Ive been primarily using this machine to sew heavy weight canvas materials and its worked pretty good for most of it. Every once in a while its too thick and I have to push the needle through by hand, but I think Im pushing the limits of this machine as it is.If your doing heavy stuff like this, wear safety glasses imho. I had a needle break while sewing and it came like a rocket at my eye. Luckily I was wearing some glasses and it just deflected off. I didnt even have time to blink, and normally I have faster than cat reflexes even though I never drive faster than I can see.