Uploaded September 2013 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Please read all of this before posting any questions. I may have already answered your question here.
This was originally a video response to Christopher Nejman video showing how his top of the line Baby Lock Ellisimo sews leather before YouTube took away video responses.
Sewing leather at home does NOT require a sewing machine that cost 5 to 8 thousand dollars!
Please note that this machine will NOT handle Nylon V69 thread. This is a critical component when sewing leather. This demo was simple to show the power of the machine. Therefore, even though it has the power to sew it with polyester thread as show in this video, it will not handle the required tension and V69 bonded nylon thread that is required. Please keep this in mind when viewing this video.
Here I show you how even the low cost Singer 4432 can sew 4 layers of (3 oz) real leather successfully. It also sews through faux leather with ease - since real leather is more dense and requires nylon thread. The key is using a leather needle. Here I use a size 18 Schmetz Leather Needle.
I am not being paid by Singer in any way. And I did pay for the machine I am showing in this video.
The point is if you want to sew thinner weight fake (faux) and/or real leather then you don't need to spend anymore than a few hundred dollars to do so. Be aware that depending on the machine you chose and various other factors (like sewing 50+ leather bags a year) might shorten the life of your machine. If you plan on sewing leather daily then please consider an industrial machine.
If you want a machine that has a camera and automatically sews a straight line without you holding the fabric; can sew leather and you can afford the $8K to $12K price, then you'll want to look at the top of the line machines. BTW, they are amazing and worth every penny if you can afford one. :)
Please note that no home machine is designed for sewing leather on a regular basis. For that you need a industrial machine where the motor is measured in HP not Amps and is all metal inside.
Please read all of this before posting any questions. I may have already answered your question here.
This was originally a video response to Christopher Nejman video showing how his top of the line Baby Lock Ellisimo sews leather before YouTube took away video responses.
Sewing leather at home does NOT require a sewing machine that cost 5 to 8 thousand dollars!
Please note that this machine will NOT handle Nylon V69 thread. This is a critical component when sewing leather. This demo was simple to show the power of the machine. Therefore, even though it has the power to sew it with polyester thread as show in this video, it will not handle the required tension and V69 bonded nylon thread that is required. Please keep this in mind when viewing this video.
Here I show you how even the low cost Singer 4432 can sew 4 layers of (3 oz) real leather successfully. It also sews through faux leather with ease - since real leather is more dense and requires nylon thread. The key is using a leather needle. Here I use a size 18 Schmetz Leather Needle.
I am not being paid by Singer in any way. And I did pay for the machine I am showing in this video.
The point is if you want to sew thinner weight fake (faux) and/or real leather then you don't need to spend anymore than a few hundred dollars to do so. Be aware that depending on the machine you chose and various other factors (like sewing 50+ leather bags a year) might shorten the life of your machine. If you plan on sewing leather daily then please consider an industrial machine.
If you want a machine that has a camera and automatically sews a straight line without you holding the fabric; can sew leather and you can afford the $8K to $12K price, then you'll want to look at the top of the line machines. BTW, they are amazing and worth every penny if you can afford one. :)
Please note that no home machine is designed for sewing leather on a regular basis. For that you need a industrial machine where the motor is measured in HP not Amps and is all metal inside.
