TuffSew

How to Sew Lined Curtains

April 7, 2017April 8, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

TuffSew here, your heavy duty sewing machine manufacturer! So you want to learn how to sew lined curtains? Yeah, yeah, yeah….. we know- you aren’t looking for advice on sewing “see-through” style curtains. You landed here because you’re planning on sewing curtains with thick drapery linings.
Or, maybe you are trying to sew curtains with thick drapery linings AND an interlining!
Before we get into some tips that will help you sew curtains, linings, and interlinings – let’s talk about the applications and why it’s beneficial to install thick curtains with multiple layers.

Application #1: Blacking Out the Light
Have you ever stayed …

How to Sew Neoprene Fabric

January 19, 2017April 8, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

TuffSew here, your heavy duty sewing machine manufacturer! So you want to learn how to sew neoprene fabric?
Or maybe you just want to learn a little more about the spongy material. Whatever your reason, you’ve found the right article.
Neoprene is a type of synthetic rubber material which is normally sandwiched between polyester fabric.
It holds it’s shape very well under high and low temperatures. It’s also a flexible material, which is why many garment manufacturers are starting to use it.
Some of the neoprene sewing applications we see include laptop or tablet sleeves, mouse pads, wetsuits & other garments, beverage insulators, …

TuffSew Straight Stitch Walking Foot Sewing Machine

How Can an Industrial Portable Sewing Machine Benefit You ?

December 2, 2016January 6, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

Tuffsew here, your heavy duty sewing machine manufacturer. Is portability something that is important to you with your next sewing machine purchase? Do you need a machine that is more powerful (for sewing thicker/coarser materials) than a regular household sewing machine? If yes, our TuffSew Straight Stitch Industrial Portable Sewing Machine may be right for you!
Why is this sewing machine a great choice for your next heavy duty sewing project? Well, here is the TOP 5 Reasons:

5) Portability!
Our TuffSew Straight Stitch machine comes equipped with a motor that is built onto the back of the machine. Regular industrial sewing machines …

How to Sew Upholstery with the TuffSew Platinum (Plus)

August 5, 2016January 6, 2017 tuffsew 2 Comments

Tuffsew here, your heavy duty sewing machine supplier…..Are you struggling with sewing layers of upholstery and other thick materials? Not sure which machine to use or purchase? You aren’t alone. Not every sewing machine is made equal. But to be fair, sewing enthusiasts have a ton of different applications. If you are trying to sew 1/8″ silk material and then 1/4″ of leather on a standard household machine your results might not be ideal. It’s because different sewing machines are better at different applications.
In 2015 we launched a new heavy duty sewing machine to try and bridge the “application gap.” …

How to Sew Heavy Duty Nylon Materials

August 4, 2014January 6, 2017 tuffsew 2 Comments

Tuffsew here, your heavy duty sewing machine manufacturer. If you are landed on this article, you are probably an outdoor enthusiast looking to make or repair your own gear. I don’t have to tell you that it’s a great feeling telling your friends that you “did it yourself”. Before creating TuffSew.com in 2003, I was in the sewing business for over 35 years teaching and educating those who wanted to learn how to use a sewing machine. Over the years I received many questions on sewing heavy duty material including nylon. In this article, I will go over a few …

How to Sew A Backpack with Cordura or Kodra Material

February 20, 2014April 23, 2018 tuffsew Leave a comment

TuffSew here, your heavy duty sewing machine manufacturer! So you want to learn how to sew a backpack? Maybe you just want to learn more about Cordura materials? If yes, you found the right article.
The first backpacks of our time were made of “cotton canvas” material waterproofed with wax coating. The problem with this was the material combination was very heavy. Also, the waterproofing was inadequate. One of the reasons backpacks were made of cotton canvas was the fact that they were very inexpensive to produce. This low cost to build quickly translated poor quality and low durability.
Today, if you …

Built In Walking Foot For Portable Walking Foot Sewing Machines

What is a Walking Foot Industrial Style Sewing Machine?

October 21, 2013January 6, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

Tuffsew here, your heavy duty sewing machine manufacturer. You landed here because you are searching for some ideas of what makes a walking foot sewing machine different than your regular household sewing machine or your full sized industrial sewing machine. There are so many differences, but I will generalize them here and give you some helpful links to visit for more detailed information. Today’s portable walking foot machines are categorized right in between household sewing machines and industrial sewing machines. Each one of these sewing machines has distinct capabilities. Here is an image of one:

Let’s say you have a regular …

The Top 5 Reasons Purchase a Portable Industrial Sewing Machine

August 28, 2013January 6, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

Tuffsew here, your heavy duty sewing machine manufacturer. Are you looking for an upgrade to your household or heavy duty sewing machine? In this article you will learn the top 5 reasons why you should consider purchasing a portable industrial sewing machine. And here are the reasons:
Power and Strength! You get the power of an industrial sewing machine and the versatility of a household sewing machine. You won’t need a table and a mounted motor. This portable walking foot industrial sewing machine will sit on any flat surface and the motor is attached to the backside of the machine. This …

Looking for a heavy duty household sewing machine?

July 11, 2013January 6, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

TuffSew here, your heavy duty sewing machine supplier. Does your household sewing machine seem to conk out in less than 2 or 3 years? Are you constantly taking your machine in to get it “serviced”, and then getting a $95 dollar invoice for the “repair” work? Most sewing machines today are just are not manufactured like they used to be. Older generation sewing machines were built with all metal gears and heavy duty cast iron body casting. Take a look at your current machine- are these parts plastic? Most likely your answer is yes. Well, the good news is…there are still …

How To Sew Thick Vinyl by TuffSew

June 13, 2013January 6, 2017 tuffsew 2 Comments

It’s TuffSew again, your heavy duty sewing machine manufacturer! Sure, your standard household machine can sew vinyl. But what happens when you want to sew more than 2 layers? Why is your sewing machine not able to handle the extra layers? Remember, every sewing machine has it’s limitations. Here’s an analogy: Would you drive your Honda Civic to a ski resort when you knew you had to go through a snowstorm? You could…but wouldn’t be more efficient and safer to rent a car with 4WD?
Here are a few tips:
1) Look into a walking foot sewing machine. Not a sewing machine with a …

How to Sew Marine Canvas | TuffSew

March 18, 2013January 6, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

TuffSew here, your heavy duty sewing machine supplier. Here at TuffSew we get many questions about “How do I sew Marine Canvas?” First of all, what is marine canvas? It’s really a phrase that encompasses dozens of materials such as acrylics, polyesters, and many coated meshes used in the outdoors. These materials are usually resistant to water and also resistant to harmful UV rays. You’ll see marine canvas applications used in awnings, tarps, boating materials, tenting materials and many more. Now let’s go over some tips and important things to remember when sewing marine canvas.
Let’s start with the tools you’ll need …

How to Sew Leather with a Heavy Duty Industrial Sewing Machine

March 6, 2013January 6, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

TuffSew here, your heavy duty sewing machine supplier. So, you have decided to start sewing leather. Here at TuffSew, we get one or two questions a day regarding sewing leather. The most important question to ask yourself is “what sewing machine am I going to use?” Let’s say you have a regular household sewing machine that you plan on using for this leather project. Will it sew your new leather project? The answer is maybe. There are many variables you need to be aware of.
First, your household sewing machine takes a maximum needle size of 19. Will this handle some …

What Tools Do I Need to Sew Canvas for Boating Projects

February 24, 2012December 15, 2016 tuffsew Leave a comment

Before you start diving into do-it-yourself canvas sewing work on your boat- you need to make sure you have all the right tools for the job. You are going to need a heavy duty sewing machine, some thick needles, some thread, a good pair of scissors, and material. You don’t need to be alarmed and go buy a $1,200 dollar sewing machine. A simple walking foot sewing machine with a built in motor will do.
We recommend our TuffSew Straight Stitch 9” heavy duty walking foot sewing machine for all of your sewing projects. There are two different size TuffSew Straight …

How to use a Heavy Duty Walking Foot Sewing Machine for Upholstery Fabric

January 20, 2012December 8, 2016 tuffsew Leave a comment

The myth is over. Sewing upholstery is no different than sewing regular fabrics. The only difference is with the equipment and consumables you will use to tackle your thick upholstery projects. Thicker upholstery fabrics require you to use heavy duty walking foot sewing machines equipped with thicker thread such as 69 nylon bonded thread.
Why? Heavier material needs to be held together by heavier thread and stronger stitches. You will also need industrial grade sewing needles when working with upholstery. Normal needles will bend or break when trying to penetrate upholstery. Make sure and use sharp scissors to cut through your …

Using a Heavy Duty Walking Foot Sewing Machine for Thick Fabrics

January 10, 2012January 6, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

TuffSew here, your heavy duty sewing machine supplier. Whether you are a sailor, upholster, or leather shop owner- it’s important that you understand the importance of using the right sewing machine for your heavy duty projects. One example is a sailor and his or her understanding that most new boats are going to need a ton of canvas or brightwork done over the years.
It’s important for you to use a quality walking foot sewing machine that is easy to use, reasonably priced, durable, rugged, dependable, and has years of success. Here are the most important benefits to a walking foot …

How to Sew Thick Material and Multiple Layers by TuffSew

December 18, 2011January 6, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

TuffSew here, your heavy duty sewing machine supplier. Whether you sew because it’s your hobby or your livelihood, it’s important to continue to learn different concepts and techniques along the way. Sewing begins to be a challenge when you decide to start tackling multiple layers of material underneath your presser foot. After reading this article, you should be better suited to handle situations when you must sew thick materials.
First you need to ask yourself “What type of sewing machine am I working with?” This is extremely important because every sewing machine has its limitations. If you are using a regular …

Seven Important Tips when Sewing Leather by TuffSew

December 6, 2011January 6, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

TuffSew here, your heavy duty sewing machine supplier. Sewing with leather can be very difficult and unforgiving if you make any mistakes. Many people ask us for sewing tips when working with leather products. Here are seven basic suggestions which will help you when sewing a type of material unlike any other.

7 Tips When Sewing Leather
1) Make sure and examine your leather before you actually mark out your pattern. Sometimes there may be a small hole or slight imperfection in the hide. You certainly do not want to get to the end of your project and then see a small …

When to Purchase a Household Sewing Machine by TuffSew

November 30, 2011December 5, 2016 tuffsew Leave a comment

So you are looking to purchase a new sewing machine. You realize that there are industrial machines, walking foot sewing machines, standard household sewing machines, industrial strength sewing machines (still household), and compact sewing machines on the market. Let’s take a deep breath together- it is ok to be confused and overwhelmed. No matter which machine you decide to purchase, there are a couple of universals you want to find on your next machine.
You want to make sure your new machine is durable and built to last. You want to make sure you purchase a sewing machine with ALL METAL …

7 Steps to Threading your TuffSew Industrial Walking Foot Straight Stitch Sewing Machine

November 13, 2011September 21, 2017 tuffsew 3 Comments

Tuffsew here, your heavy duty sewing machine manufacturer. So you got yourself a TuffSew Straight Stitch…or perhaps another type of portable industrial walking foot sewing machine. Now you are wondering how you are going to thread your new beast of a sewing machine.
You’ll notice when you first receive your TuffSew Straight Stitch that it will be all threaded and ready to go. But what happens 2 weeks later when you want to change the thread color? Now it’s time to do it yourself. But don’t worry, we have the steps right here…along we a handy video.
Steps to Threading Your TuffSew …

How to Maintain Your Portable Walking Foot Straight Stitch Sewing Machine by TuffSew

November 9, 2011January 6, 2017 tuffsew Leave a comment

So you just purchased a walking foot sewing machine, maybe even our TuffSew Straight Stitch. Congratulations!! If you did in fact order our TuffSew Straight Stitch, you will notice that your machine will be all stitched in, ready to go upon arrival. The tension is set, the needle is placed, and a sample material has been sewn already. So you crank out all your initial sewing projects- but now might be wondering “how do I maintain this machine now?”
The first item we’d like to discuss is oiling the machine. This TuffSew Straight Stitch machine is a portable walking foot sewing …

What is a Built-In Walking Foot Sewing Machine

November 5, 2011January 6, 2017 tuffsew 1 Comment

Tuffsew here, your Heavy Duty Sewing Machine supplier. So your passion for sewing plus some newfound free time got you thinking. “I’m going to start a business sewing up some cowhide to make cases for the new iPad.” Or “I love animals-so why don’t I make some unique dog collars.” Then I’m going to sell three of these a day on my website. So you went down to the leather shop and picked out the material. You arrived back home, took out your household sewing machine and started your dream-home business.
However you immediately run into a huge problem! You kept bending and …

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