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You’re probably very familiar with canvas fabric as it’s commonly used for various projects like home decor, backpacks, tents, and even sails for boats! A lot of projects, such as making a tent, requires quite a bit of skill. That’s a common theme when working with canvas, it’s typically not for beginner sewers.
Canvas is typically made out of cotton, linen, or hemp. It’s an extremely heavy-duty material and comes in the form of two main types, plain and duck. The duck form is more tightly woven than the plain form which gives it a more seamless look and is often stronger than plain fabric.
Out of all the difficult fabrics to sew on, canvas is probably one the most difficult to work with. Canvas is an extremely challenging material to work with and therefore a proper sewing machine is required.
Canvas can be really challenging to work with. It’s a very difficult fabric to feed smoothly through your sewing machine and typically requires specialty thread that a lot of sewing machines aren’t capable of handling.
When sewing canvas, a straight stitch machine with a walking foot is the most ideal sewing machine. The walking foot is essential for sewing large, thick fabric such as canvas and a straight stitch sewing machine is more powerful and simpler while still being able to sew through thicker and heavier fabric.
Heavy-duty sewing machines are extremely ideal when working with difficult fabrics such as canvas. These machines can range for a variety of types of sewing machines, but usually, say heavy-duty in the name so you can clearly know that it’s a sewing machine designed for long, tough projects. The main features that sew heavy-duty sewing machines apart are the simple design for easy operation, the automatic lubrication, and high-speed stitching.
They are designed to handle extended daily use and for long-last durability and dependability. Generally, heavy-duty machines are much larger than other types of sewing machines and therefore require their own space, like a sewing room, to set up the motor and have ample workspace.
Learn More About Heavy-Duty Sewing Machines Here.
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Below we’ve listed our favorite sewing machines when working with canvas.
Best Sewing Machines for Canvas
8. Singer 7258 Computerized Sewing Machine
This sewing machine from Singer is a great, all-around sewing machine. It’s incredibly durable as you would expect from a Singer machine, comes with additional features and built-in stitches for convenience, and customizing it is incredibly easy with just a push of a button.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 100 Built-In Stitches | Pricey |
| Easy to Use | |
| 25 Year Warranty |
Our Rating:
3.5 out of 5.0 stars7. Singer 4411 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
If you’re debating between all the Singer Heavy Duty sewing machines, it may be hard to choose. They’re all incredibly similar, but they do have their differences. This Singer 4411 is specifically designed for beginners in mind with a simpler design and fewer features than the other models but is the perfect sewing machine for many.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong Motor | Extremely Basic |
| Great for Beginners | |
| Simple Design |
Our Rating:
4.0 out of 5.0 stars6. Brother ST371HD
One of the rare sewing machines that are designed with upholstery in mind, this Brother ST371HD sewing machine was voted the 2018 Women’s Choice Award for 9 out of 10 Customer Recommended Sewing Machines. This machine was built for versatility and being able to handle a wide variety of fabrics of all thicknesses and weight.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| One of the Best at Auto Upholstery | Not as Heavy Duty as Expected |
| Well Priced | |
| Built to Last |
Our Rating:
4.0 out of 5.0 stars5. Juki TL-2010Q Portable Sewing Machine
If you’re specifically looking for a portable sewing machine to travel around with, you won’t find anything much better than the Juki TL-2010Q Portable Sewing Machine. With its additional features and 1-needle lockstitch capabilities, it is the top of the range when it comes to portable sewing machines. However, there are a few aspects of it that might make this machine not work for everyone.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1-Needle Lockstitch Stitches | Doesn’t Include Accessories |
| Large Sewing Area | |
| Great Value for Money |
Our Rating:
4.0 out of 5.0 stars4. Brother XR3774 Full-Featured Quilting Machine
This Brother XR3774 Full-Featured Quilting Machine is one of the more affordable quilting machines available. It’s also one of the easiest ones to operate, making it great for sewers of all levels. It’s very highly reviewed on Amazon but it does have a few downfalls of this machine which may be a dealbreaker to you.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Made for Quilting | Small Number of Built-In Stitches |
| Highly Reviewed | |
| Easy to Use |
Our Rating:
4.5 out of 5.0 stars3. Singer 4452 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
If you’re needing a strong, durable, heavy-duty sewing machine that can handle just about any sewing project but doesn’t have a huge budget, this Singer 4452 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine might be what you’re looking for. At a reasonable price, this sewing machine is stronger than most others, comes with a large number of accessories, and is extremely durable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 60% Stronger Motor | Speed a Little Hard to Control |
| Heavy-Duty | |
| Many Accessories Included |
Our Rating:
4.5 out of 5.0 stars2. Singer Simple 3232
The Singer Simple 3232 is one of the better, beginner sewing machines out there, if not the best. It has a very clean and simple design which makes navigating the machine easy and stress-free, but it also includes added features like an automatic needle threader, that make the sewing process more enjoyable for beginners.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great for Beginners | Limited Functions |
| Easy to Use | |
| More Advanced Than Other Beginner Machines |
Our Rating:
4.5 out of 5.0 stars1. Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist
If your budget is $300 and under for your next sewing machine, look no further than the Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist Computerized Sewing Machine. This machine has over 4,000 positive reviews on Amazon and we’re not surprised. It is honestly an amazing sewing machine that can sew just about anything.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Under $300 | Some Difficulty with Operations |
| 600 Built-In Stitches | |
| Quality Built | |
| Accessories Included |
Our Rating:
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
