A handheld sewing machine, also known as a handheld stitcher, or portable sewing machine, is a compact and battery-operated sewing machine made for performing simple sewing operations. The best handheld sewing machine will have great battery life, will feel well built, and will be highly portable (Source).
Handheld sewing machines are highly portable devices, making them very convenient to use. These inexpensive machines are capable of making far more accurate stitches than what most humans can do by hand.
Although these portable machines can’t perform the same kind of stitching as a regular sewing machine, their portability is their key advantage. For example, you can’t hem your curtains on a bench sewing machine without first taking them down, but with a handheld sewing machine, you can just walk over to the window and perform the repair (Source).
Handheld sewing machines vary widely in size, battery life, and stitching capabilities. This can make purchasing a handheld sewing machine somewhat difficult. Before you buy a handheld sewing machine, consider it’s price, reliability and maximum fabric thickness. You should also consider its weight and warranty.
In this write-up, we will take a look at the top-rated handheld sewing machines. All of the handheld sewing machines covered here will perform simple sewing tasks quickly and easily, whether you’re regularly repairing clothes for the family, or you just like to make arts and crafts.
What Is The Best Hand Held Sewing Machine?
The Royalsell Handheld Sewing Machine allows you to sew lighter fabrics and kid’s cloth with ease. Powered by AA batteries, it’s completely cordless and easy to travel with. The Royalsell Handheld Sewing Machine has a durable build, and unlike some of its competitors, it is truly 100% handheld.
What Are Handheld Sewing Machines?
If you are an experienced weaver or tailor, you are aware of how important it is to have lots of high-quality sewing materials and tools at your disposal. Although they cannot quite replace the features and versatility of advanced sewing machines, handheld sewing machines are a wonderful choice for simple tasks that you would simply prefer not to do manually by hand.
Are Handheld Sewing Machines Any Good?
Handheld sewing machines are perfect for making quick fixes to lighter fabrics like cotton or linen. While they’re not recommended for larger scale projects, they’re extremely useful tools for those who don’t have room for bulky full-size sewing machines. They’re also lightweight and travel friendly.
Comparing The Best Handheld Sewing Machines
| Royalsell Handheld Sewing Machine | Doesn’t weigh much Uses AA Batteries Very effective and quick Sturdy build | ||
| Janome Handheld Sewing Machine | Easy to carry around Can sew almost any type of fabric Can be used by almost any family member | ||
| Uten Portable Sewing Machine, Heavy Duty Embroidery | Replaceable needles Very precise Small and easy to carry around | ||
| DIY Leather Craft Tool Art Needle Sewing Machine | Can stitch very tricky surfaces, such as car roofs Good option to repair leather products | ||
| Dyno Merchandise SINGER Stitch Sew Quick, Portable Sewing Machine | Includes everything in the package except batteries Does well when sewing thin fabrics |
1. Royalsell Handheld Sewing Machine – Best Overall
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This easy-to-carry sewing machine offers almost everything a traveler needs in order to quickly fix any issues with fabric. It can easily sew inconvenient tears and stich quicker than other low-quality products found online.Although the package doesn’t include a set of AA batteries, purchasing a couple of pairs of these is enough to make the product function. The sewing machine doesn’t drain the batteries quickly either, so replacing them isn’t something to worry about in the short term.
Amateur sewers shouldn’t have any difficulty using these. They’re pretty straightforward to operate and they do the job as intended. All you need is to be precise with your stitches and any fabric should be repaired fairly quickly. It isn’t an ultra-potent device, but it’s ideal for on-the-go sews.
It might not be as efficient as a regular sewing machine, but it certainly gets most easy jobs done without any hassle.
- It’s fairly easy to use, even if you have limited sewing knowledge
- Doesn’t consume battery power quickly
- Can be carried around without any issues
- Very durable thanks to its build
- Doesn’t feel like the product is cheaply manufactured
- Doesn’t include batteries, which adds to the overall price you pay for the item
- Can’t properly stich very thick fabric
2. Janome Handheld Sewing Machine – Best For Beginners
If you’re in need of a sturdy sewing machine to carry around, Janome’s product could be what you’re looking for. This portable sewing machine is conveniently easy to use by most people.
One of the best things about this product is that the package comes with everything included. This sewing machine even comes with a small package of batteries – you don’t even need to worry about going to the store to buy them.
The accessories are very durable as well; replacing the small tools could be quite difficult, but since they rarely break, it really isn’t a problem. The needle is good enough to pierce fabric and it shouldn’t wear down too quickly.
This handheld sewing machine is capable of stitching together almost any type of fabric. This includes very thick ones like jeans, and even very thin ones like delicate silk. Its design is nothing too shabby either!
- Very similar to Royalsell’s product in terms of design and effectiveness
- Can sew almost any type of fabric together
- The package comes with everything included
- Can be carried around in any type of travelling bag given its size
- It can be used by almost anyone with basic sewing knowledge
- Comes with three different sewing threads
- Some fabrics might not be properly stitched if they’re too thick
3. Uten Portable Sewing Machine, Heavy Duty Embroidery – Best for Thick Fabric
This very well-designed portable sewing machine is capable of repairing most thick fabrics around a normal person’s house. In fact, it is specifically designed to do just that – it might not do such a good job on thin fabrics such as polyester or silk. Sturdy fabrics can be easily stitched with this tool, including leather or even rough car ceilings.It comes with a couple of needles with different shapes. The user can choose which of these accessories better suits their needs and change them without any fuss. In fact, this could very well be one of the best handheld sewing machines when it comes to its ability to quickly swap between needles.
If you own a decent amount of leather products, owning one of these portable sewing machines might be ideal even if you’re not a traveler. This could be kept around the house for any emergency tear – they’ll allow you to “do it yourself” when it comes to repairing gear.
The product is very well designed. It has a strong wooden grip and a metallic needle holder. It also comes with a special waxed thread which should hold together the thickest of fabrics.
- The design is very well-made and visually appealing
- The product’s build is sturdy – it can seemingly withstand a lot of use
- Capable of stitching together fabrics that would otherwise prove to be troublesome
- Ideal for campers as it can be used to repair tents, backpacks and other camping equipment
- Works fairly quickly even when used on thick fabric
- Leaves products feeling as sturdy as when they were new, if used correctly
- Doesn’t really work well with thin fabric
- Only comes with a single wax thread
4. DIY Leather Craft Tool Art Needle Sewing Machine – Best High End
The DIY Leather Craft Tool by Co-link is one of the best portable sewing machines when it comes to leather sewing. Its quality is almost equivalent to World 9.99’s product, and the design is also very similar and visually pleasing.It comes with a wooden handle, which is actually very comfortable to use and provides the user with a sturdy grip. The steel needle is great for carving and ideal for leather sewing. The overall design of the product is very good and feels well made – definitely an important characteristic for those who need to use these tools in public.
There is something particular about this product which expert sewers can be very grateful for: Its mechanism is very simple and similar to one of the traditional sewing machines. This makes the product very efficient without needing any additional features.
The product’s needle is very good and can easily pierce fabric without getting stuck. This makes sewing with this handheld sewing machine a very straightforward process.
One of its main issues is that the instructions aren’t very clear. Once you properly set it up though, you should be able to easily sew any sort of heavy fabric without any issues.
- Sturdy build
- Very simple and traditional mechanism
- Includes a strong shaft wax line
- Ideally made for leather crafting and sewing
- Its build is complimented by a very good design
- Really easy to use without needing to get a proper hang of it
- The portable sewing machine’s instructions aren’t very clear
- It doesn’t work with thin fabrics – it’ll almost assuredly damage them
- Finding replacement parts could be difficult and costly
5. Dyno Merchandise SINGER Stitch Sew Quick, Portable Sewing Machine – Best Budget
This small portable sewing machine is a must-have for those in need of sewing thin fabric. It isn’t well-suited to deal with heavy fabric like jeans, but it’ll do wonders for the likes of polyester and cotton clothing. This might work on leather as well, but it needs to be thin or the needle could get stuck.It has a simple design, similar to that of the first two products we reviewed on this list. The SINGER machine also comes with everything you need to have at the moment of using it, except batteries. Anything else comes included within the package – including three different thread lines.
Conveniently enough, this device also comes with power device compatibility. This means that if you have a power adapter you’ll be able to plug it and use it in an instant.
- Very easy to carry
- Can be used without the need of complicated instructions
- Solid budget option
- If the material is kept straight while sewing, it can be a very effective tool
- It isn’t as sturdy as other products
- Doesn’t work well with thick fabric
Most Common Issues People Have with Handheld Sewing Machine
- Not Fit for the Job: When you get a handheld sewing machine, you should only expect the ability to handle simpler sewing tasks. Not advanced quilting or any sort of trade of sewing which requires complicated techniques. Many people make the false assumption that handheld sewing machines are a lot more versatile than they really are in reality.
- Power Type & Lifespan: Since handheld sewing machines are designed to be portable, they are commonly powered by disposable batteries. Some people simply prefer to have a device that is powered by electricity. This is why it’s important to consider the type of power your device has, and how long it lasts.
- Too Big & Heavy: Most people who want to get a handheld sewing machine expect it to be small and lightweight enough for long periods of use. Make sure you carefully check the size and weight specifications in order to receive a handheld sewing machine that best suits your expectations.
Features of the Best Handheld Sewing Machines
In order to get the best handheld sewing machine which both matches your need and expectations, there are some basic features and variables to keep into consideration. To help you find a handheld sewing machine like this, here are all of the main features to be on the lookout for.
Great for Simple Sewing Tasks
One fact we wish to make clear about handheld sewing machines is that they really aren’t a replacement for that big and fancy sewing machine you may have sitting around. Keep this in mind so that when you do get a new handheld sewing machine you will only reserve it for simple jobs which are just easier to do with a smaller device.
Designed for Your Particular Job
If you need to make some simple stitches with your new handheld sewing machine, find a device that is designed for this task. If you work with leather, for example, then you will need to get a special device like the DIY Leather Craft Tool.
In any case, make sure that the model you purchase is specifically designed for the job(s) you have in mind.
Convenient Power Source & Life
Sewing machines all need to get their power from somewhere. In many of the best handheld sewing machines, we find power sources that depend on disposable batteries.
If this is a concern to you, you might instead want to get a model that comes with an included AC adapter to let you plug into the wall.
Easy to Use with Clear Instructions
Believe it or not, even people who are experienced sewing machine users can find it difficult to learn how to use a brand new handheld sewing machine. For this reason, you should make sure that the model you choose comes with instructions and a clear user guide.
This way, you won’t have to throw your hands up in the hair and scream frustration when confusion arrives.
Portable & Lightweight
The portability of the device is a common reason people will usually even get a handheld sewing machine in the first place. It is important that you find a model that is portable and lightweight enough for comfortable long periods of use without becoming a burden on your muscles.
Or, a sewing machine that ends up taking up too much space for storage. You probably already have plenty of sewing materials laying around your workspace.
What to Consider Before Purchasing a Handheld Sewing Machine
There are certain characteristics that play an important part on the quality of a handheld sewing machine. Taking all of these into consideration before making your purchase will help you rest assured that you’ve made the right decision.
Needle Quality
The quality of a sewing machine’s needle usually determines how well it’ll be able to sew. This is true for smaller, handheld sewing machines as well. You should always check the quality of a product’s needle before purchasing it, as this feature is often heavily correlated to its performance.
In addition, a handheld sewing machine is used to sew fabric and other materials together with thread. However, to produce narrow tubes of knitting for socks, sweaters, mittens, and other items you need to buy an interchangeable knitting needle. Using a sewing machine, it is impossible to produce knitting items.
Functionality
Some portable sewing machines are incapable of working with certain types of fabric. It is important for you to consider which type of fabric you usually need to mend before making your purchase.
Once you know the type of fabric, all you need to do is buy the portable sewing machine that better suits your needs!
Grip
The grip on these machines has a couple of different benefits. To start things off, a proper grip makes using the sewing machine very comfortably. This is widely beneficial if you need to stitch up some fabric for prolonged periods of time.
A proper grip also helps you to keep the sewing machine stable when sewing, so the stitches will look better once everything’s done.
Portability
Given that a handheld sewing machine’s main selling point is how portable it is, this feature should be on top of your priority list when you shop for one. Portability is often dictated by the product’s size; a small device is easier to carry around but might be harder to use.
Keep in mind that you should try to find a product that doesn’t trade good effectiveness for better portability. A handheld sewing machine should be easy to carry as well as easy to use.
Precision
Not every single portable sewing machine allows true precision when using it. If your device isn’t precise, you’ll end up with a bunch of useless stitches that you’ll have to redo sooner rather than later. Save yourself the trouble and make sure that your sewing machine is easy to direct when in use.
Power
There are a couple of things that you should keep in mind when it comes to a handheld device’s power. The first one is the type of power that it requires (most of them use AA batteries) and the second one is if the device allows you to use a power adapter.
If you’re going to stay in a single place while traveling, you might want to consider purchasing the device with power-adapter connectivity.
Ready To Buy The Best Handheld Sewing Machines?
Make sure to carefully decide which features are most important to you before purchasing a handheld sewing machine. Some machines are better for thick fabric clothes and equipment, while others do a better job with lighter clothing and less thick fabrics such as cotton, polyester or silk.
We’ve shown you which are the best handheld sewing machines and broke down their features so you can choose which one better adapts to your needs. Some of these mini sewing machines are very easy to use, but remember: keep your focus while sewing or you might end up harming yourself!
Let us know which of these products catches your eye and why in the comment section below!
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