How to Sew Neoprene Fabric

how to sew neoprene fabric
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’s incredibly difficult to sew with any sewing machine.  But we find when a Oversized Handwheel is equipped on a walking foot machine, it improves your chances of sewing neoprene. The reason why is because it slows the sewing speed down by 50% – and at a slower speed the needle doesn’t heat up as quickly. 

Neoprene Basics

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, and more. The most common question we hear at TuffSew is “Can my standard household sewing machine sew my neoprene fabric?” and/or “How many mm of fabric will my standard household sewing machine be able to sew?” All good questions. Your standard home sewing machine will be able to sew up to 2-3mm of total neoprene thickness. For example, if you are making a neoprene swimsuit that is only 2mm thick…your home sewing machine should be able to handle the job. If you are sewing neoprene materials which are more than 3mm thick, you’ll need a portable walking foot sewing machine.  This type of sewing machine has a motorized built in walking foot mechanism. Using a sewing machine with this type of mechanism is best because it pulls the fabric through the sewing process from the top. In conjunction, the gripped style feed dogs in a walking foot sewing machine pull the fabric from the bottom of the material. This top/bottom pull action gives you an ultimate feeding capability when you are sewing neoprene or other heavier type materials. 

How to Sew Heavy Duty Nylon Materials

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 tips that will help you tackle your heavy duty nylon projects.

How to Sew Nylon Materials

Selecting the Correct Sewing Machine

The first, and most important, part of sewing nylon is to select the correct sewing machine. If you are sewing multiple layers of nylon material you’ll want to use a semi-industrial or industrial sewing machine. More specifically, a walking foot portable industrial sewing machine.

When sewing multiple layers, a built in walking foot helps grab your material from the top and the bottom- efficiently pulling your material evenly through the sewing process. Click the video below to learn more:

Small Details Make a World of Difference

Make sure your sewing machine is cleaned and oiled. 

I also recommend you use a size 22 needle (one that’s new and sharp). You should be able to comfortably sew 1/4″ thick (or a tad more) with either a straight stitch or zigzag walking foot sewing machine.

Moving on to thread- very important. When you are sewing heavy duty fabric you are going to need stronger thread.

I would recommend you use nylon bonded (funny eh) #69 thread. Another reason I recommend you use a heavy duty walking foot sewing machine is because bobbin cases on a standard home sewing machines do not allow for the extra thickness of thread. You’ll just keep on getting those rats nests.

Now that you have the right tool for the job- make sure you start off slow. Practice, practice, practice. Use some old scraps of material to get warmed up for your big job.

Make sure your foot pedal works fast and slow. Nothing is worse than using a sewing machine that can’t slow down due to a 1960’s foot pedal.

TuffSew Straight Stitch Machine

Well there you have it- I hope I could help get you started with your current nylon sewing project.

Like I said, I’ve been in the sewing industry for over 35 years. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected].

The Top 5 Reasons Purchase a Portable Industrial Sewing Machine

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 TuffSew Straight Stitch machine features a geared belt pulley drive giving you more penetration power! No more slipping! Here is a video which speaks to this upgraded belt pulley system: 

Built in Walking Foot Capability! 
The built-in walking foot on a portable industrial sewing machine makes this machine superior to any household or industrial strength sewing machine. This walking foot grabs the material from top and bottom, which relieves pressure on the needle assembly. 

You are going to get twice the feed because you have twice the grab. This walking foot assembly is motorized, so it will always go with the flow of your sewing speed! Do not be fooled into purchasing a household or industrial strength sewing machine with a walking foot attachment. 

These are two totally different sewing machines. Here is a video which speaks to the advantages of a walking foot sewing machine: 

 

Portability!

There are thousands of customers a year that purchase this type of sewing machine. One of the main reasons is because it’s “portable”.  You can take this machine on and off your boat. You can take it on a camping trip, on summer sports trips, and many more places. Just grab the machine on the underside and move it. It is about 35 pounds, so expect a little bit of a workout.

Durability! 

This type sewing machine is made with all metal parts and cast iron construction. You won’t have to worry about plastic gears breaking or cracking over time. Just keep your machine oiled up every couple months, and it will last you many, many years! You can feel comfortable sewing twice the material without damaging the gears with a portable industrial sewing machine.

Needle Size Capability! 

The needle on this sewing machine looks like a small nail. It’s 135×17 design type will penetrate even the thickest fabrics. With sizes ranging from 18 to 23, you’ll be certain to have a thickness that will tackle your project.

For more information, click to learn more about this Portable Industrial Sewing Machine.

The TuffSew Team