Sewing Machine Carrying Case: Will Your Machine Fit?

Measure the machine first

Three numbers decide the fit: length (side to side), depth (front to back) and height. Take them yourself, with the handwheel, the spool pin and the handle as they will travel.

Maker figures help, with two cautions. They can leave parts out: BERNINA’s manual gives the 335 as 385 x 323 x 177 mm (15.2 x 12.7 x 7.0 inches) “without the Spool Pin”.⁴ And they are not always labelled: Brother’s page for the XM2701 gives “Unit Dimensions 15.3" x 5.9" x 12.1"” without saying which figure is the width, the depth or the height.⁹

Then compare with the case, one dimension at a time. A case that is long enough but one inch too shallow does not fit. If your machine is light and you are still choosing it, our guide to portable sewing machines compares weights; if the machine mostly stays home, a sewing table or a cabinet that stores it may serve you better than a case.

Seven carrying cases compared

Sewing machine carrying cases by published interior size

Case	Interior	Opening	For
Everything Mary XL1	20 W x 11 D x 14 H	Not published	Standard machines
Tutto Large (22 in.)3	21 L x 14 H x 12 D	Top 17 x 8; front 19 x 13	Full-size machines
Everything Mary XXL10	Fits machines up to 21.5 L x 13 W x 15 H	Not published	Larger machines
Tutto 1XL (24 in.)5	23 L x 15 H x 14 D	Top 19 x 10; front 21 x 14	Large machines, by car
Everything Mary Jumbo2	28 L x 14 D x 14.5 H	Not published	Wide machines, or a machine plus supplies
Everything Mary serger case11	13.5 L x 14 W x 10 H	Not published	Sergers
Brother Quilt Club trolley6	25 x 12 x 15 (inside or outside not stated)	Not published	Brother BQ3100 and BQ2500 only

These are starting points chosen from what each maker publishes, not a ranking: we have not tested them.

Framed rolling bags

Framed rolling bag, loads from the top or the front

Tutto Large Machine On Wheels

Interior

21 L x 14 H x 12 D in.

Openings

top 17 x 8 in.; front 19 x 13 in.

Exterior

22 L x 15 H x 12 D in., wheels not counted

Bag weight

10.65 lb

Strengths

• Interior and opening sizes both published
• Two inside straps to hold the machine
• Removable puller bar

Drawbacks

• The bag itself weighs 10.65 lb
• Not for carry-on, says Tutto

Good fit: you take a full-size machine to classes or retreats by car.
Skip it if: your machine is deeper than 12 inches or taller than 14 inches, or you fly: Tutto says not for carry-on.

Tutto’s loading advice: “For easier loading, place machine through front opening”. It also notes that “All measurements do not include the height of the wheels.”³

Larger framed rolling bag for big machines

Tutto 1XL Machine On Wheels

Interior

23 L x 15 H x 14 D in.

Openings

top 19 x 10 in.; front 21 x 14 in.

Exterior

24 L x 16 H x 14 D in., wheels not counted

Bag weight

13.30 lb

Strengths

• Two inches deeper and longer than the Large
• Opening sizes published

Drawbacks

• The bag itself weighs 13.30 lb
• On Amazon.com we found this bag only in another colour, so we link to Tutto

Good fit: you carry a large quilting machine by car.
Skip it if: you travel by air: Tutto does not recommend it for airline check-in.

Soft rolling cases

Soft collapsible case on four spinner wheels

Everything Mary XL Rolling Sewing Machine Case

SKU

EVM16014-1 (black quilted)

Interior

20 W x 11 D x 14 H in.

Exterior

23 W x 12.75 D x 17.75 H in.

Strengths

• Interior and exterior sizes published
• Telescopic handle; collapses when empty

Drawbacks

• 11 inches of interior depth
• A soft case: the page we read mentions no frame

Good fit: you have a standard machine up to 20 x 11 x 14 inches.
Skip it if: your machine is deeper than 11 inches.

Everything Mary: “Sewing machine sizes vary by brand and model. Always compare your machine’s dimensions to the interior measurements above to ensure the best fit.”¹

Larger soft case with interior straps

Everything Mary XXL Rolling Sewing Machine Case

SKU

EVM14466-3 (grey quilted)

Fits machines up to

21.5 L x 13 W x 15 H in.

Exterior

not on the page we read

Strengths

• Maximum machine size published (Everything Mary: 21.5 L x 13 W x 15 H)
• Interior straps and padded walls
• Four spinner wheels

Drawbacks

• No exterior size on the page we read

Good fit: your machine is too deep or too tall for the XL.
Skip it if: your machine is larger than 21.5 x 13 x 15 inches in any direction.

Large soft rolling tote on five wheels

Everything Mary Jumbo Rolling Case

SKU

EVM14467-1 (black)

Interior

28 L x 14 D x 14.5 H in.

Exterior

31 L x 14.25 D x 19 H in.

Strengths

• The largest interior in our table
• Interior and exterior sizes published

Drawbacks

• The maker’s description mixes its floral and black versions

Good fit: you carry a wide machine, or a machine and its supplies together.
Skip it if: you have a small car trunk: it is 31 inches long outside.

A case for a serger

Soft collapsible serger case on two wheels

Everything Mary Rolling Serger Case

SKU

EVM12799-1 (black quilted)

Interior

13.5 L x 14 W x 10 H in.

Pockets

4 storage spaces

Strengths

• Interior published for a serger
• Extendable handle; collapsible

Drawbacks

• Only 10 inches of interior height
• On Amazon.com we found this case only in another print, so we link to the maker

Good fit: your serger fits inside 13.5 x 14 x 10 inches.
Skip it if: you want it for a sewing machine, or your serger is taller than 10 inches.

Everything Mary says it “holds any serger machine that fit within these dimensions”.¹¹

The machine maker’s own trolley

Rolling trolley and soft dust cover for two Brother models

Brother Quilt Club Rolling Trolley Set

Item

SASEBSEWE

Fits

Brother BQ3100 and BQ2500

Trolley

25 x 12 x 15 in.

Dust cover

24.875 x 11.5 x 13 in.

Strengths

• Made by the machine maker for named models
• Dust cover included

Drawbacks

• Only available at an authorized Brother dealer
• The page does not say whether 25 x 12 x 15 is the inside or the outside

Good fit: you own a Brother BQ3100 or BQ2500.
Skip it if: you own any other machine: Brother names only those two.

What machine manuals say about carrying

We read seven manuals for transport instructions. What they say is short.

Carry by the handle. Brother (XM2701 family): “When transporting the machine, be sure to carry it by its handle”, and “When lifting the machine, be careful not to make any sudden or careless movements, otherwise you may injure your back or knees.”⁷ Janome (JW5622), JUKI (HZL-L series) and bernette (b38) use the same sentence: “To carry the sewing machine, hold the carrying handle with your hand, and support the sewing machine with the other hand.”^8,12,13

Keep it out of heat, sun and damp. The JUKI HZL-L manual: “Do not store the machine in a high-humidity area, near a heat radiator, or in direct sunlight. Store the machine in cool dry place.”¹² Brother’s XM2701 manual lists places “Exposed to extremely high temperatures” among those to avoid.⁷ Our own advice, from those two: do not leave the machine in a hot parked car.

Let a cold machine warm up. BERNINA’s 335 manual: “If the machine is stored in a cold room, place the machine in a warm room for one hour before use.” BERNINA also “recommends that you store the machine in its original packaging”.⁴ Our own reading: after a winter drive in an unheated car, plan for that hour too.

None of these seven manuals gives a packing routine for the needle, the presser foot or the bobbin before transport, so we do not give one either: follow your own machine’s manual. Each quote above comes from one manual and may not apply to other models of the same brand.

Check what came in the box. Some machines ship with a cover: a soft cover is in the SINGER M3500 family’s standard accessories, and a hard cover in the JUKI HZL-L and bernette b38 lists.^12,13,14 A cover keeps dust off; it is not a padded travel case.

Buying in Canada

• Tutto: its shipping page says it ships internationally by USPS; it does not name Canada, so confirm before ordering.¹⁵
• Everything Mary: we found no shipping policy on its site.
• Brother: the trolley set is a dealer item on Brother’s US site; ask a Canadian Brother dealer whether it can be ordered.

Our Amazon links go to Amazon.com. From Canada, check delivery and import fees on each listing before you order.