What’s The Best Sewing Machine For Canvas For You In 2024
Are you looking to buy the best sewing machine for canvas?
Let me walk you through some fantastic models that are not only useful for canvas, denim and other heavy-duty projects, but also useful for light fabrics.
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The idea of this article is to be snappy and to the point, and not polluted with too many unnecessary sewing machines options.
Juki HZL-F600 computerized sewing and quilting machine
1. Juki adopted a box feed system for its new industrial machines, instead of the standard feed system. This powerful and precise feed reduces the chances of stitches being skipped by keeping the fabric from shifting.
This means it’s quite good on wax canvas, marine canvas, sailcloths, layers of canvas, and leather.
2. Weighs around 21 pounds.
3. The more the options the merrier the sewist. With this in mind, Juki has allotted 16 types of buttonholes to this industrial machine.
4. Juki has added a wide sewing space, which means you can sew your bigger projects at home.
5. Free motion sewing for quilting lovers.
6. Juki has added an assortment of feet – standard, buttonhole, zipper and many others – which means that you can use the foot of your choice to accommodate your projects.
7. The knee-lifting lever is an easy way to raise your presser foot and, as you release the knee, the presser foot goes down.
8. It glides on lightweight and thick fabrics.
Juki has been producing industrial machines for so long that they have mastered the art of producing almost perfect machines. No doubt, the HZL-F600 is a heavy-duty sewing machine for canvas.
What's the best marine canvas sewing machine?
If you are going to include marine canvas projects, keep in mind that marine canvas tends to stretch and that straight stitch is not a good option for a stretch fabric.
Zigzag stitch always holds stretch fabric better than straight stitch.
The Juki HZL-F600 is a good option for a marine canvas sewing machine. It's a heavy-duty machine suitable for canvas and has the power to deal with industrial projects.
What are the cheaper options for sewing canvas?
For all those home sewists who do not want to invest in expensive, heavy-duty, industrial machines, you can opt for cheaper options stated below.
The machines mentioned below are cheaper versions and will not render the same professional results. These are basic sewing machines for minimal projects in a year.
Singer 4423
1. Metal frame prevents sewing machines from decaying and is good for sewing canvas.
2. It can sew up to 1,100 stitches per minute.
3. Automatic needle threader is boon for everyone – it can be so difficult to thread.
4. 23 built-in stitches, which would be helpful in many different sewing projects.
Singer 4423 is the best budget Singer sewing machine for canvas.
Brother Project Runway PC420PRW
1. Built-in 294 stitches provide lots of options for quality sewing.
2. Metal frame.
3. 850 stitches per minute.
4. Dual LED workspace light. A bit of light in nooks and crannies will help in stitching to perfection.
5. Good fabric feeding system that assists in feeding canvas and other fabrics. Without these systems, sewing machines can be really hard to work with and do not render finesse.
6. One-handed threading technology.
7. You can control speed with the start/stop feature, without the foot controller.
Both the 4423 and PC420PRW can handle canvas, but not many layers as they are budget machines.
If you are frequently going to use a sewing machine for heavy projects, it is recommended you make a one-time investment by purchasing a proper sewing machine for canvas.
Winner
The Juki HZL-F600 is the best sewing machine for canvas. It is heavy, durable, and compatible with almost all heavy fabrics – including marine canvas and Dacron.
The following machines are no longer available for sale.
Sailrite ultra-feed LSZ-1 walking foot sewing machine:
1. Sailrite can stitch through up to ten layers of canvas at a time. It can also sew denim, leather, sailcloth, upholstery fabric, and it is perfect for up to eight layers of Dacron.
2. Since it weighs approximately 49 pounds, it is a quite sturdy and reliable machine.
3. The Sailrite machine’s “power plus balance wheel” means it's more powerful than standard machines.
4. It includes a “posi-pin” clutching system. This system makes sure at all the pumped power is directed to the needle – one of the important features when working with canvas.
5. The piping tunnel built in below the presser foot will free you from holding the rounded portion of the piping as you sew. With this built-in tunnel, it's easy to feed and sew piping.
6. Sailrite has designed a 3/8” foot lift for this machine.
7. Stitch length goes up to 6mm.
8. Sailrite is also known for rendering exceptional customer service.
Sailrite’s basic walking foot machine has been winning the hearts of many sewists. It is incredibly easy to work with. Although it is not a fancy machine, it is engineered and designed to be the best industrial sewing machine for canvas.
Tuffsew 9” walking foot industrial sewing machine
1. Integrated walking foot system, which allows fabric and thread to walk in synch and does not pull away either of the main components (the upper arm pulls the top fabric at the same rate as the bottom).
This gives it an even stitch and also makes sewing canvas and quilts easier.
2. Designed to stitch both straight and reverse.
3. Metal body.
Tuffsew 9” is a basic machine that can sew some layers of canvas. Although it's a durable machine, it’s not as good as Sailrite or Juki.
Characteristics of the best sewing machine for canvas:
Here are a few pointers for you to look at before making a purchase:
1. Make sure to check that the machine is heavy, at least 20-30 pounds. Machines that weigh a lot are ideal for heavy sewing projects.
2. The sturdier the machine, the more stable its performance in the long run.
3. Walking foot machines are better than other machines.
4. Machines that have zigzag stitch are ideal for canvas projects.
5. If you are on a budget and not sure if you will be undertaking too many heavy-duty projects then go for the 4423 or PC420PRW machine. They not only work well with canvas, but also are easy to use with any other lighter fabrics.
6. When selecting a sewing machine, always consider the brand. Some brands excel in manufacturing heavy-duty sewing machines, while others are specialized in home sewing machines.
For example, Sailrite and Juki are known as industrial sewing machine producers. Sailrite has exceptional customer service and their industrial machines and products last quite a long time.
In my opinion, Sailrite is perfect for canvas and other heavy-duty sewing projects.
Is canvas challenging to sew at home?
Canvas projects can be tricky. There is always a risk attached to sewing at home, especially if the project requires a lot of layering.
A few of the issues you can face are:
- the machine being unable to sew through the fabric,
- frequent needle breakage,
- and damage of the motor due to pressure.
One of the reasons could be that sewing canvas requires you to thread a strong, heavy thread in your machine, and most of the home machines are not designed for such heavy-duty work.
Suggestions:
If you want to try sewing canvas at home, try to stitch a layer of canvas fabric (and then two layers) to check if the machine is good enough to participate in your project – and acknowledge the limitations of your machine.
Sewing tips for Canvas:
Clean your Sewing machine
This would be my tip for anyone who is going to sew canvas: clean, oil, and remove any clogs from your machine before you start your project.
If you are sewing with wax canvas, you will have to clean your sewing machine quite often since wax canvas tends to grease the sewing area.
Thread
Use heavy-duty thread for canvas.
Ironing
Use a press cloth to iron wax canvas, as a hot iron can melt the wax.
Use a damp cloth or a sprinkler and press an iron on wrinkles to remove them from canvas. However, do take breaks between irons – ironing can stain white canvas.
How to pin canvas?
Pinning down the layers of canvas fabric can be tiresome. The pin might not pierce into the thick layers of fabric. Try to use temporary glue, or a two-sided tape, to hold the fabric in place.
Scratches
Canvas can get scratched or wrinkled easily, try to sew in with less pressure and clean the machine every time before you start sewing.
