Embroidery is fun. Seeing your imagination come to life is a unique kind of satisfaction. But recently, I thought, what if I made a leather bag or purse? 🤔 it would be so cool, right?
But is it possible to do machine stitching leather? Cause leather is a thick fabric!
Machine Stitch Leather
Yes, you can sew leather in a sewing machine. You’ll need a few key adjustments for an intense leather needle, setting a longer stitch length, right thread tension, and using a non-stick or Teflon presser foot to help the leather glide smoothly under the needle.
Is that it? One of my students asked me. I was like, no, of course. Leather isn’t as easy to handle as fabric. Let’s do it and learn.
Table of Contents
Can You Sew Leather With A Regular Sewing Machine?
Yes, you can sew leather with a regular sewing machine. But it takes a few tweaks to make it work smoothly, like decorative stitches.
Leather is thick, sticky, and unforgiving (no do-overs with needle holes), so you’ll need to prep your machine for the challenge. That means:
- Using a leather needle (sharper and stronger),
- Switching to a longer stitch length (to avoid perforating the leather like a paper tear),
- Possibly adjusting the thread tension,
- And use a non-stick or walking foot to prevent the leather from sticking or dragging.
So while you don’t need an industrial machine, you do need the right setup—and a little patience. Start slowly, test on scraps, and your regular machine can absolutely handle light to medium-weight leather projects, such as bags, patches, and accessories.
How Do I Know If My Sewing Machine Can Sew Leather?
You can sew leather on a machine with some adjustments, but not all machines allow you to make adjustments. You need to figure out if your machine can do it or not.
To find out if your machine can handle leather, look at 3 key things:
- Its Power
- The Needle You’re Using
- The Type Of Leather You Plan To Sew.
Most home sewing machines can handle lightweight, garment-type leathers effectively, provided they are set up correctly. That means using a leather needle, strong thread, and going slowly.
But when it comes to thicker or stiffer leathers, you’ll likely need a heavy-duty machine. Something with more power and features like a walking foot to feed the material evenly.
What Kind Of Machine Do I Need To Sew Leather?
If your machine can’t sew leather, then don’t get upset. You still sew leather, but you just need a special kind of machine. In that case, a walking foot sewing machine is the perfect leather sewing machine.
It’s built-in mechanism helps feed multiple layers evenly, which prevents slipping and keeps your stitches nice and consistent.
How To Do Machine Stitching Leather On A Regular Sewing Machine?
To do a machine stitch, follow the steps,
Grab the Right Leather Thread For Sewing On Machine
Let’s talk about the kind of thread you need for sewing leather, because trust me, regular thread just won’t cut it.
Leather is thick and tough, and the seams take on a lot of stress. Instead of using standard thread, I always use either a heavy-duty all-purpose thread or bonded nylon #92 thread for sewing leather.. That extra strength really matters.
To show the difference, I did a quick demo:
I tied regular thread to a 5-pound weight and let it go—it snapped instantly. Then I tried the same thing with heavy-duty thread—and yep, it held strong. Way more reliable for leather projects.
Use Wonder Clips To Tack Down The Leather Edge
This is definitely one of those things you want to test on a scrap piece first, before you dive into your expensive leather project. Since every hole you make in leather is permanent, there’s no room for mistakes like there is with regular fabric.
And speaking of that, you can’t really use pins on leather.
They’ll leave holes that won’t go away. That’s why I use wonder clips instead. These things are awesome. They hold everything together nicely without leaving a trace behind.
Scotch Magic Tape On The Pressure Foot
Now, leather is not like fabric. It can be a little sticky and tends to resist movement under the presser foot. I’ve seen people online recommend a Teflon foot, a roller foot, or even a walking foot to help with that.
But me? I’m too cheap for all that fancy stuff. 😜
So here’s my budget-friendly hack:
I take a piece of Scotch Magic Tape, stick it on the bottom of my regular presser foot, and it seriously helps reduce friction. Just make sure you cut out a space where the needle goes through—you don’t want to gum that up.
Set The Machine For The Right Leather Stitch Length
When sewing leather, it’s best to use a longer stitch length than you’d normally use for fabric.
I usually go with around 3 to 4 millimeters, which is roughly 7 to 9 stitches per inch for leather stitching. This is even helpful for cover stitches.
Why?
Because shorter stitches create too many holes too close together, which can actually weaken the leather and increase its likelihood of tearing. With a longer stitch, you get strong, clean seams without compromising the leather’s durability.
Place The Leather Under The Foot
Once that’s set, I grab the leather, place it under the foot, and—before hitting the pedal—I hold onto those thread tails nice and tight.
Otherwise, the machine might suck them under and jam before you even get going.
Slowly And Steadily
Then I ease into it—no racing here. I sew slowly and steadily, letting the needle do its work without forcing the leather through. Like u do it for quilting stitches.
The tape on the foot helps the leather glide, and the longer stitches start laying down perfectly. It’s such a satisfying moment when the stitches start forming and you realize… this is actually working.
End Machine Leather Stitch With Tie Off The Thread
Don’t backstitch at the start or end of your seam like you would with fabric. That just puts extra holes in your leather.
Instead, I tie off the thread ends by hand and melt them slightly, just like I would when hand-stitching leather.
Now, I didn’t have any issues with my machine handling all this. It actually did so surprisingly well.
However, a friend of mine at Corso Workshop mentioned that sewing thick leather might throw off your machine’s timing over time. So just keep that in mind.
Also, stick with relatively thin leather.
The thickest I could get through on my regular machine was about 3mm (or 6 ounces total). That’s still more than I expected, and it opens up a ton of possibilities for small leather projects.
That’s it! I got the leather work done just like that. If somethings feel unclear to you then watch this video
Sew Leather With Regular Sewing Machine
What Tension On Sewing Machine For Leather?
I usually start with my machine’s thread tension around 4 or 5. That gives me a good baseline. However, since leather reacts differently than fabric, I always test on a scrap piece first, using the same leather, thread, and needle.
On the other hand,
If the leather starts to pucker or looks like it’s being pulled too tightly, like gathering, I ease the tension back down.
Every machine’s a little different. But I’ve found that for most medium-weight leathers and heavy-duty thread, I end up somewhere between 5 and 6 on my machine. It’s all about small tweaks and watching how your machine handles the material.
The easy rule of thumb is,
Once the stitches look right, smooth on top and bottom, no pulling I know I’ve nailed it.
Is It Better To Sew Leather By Hand Or Machine?
Since a lot of our readers are fans of a hand stitch, too. So I threw up a quick poll on my Instagram stories and Facebook stitching group last week:
“When it comes to sewing leather, are you team hand-stitch or team machine?”
The results?
- 58% voted for hand-stitching
- 42% said they prefer using a sewing machine
Honestly, I wasn’t surprised.
A lot of stitchers swear by hand-stitching leather for the strength, control, and that classic saddle-stitched look. It’s especially popular for small projects like wallets, knife sheaths, and belts where detail and durability matter.
Hand stitch is better and stronger than machine stitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of needle should I use for leather?
Use a leather or wedge-point needle. These are designed to pierce through thick material cleanly, unlike regular needles that just slide between woven threads. I usually use a size 90/14 or 100/16 for medium-weight leather.
What kind of thread is best for leather?
Go with heavy-duty all-purpose thread or upholstery thread. Regular thread just isn’t strong enough and can snap under pressure. If I’m hand-stitching, I switch to waxed thread, but I never use that in my machine—it can gum things up.
Do I need a special presser foot?
Not necessarily—but it helps. A Teflon foot, walking foot, or roller foot can keep leather from sticking to the machine. Personally, I DIY it with Scotch tape on the bottom of my regular foot to reduce friction—and it works surprisingly well!
Final Thought
Sewing leather on a regular machine might seem intimidating at first, but once you’ve got the right needle, thread, stitch length, and tension dialed in, it’s honestly not that scary. I was surprised by how well my machine handled it with just a few adjustments.
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