Upholstery sewing requires a tough machine that has a great deal of power within it. It requires more presser feet, different needles and a very high amount of control and precision. It requires different threading guides because of the upholstery thread that must go through it and the ability to handle the thickness of it. A consumer grade sewing machine can generally not handle upholstery fabric and the stability and thickness of it.
A sewing machine made for upholstery is likely to be made of all metal as opposed to the overall plastic or acrylic ones that are made for everyday consumers. This means that they probably aren’t very portable although some of the newer ones are becoming more so. The metal makes them heavy and durable. They require a high-grade oil and frequent oiling to maintain their quality. These machines are usually very well built and will likely last for a very long time.
Upholstery sewing machines must have a walking foot. This is the key element that turns a good sewing machine into one made for upholstery. The walking foot has two sides that move up and down at alternating times, allowing the fabric to be held in place while it is being stitched. Under a commercial grade machine, the fabric would buckle and pull without extensive pinning. Since upholstery fabric is incredibly difficult to pin, the walking foot holds the fabric without any other fasteners. A zipper foot and a welt foot are also essential parts of an upholstery machine. Very little upholstery can be completed without these various presser feet.
Most upholstery machines will only do the basic straight stitch, a zig-zag stitch and maybe a few others. Little else is needed for upholstery except for larger needles. Larger needles allow for more strength and thicker thread. Upholstery thread is made of 100% nylon and is very durable. An upholstery machine must carry a needle often 4 times the size of a regular sewing needle and drive it through numerous layers of thick fabric. A commercial grade machine simply can’t handle what an upholstery sewing machine was meant to do. Check out Brother XL2600I Review or Brother XL3750 Review to learn more about these machines.
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