Sewing machine info

Which sewing machine is suitable for technical textiles and outdoor fabrics? Learn more about the different requirements, advantages and disadvantages of domestic and industrial sewing machines for your demanding DIY outdoor projects.

The requirements for a sewing machine used to sew technical textiles or outdoor fabrics are usually somewhat different than for "conventional" sewing projects such as thin cotton pants or a shirt. Very thick, coated, or very thin fabrics are often processed, webbing, cords, and reinforcements must be attached, or the material to be sewn is very bulky. This raises the question for many: Which machine is the right one for the job?

Unfortunately, it is not that easy to give a general recommendation for the right sewing machine. It depends on many factors. This information should help you find your way around a little better.

In principle, you should first decide between a household sewing machine and an industrial machine, although there are also some household machines with industrial characteristics (so-called quick sewers with a long arm, a lot of power and only a straight stitch).

Household sewing machine:

• Relatively small and compact
• Most machines come with a wide range of accessories.
• Most have a variety of stitches, although a straight stitch is sufficient for most outdoor projects. Sometimes, especially for clothing, you may also need a zigzag, stretch, and overlock stitch, as well as a buttonhole function.
• Often, grandma or mom's "old machine" is still in the basement—it's worth asking around, and these machines are usually sufficient (not only) for beginners.

Due to the wide range of machines available (from almost free to several thousand euros), it is difficult to make a general statement about which machines are best suited. Various inquiries to sewing machine manufacturers have shown that useful machines start at a new price of around EUR 700. It is important to note that the price should not be determined by the number of stitches and quilting options, but by a robust construction – keep it simple!

Industrial sewing machine:

• often relatively large and bulky
• sometimes require a high-voltage connection (be careful when buying second-hand)
• are very specifically designed for their intended use. The machines usually only have one stitch type and can only sew straight stitches (so-called quick sewers), zigzag stitches OR buttonhole stitches, etc.
• are designed for continuous use and are therefore robust and durable
• Due to the strength and operation of the drive, it takes some getting used to.
• Various types of transport are possible, such as bottom feed, top feed, and needle feed.
• No problems with thick materials such as leather, coated 1000 Cordura, thick truck tarpaulin, etc. For very voluminous constructions, e.g. with foam, a special machine is usually required
• Industrial sewing machines require special needles (so-called round shanks)
• Industrial machines are more resistant to contamination, e.g. from coating particles that come off the fabric during sewing.
• Sewing thread cones (large spools of thread) can be used without any problems. This significantly reduces the cost of thread.

Used, inspected industrial machines are available from specialist retailers from around $300, and you can certainly find them much cheaper on eBay.

Other criteria to consider when making your decision:

• Will you be sewing a lot of thick fabrics or rather thin fabrics? Thin fabrics can be sewn with most machines without any problems, but sewing comfort increases significantly with the quality of the machine (and usually also with the price) – more regular transport, easy handling, completely flat transport surface, fewer problems with thread tension. Higher-quality machines usually also have a little more power and stronger mechanics, which means that thicker fabrics and webbing can also be sewn. Industrial machines have very powerful motors and have no problems with the materials in the range.
• How large are the projects to be sewn? If you plan to sew many large projects (large tarps, tents, backpacks), it is useful to have plenty of space under the sewing machine arm. This is usually only available on household sewing machines costing around $1,000 or more. Industrial machines usually have a very long sewing machine arm and therefore plenty of space. For tarp and tent projects, it is helpful if the sewing area can be enlarged (either with an additional plastic plate or if the machine is embedded in a table, which is sometimes the case with industrial machines).
• An additional top feed can make sewing much easier with slippery or particularly thick materials.
• An overlock machine is also useful for "ambitious" sewers who want to finish the seams on clothing. This machine can be used to cut and neaten open fabric edges in a single pass. This results in a much neater finish, especially on the inside of clothing. However, this machine is not a replacement for a normal sewing machine.
• It is best to try out different machines. This makes the decision much easier.