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5 Best Sewing Machines For Auto Upholstery (2024 update)
Are you the same type of sewing fanatic as most sewers, starting with extremely straightforward and simple sewing ideas before moving on to more challenging ones like auto upholstery stitching? Most of the time, auto upholstery stitching is harder than regular sewing because you have to sew the inside of a car instead of a piece of fabric.
Although it might seem intimidating at first, it can actually save you far more money to sew your car’s upholstery yourself than hiring a professional to complete the task. As a result, you’ll need a sturdy and reliable sewing machine that is built to work with heavy materials.
Let’s go straight and have a look at some of the best sewing machines meant specifically for auto upholstery stitching:
Our Top Picks For The Best Sewing Machines For Auto Upholstery
- Best Overall: Consew 206RB-5 (jump to review)
- Best for Beginners: Singer
4432 (jump to review) - Best Computerized: Singer 9960 (jump to review)
- Best for High-Quality Stitches: Juki DU-1181N (jump to review)
- Best for High-Speed: Juki DDL-8700 (jump to review)
Detailed Reviews Of The Best Sewing Machines For Auto Upholstery
Best Overall: Consew 206RB-5
Renowned as the industry's go-to choice, the Consew 206RB-5 is an expertly constructed industrial sewing machine. With an extra-long 10 mm stitch length and a 14 mm high foot lift, it effortlessly conquers materials ranging from leather to canvas. Its walking foot compound feed ensures precision in intricate tasks, aligning feet to avoid interference. Ideal for automotive, upholstery, marine, and canvas work, it excels in diverse applications. This machine comes complete with a table and servo motor, presenting a seamless start to your sewing journey. Boasting a sleek white design, it seamlessly blends functionality with aesthetic appeal.
- Easy to set up for manual operation
- High-quality industrial sewing machine
- Includes essential components like LED sewing light
- Does not have any advanced features
Best for Beginners: Singer 4432
Experience the power of the Singer Heavy-Duty 4432 sewing machine, designed for lasting durability with its heavy-duty metal frame. This versatile machine offers 110 stitch applications, from basic to decorative, conveniently displayed on the user-friendly Stitch Selector Dial. Benefit from features like automatic one-step buttonhole, automatic needle threader, and enhanced piercing power for sewing through multiple layers. With a faster motor, it sews up to 1,100 stitches per minute, making it ideal for larger projects. Explore creativity effortlessly with the Singer 4432, equipped with top-notch features for sewing enthusiasts.
- Versatile machine with box feed for continuous fabric pressure
- Adjustable feed and pressure settings
- Can sew heavy denim and handle different fabric weights
- Good for basic sewing tasks
- Reliable for occasional sewing and repairs
- Bobbin tension is not self-adjusting
- Confusing setup instructions and bobbin threading
- May struggle with very thick leather
Best Computerized: Singer 9960
Versatility, premium features, and precision define the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960. The sewing machine scores full marks in terms of 600 built-in stitches, which comprise stretch, decorative, and quilting options to pamper your inner sewer. Then, the device comes ahead with a needle threader and automatic thread cutter to save you time. You will even come across a speed control slider designed for both professionals and beginners. The machine also startles you with 13 fully automatic buttonholes and a wide array of presser feet to boost the value so you can sew diverse projects.
- Various stitching options
- Intuitive, easy-to-read LCD screen
- Allows 850 stitches per minute with a robust motor
- You get an additional table and wide presser feet.
- Heavy structure.
- Limited throat space for massive quilting projects.
Best for High-Quality Stitches: Juki DU-1181N
The Juki DU-1181N takes the spotlight as the best sewing machine with a walking foot, combining Juki's renowned quality with innovative features. This single-needle, straight stitch, top and bottom feed industrial sewing machine excels in handling medium-weight fabrics with finesse. The unique top and bottom feed technology, coupled with the presser foot, facilitates smooth sewing of medium-weight materials. Enhanced by a whisper-quiet servo sewing motor, this machine is tailor-made for in-home use. The complete unit, featuring the machine head, table, stand, motor, sewing light, drawer, and all necessary components, is ready to unleash its 2000 stitches per minute with a maximum stitch length of 9 mm.
- Bobbin winder and adjustable feed dogs
- Strong and versatile machine
- Has the option of clutch or servo motor
- Assembly can be difficult without proper instructions
Best for High-Speed: Juki DDL-8700
The Juki DDL-8700, hailed as the "Best Overall for Commercial Use," stands as a testament to Juki's commitment to sewing excellence. This industrial sewing machine, designed for light to medium fabrics, prioritizes comfort with reduced vibration and noise. Ideal for those seeking efficient stitching without compromising on quality, the DDL-8700 boasts a maximum speed of 5500 stitches per minute. Precision at its core, it offers a maximum stitch length of 5 mm, making every stitch count. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an ambitious beginner, this complete unit, equipped with a sturdy table, stand, motor, and more, addresses your sewing needs.
- Fast and efficient
- Excellent for heavy canvas and light leather
- Easy to assemble
- No manual included
What is an Ideal Sewing Machine for Auto Upholstery?
Upholstery textiles demand a more powerful sewing machine than a consumer-grade one, as these textiles are difficult to manage on a regular household sewing machine. So, a sewing machine that is sold as an upholstery machine is good enough to be used in a business. There are some enhanced features on a commercial sewing machine that increase its utility.
Movement becomes much simpler between delicate fabrics like velvet and dense ones like corduroy by changing the needle. To perform tasks like zippering and welting, different presser feet are available. Even though there are special sewing machines for upholstery, they are not much different from commercial or industrial machines in how they are made.
What type of Thread is Ideal for Auto Upholstery Work?
The ideal thread that can be used for auto upholstery stitching is nylon since it is inexpensive, has great stretch control, and is durable. It is the material of choice not just for automotive upholstery but for sewing baggage and indoor upholstery as well. Its flexibility makes nylon the ideal thread material for sewing car seats. Nylon has the property to blend in with fabrics; therefore, upholstery uses a monofilament nylon thread that is transparent and strong.
Nylon thread comes in a wide range of colors, giving you the choice of selecting the one that matches the upholstery textiles in your car.
How Do You Choose The Best Sewing Machine For Auto Upholstery?
You need to keep the following points in mind when purchasing a sewing machine for auto upholstery:
- The Bed: The area beneath the needle and presser foot is known as the sewing bed. Sewing beds on most regular machines are not that huge. But you would want a machine with a large sewing bed size for most auto upholstery work. Another way to determine the bed size is to take the size of your projects into consideration when assessing the sewing bed of upholstery sewing machines.
Ask yourself: would you prefer to have a lot of space, or do you need a small room to maneuver around your needle? - The Walking Foot: The walking foot is a unique tool upon which you can easily sew. It is essential for enjoyable and successful upholstery sewing projects. Irrespective of how durable or thick the fabric is, it can help you sew flawlessly. When used with industrial sewing machines, the walking foot lets the machine grab the fabric and keep stitching it while applying pressure evenly to prevent bunching. Therefore, make sure to select an upholstery sewing machine that comes with a walking foot at all times.
- Machine Dimensions: Normal sewing machines are smaller than heavy-duty industrial sewing machines. So make sure to check the machine’s dimensions before purchasing it. Also, check whether you have enough space to store your machine and your sewing supplies so that you can sew effectively.
- Construction: Ask any sewing enthusiast about the importance of a robust construction, and they will tell you how crucial it is for an industrial grade machine to have a decent body and be made with materials to last for ages.Machines with lightweight bodies should be avoided for upholstery work because they will not hold up over time.
- Selecting the Most Powerful Engine: There are two kinds of motors that can be used in sewing machines: servo motors and clutch motors. But clutch motors are being used much less in modern times. Upon analyzing the fundamental advantages of a servo motor, we have arrived at the fact that servo motors are quiet, effective, and light-weight, which makes them the best choice for industrial-grade sewing machines.
- Budget: Heavy-weight industrial sewing machines are usually more expensive than regular sewing machines. If money is not an issue, purchasing an industrial sewing machine for auto upholstery is a wise investment. If you are new to sewing thick materials and want to see if you can do it on a long-term basis, you can also buy a used one. In that way, it won’t put too much strain on your wallet.
Summary: The Best Sewing Machine for Auto Upholstery is
- Best Overall: Consew 206RB-5 (jump to review)
- Best for Beginners: Singer
4432 (jump to review) - Best Computerized: Singer 9960 (jump to review)
- Best for High-Quality Stitches: Juki DU-1181N (jump to review)
- Best for High-Speed: Juki DDL-8700 (jump to review)
If you need to stitch on auto upholstery textiles, anyone would want to buy the best heavy-duty sewing machine. Industrial sewing machines could be a great choice among sewers for this purpose. We favor using a Consew or Juki sewing machine. Although these industrial machine models are mostly dependable for auto upholstery, they can perform very well for your other sewing requirements as well.
If you are an advanced sewist, have a look at our best sewing machines, best sewing books and best sewing magazines posts and if you are looking to get a mechanical, heavy duty, quilting or industrial sewing machine, have a look at some of our great articles. If you are a beginner sewist, review our best sewing books for beginners, best sewing machines for beginners and best sewing machines under $200 to get started.
For brand related articles, check Best Bernette | Best Bernina | Best Brother | Best Husqvarna Viking | Best Janome | Best Juki | Best Singer |
For best accessories, check Best Chairs | Best tables | Best tracing paper | Best machine oils | Best scissors and shears | Best presser feet | Best needles | Best sewing kits |
Happy Stitching.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Upholstery textiles can be sewn in the same way as other fabrics. However, you’ll want a sewing machine that can handle heavy loads, perhaps an industrial one.
Ans. A strong monofilament nylon thread that gets mixed with clothes is used for auto upholstery. You can select between thread sizes 45 and 68.
An upholstery sewing machine that is marketed as such is usually of higher quality. The design of upholstery sewing machines is not too different from that of commercial or industrial machines.
If you’re a beginner, upholstery sewing machines can be pretty challenging to control. It might take some time getting used to it, but eventually you will be able to sew on it as effectively as on a regular sewing machine.
If you are an advanced sewist, have a look at our best sewing machines, best sewing books and best sewing magazines posts and if you are looking to get a mechanical, heavy duty, quilting or industrial sewing machine, have a look at some of our great articles. If you are a beginner sewist, review our best sewing books for beginners, best sewing machines for beginners and best sewing machines under $200 to get started.
For brand related articles, check Best Bernette | Best Bernina | Best Brother | Best Husqvarna Viking | Best Janome | Best Juki | Best Singer |
For best accessories, check Best Chairs | Best tables | Best tracing paper | Best machine oils | Best scissors and shears | Best presser feet | Best needles | Best sewing kits |
Happy Stitching.
