your side support offering free technical support via online, live chat or phone for the life of your machine
This machine by Brother literally says strong and tough on the side, so you know it means business. This heavy-duty model comes with 9 different sewing feet, a full set of heavyweight sewing needles as well as a detailed instruction manual on how best to use this fantastic device.
This machine is so confident in its abilities that it is even suggested that it can sew through multiple layers of denim, as a result of the longer feed dogs no doubt.
There is a backlit display on the side of the casing that shows all the vital data to sew efficiently as well as an advanced needle threader and a solid number of 50 built-in stitches.
2. Janome HD3000 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine
- Built-in needle threader
- Reverse stitch lever
- Snap-on presser feet
- Foot pressure adjustment
- 18 stitches, 1 one step buttonhole
This heavy-duty sewing machine is just perfect for denim and jeans or any thicker materials and fabric for that matter. It has a 7 piece feed dog and a 6,5 mm heavy-duty frame that also comes with a hardcover.
There is a built-in needle threader that works very well all the time and saves you the added effort of playing with the thread every time you start a new job.
This model is special because it has metal gears inside when most usually use nylon ones, which makes it very resistant and sturdy. The type of gears a machine has is the main factor in determining how long-lasting and rugged it will be.
3. SINGER | Heavy Duty 4452 Sewing Machine
- SINGER HEAVY DUTY SEWING MACHINE: The SINGER Heavy Duty 4452 sewing machine boasts an array of features that make creating elegant garments and gifts for yourself and others fun and exciting. The Sewing machine with 32 built-in stitches includes 6 Basic, 7 Stretch, 18 Decorative Stitches and 1 Fully Automatic 1-step Buttonholes. A large variety of stitches for all types of sewing and perfect for crafts, home decor, clothing construction and much more
- AUTOMATIC NEEDLE THREADER SEWING MACHINE: After following the threading path printed right on the machine, this built-in feature helps you to effortlessly thread the eye of the needle without eye strain or frustration, Machine Size - 15.5 x 6.25 x 12 inches
- HIGH-SPEED SEWING MACHINE: The Singer 4452 sewing machine has a maximum sewing speed of 1,100 stitches-per-minute, so projects can be sewn quickly. The 60% Stronger Motor than standard sewing machines allows it to sew through heavyweight fabrics with ease.
- SEWING MACHINE ACCESSORIES: Four bonus Heavy Duty optimized accessories included: Even Feed / Walking Foot for layers of fabric, Non-Stick Foot for leather and vinyl, a 5-pack of Size 16 needles and a Clearance Plate for thick seams. Plus a variety of must-have accessories are included with all-purpose foot, zipper foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, seam ripper / lint brush, quilting guide, needles, bobbins, screwdriver, auxiliary spool pin, spool pin felt are all conveniently located and stored in the accessory tray. A soft-sided dust cover is also included in the packaging
- BEST SELLING SEWING MACHINE: The SINGER Heavy Duty 4452 sewing machine is a true workhorse. The stainless steel bedplate enables smooth fabric flow and the heavy duty interior metal frame ensures skip-free sewing. Top drop-in bobbin is easy to insert, remove and monitor thread supply
- This sewing machine is warranted for use in the US and Canada at 110 volts only
- Amps (0.7) / Watts (84) / Volts (120V) / Hertz (
This heavy-duty beast from Singer has a multitude of features that make it very good at working with all fabrics. You can make anything from a delicate dress to a sturdy denim jacket. It has 32 built-in stitches and 1 automatic, one-step, buttonhole.
The needle threader is automatic too, helping you easily thread the eye of the needle without risk of eye strain or just good old frustration and stress. This machine is also fast, very fast. It can achieve up to 1,100 stitches per minute so your work can be finished in the best possible time.
The motor is very strong and tough and made from solid steel giving 60% more strength than other nylon motors. Heavyweight fabrics can be used easily. As a bonus, you get four heavy-duty accessories that make your life easier.
The stainless steel bedplate on this model gives a very smooth flow and you will feel nothing but skip-free sewing.
4. Brother ST371HD Strong and Tough Sewing Machine
- 37 unique built-in stitches: The Brother ST371HD features 37 built-in stitches including an auto-size buttonhole
- Automatic needle threader and drop-in top bobbin: This sewing machine includes an automatic needle threader that perfectly pushes the thread through the needle and a convenient, jam resistant drop-in top bobbin
- Included accessories: The ST371HD heavy duty sewing machine includes 6 sewing feet, instructional DVD, manual and more
- Versatile free arm: This free arm sewing machine is perfect for a wide range of everyday sewing projects, and users from beginning to advanced
- At your side support: The ST371HD sewing machine comes with Brother at your side support offering free technical support via online, live chat or phone for the life of your mach
You know a machine is strong and tough when it advertises this on the side in body type, and this model does exactly that. Winner of the Women’s choice award in 2019, this model has an automatic needle threader and a drop-in top bobbin that will resist all jams.
You get a cool instructional DVD that will guide you through all of the fantastic features, on top of the regular manual. The feed arm is very versatile and supports a wide range of sewing types and fabrics for advanced use.
It makes good use of 6 heavyweight needles, 6 sewing feet and can achieve 37 different stitches in total. On the side is an easy stitch selector that can be controlled using a physical dial, with each stitch printed clearly on the machine.
5. Janome HD1000 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine with 14 Built-In Stitches
- 14 Built-In Stitches including Utility Stitches, Stretch Stitches and a Simple to Use 4 Step Buttonhole
- The Janome HD1000s Body is Made of Cast Aluminum and Like the Metal Machines of Years Ago the Janome HD1000 is Made To Last
- Comes with A Bunch of Different Accessories Including - Bobbins, Felt, Extra Needles, Two Screwdrivers, Seam Ripper/Buttonhole Ripper, Zipper Foot, Hemmer Foot, Buttonhole Foot, a Hem Guide and a Soft Cover
- The HD1000 Has A Free Arm For Sewing Pants, Cuffs and Collars and Drop Feed for Darning, Stippling, Attaching Buttons and Other Free Motion Applications
- The Janome HD1000 Even Has a Built-In Automatic Needle Threader - Thread Your Needle with Ease and Without Eye-Str
This heavy-duty sewing machine for heavy-duty use is a simple yet sturdy machine for those on a tighter budget. It has 14 built-in stitches, and simple to operate four-step buttonhole. The body of this machine is made from strong aluminum and will last a long time even with constant heavy-duty use.
You get a lot of accessories with this model such as bobbins, extra needles and two screwdrivers amongst many others. It has a built-in free arm that lets you sew anything from pants to collars and cuffs, as well as drop feeding for darning, stippling, attaching buttons and other free motion applications.
In addition to all this, it has an automatic needle threader to ease those stressful needle threading situations. Even though it does not have many built-in stitches, the many features of this simple device make it one of the best sewing machines for denim and jeans on a budget.
6. JUKI TL-2000Qi Sewing and Quilting Machine
- Updated with LED lights and one pedal operation
- 1500 SPM for quilting apparel and home décor
- Automatic needle threader
- Aluminum die cast arm and bed for low vibration operation
- Extension table included for wide work a
This model by the relatively unknown brand Juki is a heavy-duty sewing and quilting machine that covers all the bases. Recently updated with LED lights and a one-pedal operation it can reach a high number of 1500 stitches per minute.
All the mod cons are present, such as the automatic needle threader. The arm is made from the highest quality cast aluminum that gives you the smallest amount of feedback and vibration when sewing for a steady job.
Included in this pretty enticing package is a large extension table so that you can tackle even the biggest of jobs. Please be aware though that this machine is not simply plugged in and plays like a lot of others. It has a steep learning curve that has to be tackled before you can get the best out of it.
The frame is very strong and the sound that this machine produces is very low considering all that power. Just remember to read the instructions and watch a few youtube videos before starting with this one.
How to Choose the Best Sewing Machine for Denim and Jeans
Here is our guide on what to look out for when considering a purchase of a heavy-duty sewing machine for denim or jeans.
Gears and motor
The most important aspect of the machine that affects its ruggedness and long-lastingness, especially when working with thick fabrics such as denim, is the materials the gears are made from. Most machines today have gears made from nylon or plastic.
This is fine for regular use but they will have a shorter lifespan and eventually, they will buckle and break. You will then have to pay for new gears or replace the machine completely. A few models have metal gears, and these are the ones that will last you a lifetime, albeit costing more.
Feed dogs
Another important part of the design of a heavy-duty sewing machine is the number of feed dogs on the sewing base. These are responsible for feeding the fabric through the machine in set stages.
The heavier and thicker the fabric is, the more feed dogs are needed to do their job well. Five feed dogs is the minimum we would suggest for a heavy-duty denim machine.
Extra high presser foot
An extra high presser foot allows you to work with many layers of fabric as well as thick fabrics beneath the foot very easily. Denim is such a thick material that it will have difficulty making it under regular height presser feet on domestic machines.
It is important to have a leveling button to reduce the number of broken needles on your heavy-duty machine – needles often break when used in denim fabric. It gives you the ability to adjust the presser foot in relation to the thickness of the fabric and to keep it level.
Stitches
The sewing capacity of a machine is decided by the number of available stitches it has. The more the merrier and the more versatile your sewing will be. Stitches per minute are also a factor.
The best quality heavy-duty sewing machines are able to provide more stitches per minute than regular machines, being more efficient.
Usually, they range between 800 and 2000. The higher the SPM, the better and smoother the ‘sewing feel’ is and the easier the machine will be able to sew through tough fabric.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a regular sewing machine sew denim?
Not really. A regular sewing machine will be missing quite a few components that are needed to make the experience of sewing thick denim much more manageable.
If you are sewing denim on one of these machines, you will find that the needle sticks or breaks, you can’t feed the fabric under the presser foot and even that the motor and gears might break too. Heavy-duty machines have many specially tailored components that avoid such pitfalls.
What thread should I use for denim?
Jeans thread is a cotton-polyester that is very thick and long-lasting compared to other fabrics such as silk or cotton. This thread has a gold color that looks like the topstitch on most jeans. Make sure you also use all-purpose thread in the bobbin with jeans thread to combine the two colors.
Is denim hard to sew?
Denim tends to be one of those materials that people avoid because they feel it is harder to work with. This is only the case if you are using the wrong set of tools to complete the job.
Heavy-duty sewing machines have it all covered and will make sewing with denim as easy and straightforward as any other fabric.
How to maintain a heavy-duty sewing machine?
First, purchase a good cover to keep it dust and moisture-free – you don’t want lint build-up to cause problems. Next, make sure you change all the needles regularly, as they tend to become dull over time and cause skipped stitches and overall difficulty to sew.
Lastly, make sure you take the machine to be serviced by a professional at the very least once a year, but more if you can afford it. And always look at the manual for any specific model advice for increasing your device’s lifespan.
