This machine is about to sew through 14 layers of quality heavy dense denim and 40 layers of quality quilters cotton fabric. No cheap stuff here!
HOW?
It has the piercing power of 150 newtons! That is off the charts compared to most sewing machines. The following sewing machines have this capability.
- Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC 2
- Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC 1
- Husqvarna Viking 980Q
- Pfaff creative ICON
- Pfaff performance ICON
What is a Newton?
The newton is the International System of Units derived unit of force. It is named after Isaac Newton in recognition of his work on classical mechanics, specifically Newton’s second law of motion.
One newton is equal to 1 kilogram meter per second squared. In plain English, 1 newton of force is the force required to accelerate an object with a mass of 1 kilogram 1 meter per second per second. Thank you, Wikipedia.
Why are Newtons Important to Sewing Machines?
If you have ever had to turn your sewing machine’s handwheel to “help” it through a thick area, you know that the sewing machine did not have enough piercing power to force the needle through the fabric. Some machines have it and others do not. Don’t get stuck with a wimpy sewing machine. The power of a newton forces the needle through whatever is underneath it.
What About Skipped Stitches?
When sewing machines try to go through thick fabric, sometimes it will skip stitches. Selecting the correct needle is key. Select a denim or topstitching needle to avoid skipped stitches.
Stitch Length?
When sewing through multiple layers, always increase the stitch length to a higher number. A normal stitch length is 2.5mm. Increase the stitch length to 3.0, 3.5 or even 4.0 so the sewing machine can pull the fabric through. You should not be trying to help push the fabric through the sewing machine. That will eventually lead to broken needles and a headache of your own.
What is the Best Needle?
There are needles designed to pierce through dense fabrics. A denim needle is a perfect needle with its extra sharp point to help with the job at hand.
Shopping for Your Next Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
If you do heavy construction of bags, home decor items, or even heavy mending, shopping for a sewing machine that can perform to this level is a must. Take your own fabrics with you and sew on the machine before you buy it. If you need a sewing machine that will stitch silky, stretch fabrics, test, test, test. Just because a salesperson says it will sew through 14 layers of fabric, prove it to yourself before you buy it.
