Best Sewing Machine for Denim [Our Reviews and Comparisons]

Denim is easily the most famous, the most worn, and most versatile fabrics in use today. It is preferred for its durability and heavy-duty construction.

As denim has spread in popularity, so has the number of people experimenting with this fabric from caps to jackets to even shoes. So, it’s only fair that both beginners and advanced sewers have done some interesting projects with denim. If you feel like spreading your creative wings by undertaking denim projects you need to have the right machine which is dependable and durable when it comes to such projects. The need for a special sewing machine is a must to get everything right while sewing jeans.

Comparison Table

PRODUCT	FEATURES	LATEST PRICE
1. SINGER 4432	23 built-in stitches Durable construction Adjustable foot presser pressure	Check Price
2. SINGER 4452	Max. 1100 SPM Minimal table vibrations Durable frame	Check Price
3. JANOME Heavy Duty 1000	Powerful motor Durable frame Simple to use	Check Price
4. Juki TL-2000 QI	Durable construction High SPM Extension table	Check Price
5. BROTHER ST371	Lightweight Easy to use 37 built-in stitches	Check Price
6. BROTHER CS7000i	Perfect for beginners Easy to set up 70 pre-loaded stitches	Check Price
7. JANOME Magnolia 7318	User friendly Easily portable Strong and Durable	Check Price
8. SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960	Lightweight and portable Computerized technology Strong and durable frame	Check Price

There are several factors that one should keep in mind when looking to buy a sewing machine for denim. One which would typically require minimal maintenance over the years.

We’ve taken a deep dive and compared the features and functionalities of some of the best sewing machines for denim in the market today.

The Best Sewing Machines for Denim Reviewed

1. SINGER 4452

Product Highlights

The SINGER 4452 is one of the most budget-friendly sewing machines for denim. It boasts a solid metal frame and powerful motor which offers a speed of 1100 stitches per minute (SPM), which is best in the segment. The other outstanding features like the 32 built-in stitches, automatic 1-step buttonholes, and a max stitch length of 4 mm, make this one of the best sewing machines for denim which delivers skip-free sewing.

Features

The SINGER 4452 doesn’t take up much space with its ergonomic dimensions of 15.5 x 6.25 x 12 inches, the SINGER Heavy Duty comes with 32 built-in stitches. A true workhorse, the 4452 ensures that you get skip-free sewing and smooth fabric flow.

Two of the most important aspects to consider when buying a machine for your denim projects are the motor power that the machine provides and the sewing speed. On both these counts, the 4452 is one of the best as it has a best-in-segment maximum sewing speed of 1100 stitches-per-minute and a 60% stronger motor ensures precise sewing through heavy and thick fabrics like denim smoothly and faster completion of projects.

It has 32 built-in stitches that include 6 basic stitches, 7 stretch, a fully automatic 1-step buttonhole, and 18 decorative stitches that let you explore other projects requiring heavy-duty sewing and quilting such as home décor and crafts projects.

SINGER’s 4452 has a sturdy built that makes it lightweight, compact, portable, and keeps vibrations to a minimum. The automatic needle threader helps in effortless threading, a top bobbin that’s easy to insert and remove, built-in lights, and plenty of included accessories make this a reliable workhorse for a range of projects. The 4452 also includes the luxury of SINGER’s leading 25-year warranty for the all-purpose machine head and two on the motor.

What We Like About SINGER 4452

The 4452 is a great pocket-friendly machine preferred by customers for its durability and a wide range of accessories such as the 5 pack of size 16 needles, all-purpose foot, buttonhole, zipper, and button sewing foot. The quilting guide along with other useful accessories that include a lint brush/seam ripper, screwdriver, auxiliary spool pin, and a soft-sided dust cover makes it a great option for denim projects.

What We Don’t Like About SINGER 4452

The SINGER 4452 sewing machine can be very tricky to handle and will require some getting used to. Some customers struggled on the account that the 4452 doesn’t support the largest spools of the thread if that’s what you intend working with.

2. JANOME Heavy Duty 1000

Product Highlights

The Janome HD1000 is one of the best sewing machines that can work effortlessly on fabrics like jeans and leather. It is not a complicated machine to use and the all-aluminum body and interior frame and its powerful motor is the USP of this mechanical sewing machine. It comes with 14 custom stitches such as stretch stitches and utility stitches. Let’s look at some other things this popular sewing machine has to offer.

Features

The Janome HD1000 is a great quality practical machine to get a high-quality job done with just the right customization and without any of the complicated bells and whistles that other machines in this price range have. Its powerful motor delivers a speed of 1000 SPM and a max stitch length of 4 mm.

With dimensions of 15.6 x 6.3 x 12.4 inches it is quite compact and weighing around 17 pounds it ensures minimal vibrations. Featuring a body and frame designed of cast aluminum, and backed by a 25-year limited warranty, it’s definitely a work-horse for the long haul.

Equipped with 14 built-in stitches and adjustable stitch length and zigzag width dials allow for customization and durable stitching for denim. The reverse stitches feature helps to easily reinforce stitches on heavy fabrics such as denim with the help of a simple. Other features include a 3-piece feed dog system which allows for smooth feed.

The machine includes a free arm for stitching sleeves or hemming pants, and an automatic needle threader provides a versatile sewing and quilting experience. A hem guide, zipper foot, hemmer foot, and softcover along with other free motion applications make it a great sewing machine for your denim projects.

What We Like About JANOME Heavy Duty 1000

Customers appreciate the Janome HD1000 most because of its metal body which handles denim and other heavy-duty fabrics beautifully. Loaded with the right modern functions and features that make it one of the most popular sewing machines for all skill levels. The extra accessories are a bonus package. Although an industrial-grade sewing machine, it’s a very pocket-friendly option.

What We Don’t Like About JANOME Heavy Duty 1000

Few customers experienced the thread getting jammed constantly, even on straight stitching. A few found it to be not very easy to carry around because of its weight and some customers would also have preferred a longer power cord on this.

3. Juki TL-2000 QI

Product Highlights

The TL-2000Qi is Juki’s best-selling sewing machine of all time and with good reason. Although made for home use, this sewing machine packs a decent amount of power, which makes it great for denim projects. The TL-2000Qi sports a beautiful design that is sturdily built with heavy metal keeping vibrations to a minimum.

Featuring a better thread tension adjustment system along with automatic thread trimming the JUKI TL-2000Qi sports a microprocessor which automates the speed providing skip-free stitching.

Features

The JUKI TL-2000Qi delivers a speed of 1,500 stitches per minute, a max stitch length of 6 mm, and an extension table for a comfortable, stable, and flexible broad workspace to let you finish all your larger projects fast. Like most modern sewing machines, it features an automatic needle threader, a bed for low vibration operation, and an aluminum die-cast arm.

The onboard microprocessor helps to control and adjust the speed of your machine to provide skip-free sewing while working with denim.

This sewing machine also has in-built LED lights that brightly lights up the area you’re sewing on.
The machine comes with an automatic needle threader to get you started quickly and an LED light to illuminate the unit’s work area though. The attached pedal makes operating the machine a breeze.

What We Like About Juki TL-2000 QI

The Juki TL-2000QI stands out because of its industrial engineering and sturdy build. Customers really like the automatic sewing speed control along with the extended work platform which provides for comfortable working. The foot controller with thread trimming function and the knee lifter mechanism on the 12mm presser foot lift also make this a favorite amongst sewers of all skill levels.

What We Don’t Like About Juki TL-2000 QI

The main hurdle for customers is its steep price which means not everyone can afford it. Its functionalities are quite different from other conventional sewing machines and there is definitely a learning curve with it. Also, the TL-2000Qi sewing machine is not an ideal option if you’re looking for fancy stitches.

4. BROTHER ST371

Product Highlights

BROTHER is well known for its good quality beginner-level sewing machines and the ST371HD is a good sewing machine that offers both a variety of stitches and an easy-to-read interface. With a metal chassis and frame that works perfectly for denim projects, the ST371HD is our choice for the best beginner sewing machine for jeans. This machine has the power to take on thick fabrics with ease while remaining simple-to-operate.

The ST371HD is a dependable, durable, and versatile machine that manages to deliver the easy and exciting sewing experience that BROTHER is well-known for.

See Related Article: Best Sewing Machine for Upholstery

Features

The ST371HD sewing machine is specially designed to handle a wide range of fabrics of different weights and thickness easily. The ST371HD has 37 unique built-in stitches and an auto-size buttonhole makes stitching blind hems, zipper insertion, stretch stitches and buttonholes really easy.

The jam-resistant drop-in top bobbin and the automatic needle threader ensure the needle is pushed through perfectly and conveniently. This sewing machine includes heavyweight needles like the #16 needle which makes it super easy to work with denim, canvas, and other heavy fabrics. Useful accessories like 6 versatile sewing feet, a blind stitch, a zipper, a spring action zigzag foot, and a free arm make it a preferred choice for beginners.

It has a speed of 800 stitches per minute, which ensures that you complete your sewing projects efficiently and with great quality. Backed by a 25-year guarantee, this sewing machine has won the Women’s Choice Award for quality which speaks volumes about the ST371HD.

What We Like About BROTHER ST371

The compact ST371HD Sewing Machine is a customers’ favorite, especially beginners thanks to the instructional DVD, and an English and Spanish user manual which really helps in picking up the functions. The broad range of modern features that come with this sturdily built machine is another plus. The useful accessories help explore a wide range of denim projects and make the ST371HD a customer favorite.

What We Don’t Like About BROTHER ST371

One feature that customers found lacking in the ST371HD is an automatic tension control option which may affect stitches. Also, this is relatively slower than other sewing machines in the same range and some customers struggled with time-sensitive projects.

5. BROTHER CS7000i

Product Highlights

The CS7000i is the latest from one of the world’s most trusted sewing machine brands – BROTHER. This is a budget-friendly sewing machine that features 70 built-in stitches, an automatic needle threader, a free arm, a speed controller, and an easy threading system.

The machine is really easy to set up and get used to quickly. This is due to the thread guides, which are really easy to understand, and the quick setup bobbin. It’s one of the best sewing machines for denim for all skill levels.

Features

The BROTHER CS7000i’s user-friendly design is evident as it comes with 70 built-in stitches. They include a very wide range of stitches, from decorative stitches to quilting stitches. This allows you to be really versatile with your projects.

This machine gives you 7 styles of auto-size buttonholes and several modern technology upgrades such as the bright backlit LCD display, a Mode and Shift Key Stitch Selector Type, a needle position stop, an automatic needle threader, and an automatic drop-feed.

There are several accessories included with the BROTHER CS7000i like a hard case and detachable quilting table to ensure you save for other necessities. The sewing machine’s front panel displays the pre-loaded stitches next to their codes that make it easy and fast to choose a stitch of your choice. A portable yet powerful and versatile sewing machine for all your denim projects.

What We Like About BROTHER CS7000i

Customers have come to associate all sewing machines from BROTHER with quality features, overall ease of use, and pocket-friendly prices. The CS7000i doesn’t disappoint either and features like speed controller, maximum stitching speed, automatic needle threader, free arm are highly sought after features for sewers undertaking denim and heavier fabrics. We love the balanced combination of decent power and a broad range of functionality that the BROTHER CS7000i offers.

What We Don’t Like About BROTHER CS7000i

Some customers found the automatic needle threader to falter sometimes.

6. SINGER 4432

Product Highlights

The 4432 is another reliable workhorse from SINGER which is definitely the best-known sewing machine brand in the world. The SINGER 4423 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine works effortlessly on fabrics like jeans, leather, and multiple layers of tough fabrics. This machine delivers a skip-free sewing experience with a sewing speed of 1100 stitches per minute.

You can easily stitch buttonholes, zig-zags, and a few decorative stitches with the 4432. This SINGER is considered to be one of the best-advanced sewing machines for denim due to the power that it delivers. The 23 built-in stitches, including the automatic needle threader, allow you to both enjoy sewing while you work on versatile projects as well as reduce stress.

Features

This budget-friendly machine comes loaded with all the features and performance of higher-end sewing machines. The SINGER Heavy Duty 4432 features 32 pre-loaded stitches, an automatic needle threader, and an extremely fast speed of up to 1100 stitches per minute.

SINGER 4432 is a well-built machine with an all-metal frame, which provides you the stability for frequent denim or other heavy-duty projects. The 4432 gives you the ability to adjust stitch length, zigzag width, and tension and you can use the reverse stitch option to make your stitches stronger.

SINGER provides a broad range of useful accessories like needles, bobbins, screwdrivers, an assistant app with tutorials and lessons, and 4 different purpose stitching feet. Other helpful features in the 4432 are the automatic needle threader and a free arm. The long list of useful accessories backed by SINGER’s 25-year warranty makes this a great sewing machine for denim which doesn’t compromise on the durability at all.

What We Like About SINGER 4432

The SINGER 4432 is a great choice for those on the lookout for an affordably priced machine that doesn’t compromise on durability, functionality, versatility, or power. This has been the go-to sewing machine for denim for a broad range of skill levels.

What We Don’t Like About SINGER 4432

It does involve a learning curve to get used to the whole feature set of the 4432 and you will need to keep experimenting with them to get to your desired settings.

7. JANOME Magnolia 7318

Product Highlights

Janome, a popular Japanese company in the market of sewing machine manufacturing, packs the Magnolia 7318 with the latest technology. It is a powerful, yet easy to use, a machine that has 18 built-in stitch patterns and also a 4-step buttonhole feature, that provides a great selection of button options.

Features

The Janome Magnolia 7318 is a very easy-to-use mechanical sewing machine with most of the modern features required to undertake denim projects. “‹ This sewing machine”‹ provides all essential accessories not usually found in other mechanical sewing machines out there in the market.

This Janome features all essential bobbins, needles, extra needle foot, spool pins, etc. “‹Functions like the bobbin, zipper foot, buttonhole foot, “‹blind stitch foot, zigzag foot, and foot control help in a versatile range of stitching projects.

“‹Also included are a felt seam ripper, spool holder, “‹screwdriver, a needle set, 2 extra spool pins, an instructional manual for guidance, lint brush.

This sewing machine is built keeping portability in mind with dimensions of 19 x 10.5 x 15 inches and weighs about 17.2 pounds. Janome has done its best in minimizing both the size and weight to keep this sewing machine easily portable and stable.

It delivers a neat and clean stitch quality and does a great job of keeping the noise to a minimum as compared to other mechanical sewing machines. Janome provides a standard two years warranty and free-of-charge repair on any malfunctions”‹

What We Like About JANOME Magnolia 7318

Customers found this machine really easy to operate and functions like the thread tension adjuster are both precise and big-time savers as you don’t have to spend time trying to figure out settings. We also like the well thought out engineering and solid manufacturing which makes this machine really durable. One of the best mechanical sewing machines, it was able to handle the thickest fabrics.

You May Also Like: Best Sewing Machine for Leather

What We Don’t Like About JANOME Magnolia 7318

The only issue that customers raised with the Magnolia 7318 is the lack of built-in stitches which they found limiting.

8. SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960

Product Highlights

The SINGER 9960 is a great option for a heavy-duty sewing machine for jeans. It features 600 built-in stitches and 13 buttonholes. Although one of the pricier machines on the list, it is worth the investment as it is capable of sewing anything and everything.

As a portable computerized machine, it includes a digital backlit LCD screen which allows you to change the settings and stitch type on the fly and easy viewing of stitch functions like length, width, tension settings, and more.

Features

The Quantum Stylist 9960 is easy to set up with a very intuitive interface and includes an auto thread trimmer, auto needle threader, auto stitch width, length adjustments, and more. With dimensions of 17.25 x 8.25 x 12 inches and a weight of 20 pounds, this sewing machine delivers a sewing speed of 850 stitches per minute. This means that any project undertaken by you can be completed in a shorter span of time. It also comes with 19 different presser feet options.

This sewing machine is engineered from high-quality materials which make it strong and durable. This has an automatic needle threader and an easy to load drop-in bobbin with a clear plastic cover that allows you to see precisely the remaining bobbin thread before starting a seam. The automatic thread tension is a wonderful feature for beginner level sewers. An add-on extension table provides for a more comfortable workspace for bigger projects.

What We Like About SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960

SINGER’s technologically advanced and budget-friendly sewing machine holds a strong edge over many of the machines in the market today. The list of accessories packed within this product for the price is also a great bonus for customers. Customers really like the quantum stylist 9960 as it delivers superior stitch quality.

What We Don’t Like About SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960

A bit on the slower side, some customers found this machine struggling with larger projects. A few users comment they would have liked more control over the presser foot pressure which cannot be manually adjusted.

Buyers Guide

There are several factors one should consider before going for a sewing machine for denim. Although these machines are usually found under the heavy-duty sewing machine category, there are certain features specific to denim that shouldn’t be overlooked
Let’s look into these elements in much more detail.

Brands
There are several renowned brands like SINGER, BROTHER, Janome, Juki, and more offer a useful range of features. You must definitely check out the pros and cons of all the brands, especially their after-sales service and warranty. If you are at the beginner level stage then SINGER, BROTHER, and Janome are easy-to-use machines with the right features.

Strong Motor
Sewing machines need a powerful motor to ensure that the needle can sew through thick fabric like denim. As a beginner, speed might not be so important, but advanced sewers fully understand the need for speed with denim projects. Heavy-duty machines like upholstery machines are preferred over domestic machines for their powerful motors as well as the strong metal structure which provides sturdiness while working on denim.

Extra-High Presser Foot Lift
An extra-high presser foot lift accommodates heavier fabrics like denim or several layers of fabrics beneath the presser foot with ultimate ease. Therefore, the inclusion of an extra high-pressure foot lift is an essential factor that one should look for in a sewing machine for denim.

Speed/Stitches Per Minute (SPM)
SPM of a sewing machine dictates the ease with which a needle passes through multiple layers or thicker fabric. The stitches per minute also guide the variety of work and heavy fabrics that you can undertake successfully. Advanced skill level sewers prefer faster machines, but if you are a beginner then looking for a machine that has decent speed but also comes with a speed adjustment slot will be best.

Levelling Button
A lot of sewers have observed that most needles break while working on the seams of the jeans. A machine with a leveling button helps adjust the presser foot according to the thickness of the fabric. This feature is crucial for multi-layer side seam sewing or the multi-layer bottom seam sewing on jeans. It is a must-have feature on a sewing machine.

Final Verdict

There’s our rundown of some of the features and functionalities of the tops sewing machines for denim. We’ve carefully considered some of the best brands and their flagship models, based on key factors which make for a great sewing machine for denim projects.

If we were to recommend one, it would definitely be the SINGER 4432 sewing machine. First, it is an outstanding machine from SINGER, one of the most renowned and leading names of the sewing world. Second, it’s a versatile sewing machine loaded with excellent features to help you successfully undertake all of your dream denim projects, and third, for all the features that are packed into it, the SINGER 4432 sewing machine does not burn a hole in your pocket.

However, having said that, all the other brands’ sewing machines featured on this list can easily cater to all needs and all budget sizes. Deciding is now at your hands.

We have put together our list of the best sewing machines for denim after thorough research. You should ultimately go for something that suits your needs and requirements. Do remember to go through the buying guide and make a smart decision before you settle on one.

So, carefully weigh the pros and cons of the machines and pick the best one based on your requirements and budget.