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One of the most exciting projects a sewist could ever hope to engage themselves in will always be corsetry. A symbol of high fashion that has dominated the wardrobe of women from across the world through countless generations, a corset is always a fantastic garment to own and can be used in a variety of ways.
Better yet, you’ll quickly find that a corset is always suitable for a variety of occasions including casual settings to the most formal of galas. So on that note, whether it’s forming an integral piece of your ballroom outfit to even complementing a little Steampunk cosplay, a corset is undeniable, a versatile piece of clothing. Corsets ultimately are worn and loved by all – from the Queen of England to even the Kardashians.
Now crafting a corset of your own will be a challenging task but should any sewist find themselves up for the challenge, they will be greatly rewarded by a fantastic product. But here’s the tricky bit – not all sewing machines are capable of corsetry.
You’ll need a machine that’s able to deal with heavy-duty loads such as a good old Janome (which we think are the best) while steering clear of brands like Brothers – which we absolutely do not recommend. Strong piercing power along with a sufficiently high stitch-per-minute is the name of the game here.
So if you find yourself enticed by the prospect of corsetry but don’t yet own an appropriate sewing machine simply read on were down below, you’ll find our take on the most popular machines for corsetry in the market right now.
Best Sewing Machine for Corsetry
Janome 1600P-QC High Speed Sewing and Quilting Machine
Checking in on our list as our first entry is Janome’s 1600P-QC High-Speed Sewing Machine. Spanning a total product dimension of 16 x 26 x 18-inches and weighing in at 38.8-pounds, these two attributes alone should be enough to tell any sewist that a machine like this is built to churn out the most ambitious, and most heavy-duty projects.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much sense in using a machine like this if you intend to sew while traveling either domestically or internationally. The weight alone will be the stuffiest barrier for this.
Now turning our focus to its actual features, you’ll be equipped with everything you might need for corsetry. Boasting a stitching speed of up to 1600 stitches per minute, it isn’t a stretch to claim that this machine is by far one of the quickest on the market right now. You’ll also note that there is substantial room at 9 x 6-inches adjacent to the needle which ensures you’ll have more than ample room to work with.
Beyond this, you’ll also be pleased with the rest of its functions which include its independent motor that allows for on-the-go bobbin winding even when sewing, a highly comfortable knee lift that’ll feel easy to use even during the longest of sessions, and best of all, a thread cutter that’ll swiftly do all your cutting with the click of a button. We cannot emphasize enough how much time this little feature saves!
Finally, what we think is the most surprising thing about the Janome machine is its volume. Despite providing sewists with a professional-grade machine you’ll be surprised at how quiet it can be even under the heaviest of workloads.
Janome 3160QDC Computerized Sewing Machine
Sitting at roughly the same weight as other standard Janome machines at this level – at 20.5-pounds -, the Janome 3160QDC will be the appropriate machine for sewists looking for something more technologically inclined. Fitted out with an easy-to-read LCD display, you’ll be able to play around and pick your choice from up to 60 built-in sewing stitches with its control panel. This doesn’t stop just there too.
It also boasts functional buttons that include a thread cutter button, a reverse stitch button, a lock stitch button, and even full control over your needle going either up or down too. This completely takes away the need for tedious foot control so, for those among you who are newer to corsetry, this might just be the best machine your money can buy.
That being said though we say this, computerization will also benefit even the most skilled sewists too so don’t shy away if you’re a veteran of the field. Now its 7mm wide stitch is especially crucial for us. With such a width, you’ll be able to work with even the most intricate of details and bring them out with boldness and clarity – a fantastic feature to have when making corsets.
Beyond this, you’ll also find included a whole assortment of sewing accessories. This includes multiple sewing feet, an extension table, a full hardcover, bobbins, a screwdriver, a seam ripper, a lint brush, and so much more. It goes without saying that this is perhaps one of the best value-buy options on our list.
Janome Industrial-Grade Aluminum Sewing Machine
Sitting as by far one of the slickest sewing machines by Janome, in part thanks to its sleek black color scheme, the Janome HD1000 will offer any sewist a powerful amp motor-powered machine encased in its high-grade aluminum frame and body. This element of extreme durability is further combined with seemingly straightforward features that’ll bring out the best in any corsetry sewing project.
Dependable and durable are truly the best descriptions for the HD1000 here. Breaking it down, you’ll find 14 stitches along with a 4 step buttonhole. Other key features include an in-built threader, a drop feed, a front-loading hook bobbin, and even full control over your thread’s tension levels as well as the width and length of the stitch you’re working with.
Beyond this, you’ll also notice that it comes equipped with a removable free arm thanks to its totally detachable storage compartment. While this is usually great for things that include small openings such as the sleeves on a shirt, we’re sure that any corsetry project can also benefit from this little addition. Especially so when it comes to working on nifty little ornaments.
The best thing about this machine is its versatility. Don’t be fooled – just because it’s meant to be an industrial heavy-duty sewing machine doesn’t mean it can’t be used for anything else. For all other sorts of sewing and quilting projects including curtains, shirts, blankets, and more, you’ll find that the HD1000 will be more than adequate.
Bernette 38 Swiss Design Computerized Sewing Machine
Though a total contrast in color compared to the HD1000, Bernette’s pristine white-colored B38 sewing machine still offers an equally impressive experience. By far one of the most affordable machines on our list, the B38 will still offer a high-end sewing experience for any wannabe corsetiere. You’ll find this machine equipped with everything you might need for corsetry and then some.
Firstly, you’ll notice its double-needle limitation feature, which is intended to safeguard you, the sewist, from any untimely accidents that include needle breakage. It does this by simply limiting the width of your stitch so that it doesn’t accidentally make contact with the presser foot.
Speaking of the presser foot, you’ll be able to use it to also adjust the pressure applied. This is great when dealing with the more fragile and thinner fabrics such as silk. Beyond this, you’ll also find yourself equipped with a thread cutter and a tie-off function which makes things all the easier by eliminating the need to create forwards and backward stitches. Trust us on this, this really shaves of entire hours over the long run.
And finally, before we forget, note that it comes fitted with an included extension table. This is not just large in size but totally detachable based on your preferences!
Though this machine may be lighter than most of the other machines on our list, sitting in at just 21.7-pounds across a total product dimension of 19.5 x 16.1 x 11.1-inches, this is still at the end of the day a heavy-duty sewing machine. Machines like this are designed to be installed in a sewing workplace.
So if you have any ambitions of traveling while working on your corsetry project with the B38, we strongly recommend against this as it will be a herculean task in and of itself just moving the thing around along with all the necessary accessories.
SINGER 4423 Sewing Machine, Grey
No sewing list would ever be complete without mentioning at least one SINGER product. In this case, we present to you the SINGER 4423. At a weight of just 14.5-pounds this heavy duty SINGER machine still boasts an equally heavy-duty machine for corsetry as the heaviest machine on our list does.
Offering up to 23 different and unique built-in stitches that are suitable for almost any occasion, corsetry included, you’ll easily be able to work on all sorts of other projects including crafts, quilts, and decor. This machine is totally automatic in terms of its needle threader. Simply prepare everything and follow its threaded path which will ensure that you can thread even the finest of garments without needing to push your eye to its limits.
You’ll be able to do all of this at up to a maximum speed of 1100 stitches a minute. This is definitely on the higher ends of speeds we’ve seen and along with its excellent motor, this speed is combined with a powerful piercing punch that’ll enable you to work with even the thickest of seams. Encasing the machine is a durable and rigid metal frame that is composed of high-quality metal.
So don’t worry about the occasional knock or rough handling detracting from the lifespan of this machine. It sure can take a beating!
Beyond this you’ll get a whole set of included accessories, all essential for any sewist. This includes multiple feet such as a zipper foot and buttonhole foot. It’s not just feet though. You’ll also get a seam ripper, bobbins, a screwdriver, a set of needles and so on. Before we forget, note that the machine comes with a whopping 25 year limited warranty.
We can’t emphasize enough how valuable this is so if you ever find yourself in an unfortunate accident involving the 4423, don’t hesitate to contact SINGER right away.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which brand is the best for corsetry projects?
To answer this commonly question, after trying and reviewing countless machines across numerous household-name brands, we think the gold standard for any machine used for corsetry is Janome. Not only are they hugely affordable, but they’ll last for a long time.
Better yet, it’ll have all the features you might need for any corsetry project, i.e. dealing with coutil layers and bone channeling along with intricate ornamental stitches. But of course, we do emphasize that just because you don’t have a Janome, this doesn’t mean you can’t opt for corsetry products!
You should still be fine with any brand from SINGER to Bernette. It’s just that if you’re looking for an easier, more straightforward experience, we’d recommend the Janome.
Are there any brands that are not good for corsetry?
Unfortunately yes. If Janome is the ideal machine for corsetry, the total opposite would be any machine by Brother. Though they are a fantastic brand for sewing in general, when it comes to corsetry, they just don’t make the cut. They will struggle a great deal.
From not being able to stick fast enough to struggle when dealing with multiple layers, we cannot in good faith recommend getting a Brother machine if you intend on making a corset. For anything else such as quilting though, a Brother should be more than fine.
How long can my sewing machine last?
Now the good thing about getting a sewing machine for corsetry is that you’re also getting a heavy-duty sewing machine.
These sorts of sewing machines often come with a slightly higher life expectancy than what you’d normally expect from an average machine so you can expect from anywhere as little as 5 years to as much as 25 years of life depending on how often you sew and how well you care for your machine. Don’t forget about your warranty though.