WHAT IS A COVER STITCH MACHINE

What is a cover stitch machine. Cover stitch machines are primarily used to create professional looking garment hems. It has the dual function of covering the rough edges of the fabric as well as keeping the fabric stretchy. A cover stitch is a professional looking hem that looks like two rows of stitches on top and a serger like stitch on the back. The advantage of the cover stitch is its ability to stretch and cover the raw edge in one pass. Cover stitch maximizes fabric stretch – think aerobics, fleece, sweatshirt, and Lycra and super stretchy knits.

Cover stitch embroidery machines like the Viking Husky lock S-21 and Viking Husky lock S-25 sergers offer useful stitches for those of you who want everything to always look amazing! Cover stitch can be sewn with two needles for a double stitch look or with three needles to finish with a triple stitch. With a double-needle cover stitch, the cover stitch can be narrow or wide. A narrow cover stitch is ideal for lighter fabrics and prevents tunneling. The wide cover stitch setting is the preferred setting for slightly stiffer or thicker fabrics. It really all depends on the final look you want.

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TOP THREE COVER STITCH MACHINES – WHAT IS A COVER STITCH MACHINE

• Brother 2340CV Cover stitch machine

What is a cover stitch machine. The Brother 2340CV is ideal for sewing enthusiasts who may not have the budget for an expensive machine. The machine is suitable for a number of different sewing projects. You can use it to create clothes as well as decorate them, just like you would on a traditional sewing machine. This machine is an introduction to cover stitching for sewing beginners who want a clean finish but aren’t interested in spending a lot of money like a professional sewer. You can create special effects using the new threads in the lower looper. Brother has an easy and fast loop threading system and an easy to follow color coded threading guide. Use a single needle double thread chain stitch for decorative effects, gluing and joining fabrics. For a 3 mm narrow cover stitch, use a two-needle and three-thread cover stitch. This is suitable for hemming delicate fabrics, quilting and gluing.

• Janome Cover Pro 1000CPX cover stitching machine

Janome is a brand we all know and love – it takes me back to my childhood when my mum would sew my clothes and I would watch her at her Janome sewing machine. It is one of the best machines on the market thanks to its useful features that make it the best choice for professional sewers. The CoverPro 1000CPX combines the best of industrial-style machines with home-style machines, so you can create professional-looking projects from the comfort of your own home. You can use stitches with 1, 2 or 3 needles: 1 needle, 2 threads chain stitch; 2 needles, 3 cover stitch and 3 needles, 4 threads triple cover stitch. It’s easy to select the desired stitch from the quick reference sticker on the machine. You can choose a length between 1 and 4 mm. When using two needles, you can choose between a wide 6mm and a narrow 3mm. When using three needles, a width of 6 mm can be selected.

• Janome CoverPro 900CPX Cover Stitch machine

The Janome CoverPro 900CPX is an older machine than the 1000CPX. Its speed is up to 1000ppm and it only has a maximum of 2 needles. The machine has an automatic and branded seam tightening system, an extra wide bed and a free arm function. The combination of these features will make it easier for you to work on a wide variety of sewing projects. The seam pull feature reduces loop thread slack and provides flat, tight stitches for any type of fabric. Do not use the instruction manual for perfect settings. Simply refer to the quick reference chart on the front of the machine. Choose from 1 needle, 2 thread chain stitches or 2 needles, 3 cover threads. The adjustable differential feed ratio is 0.5 to 2.25, while the length is between 1 and 4 mm, with a maximum width of 5 mm. If you purchase this machine as part of a bonus package, it includes a DVD, Janome needle threader, and size 14 needles.

HOW TO USE THE COVER STITCH MACHINE

What is a cover stitch machine. There are two basic ways to use an over lock sewing machine: by itself or with optional accessories. If you’re a beginner and need a step-by-step tutorial on the cover stitch sewing machine and how to use it below, you can check out this course Cover stitch Sewing: The Basics and other craft courses. It is made on a cover sewing machine. And it’s not the same as the twin-needle stitch you’d find on a regular sewing machine. Needles and loop threads form a chain. The executed seam tolerates stretching very well. As knitwear has gained popularity in the sewing world in recent years, more and more home sewists are choosing to get their own serger.

These allow the home stitcher to achieve great results at home with neat and tidy but strong seams on t-shirts, dresses and leggings to name a few. However, there is one aspect of sewing knitwear that most sergers cannot easily hem the edges of your finished garment. Sure, you can always use a twin needle, but it has its downsides (see sidebar. Or maybe you’re just wondering what’s behind it. They only really do the two rows of stitches, right. Yes and no, but those lines really sew, really well.

You might be thinking right now that you’ve seen (or even own) a serger/cover stitch hybrid machine that can do both functions with just a few changes in settings. While this is technically true, many sewing machines buy these machines thinking they will save money, but soon find that it is difficult to convert between the two functions and they do neither function as well as a dedicated machine.

WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A COVER STITCH MACHINE

What is a cover stitch machine. There aren’t nearly as many different models of cover stitch machines to choose from as regular sewing machines or sergers, but chances are your favorite sewing brand offers a cover stitch model. Janome makes the most widely used sewing machines for home use, but many sewing machines also swear by their Baby Lock, Brother and Singer machines. Unlike sewing machines or sergers, it’s not possible to differentiate too much between different cover stitches models, but there are a few features to be aware of:

• Thread Count – Most cover stitch machines use three threads and a looper, but if you anticipate using only a double-stitched hem, you may decide to save a little money and buy a “three thread” (ie, a top thread plus looper model instead).
• Threading – Cover stitch sewing machines are as easy to thread as a regular sewing machine (in other words, not nearly as complicated or time-consuming as a serger, despite the amount of thread used!). However, some models offer automatic airflow threading, which can be essential if you have problems with visual or fine motor control.
• Tension – All cover stitch machines provide some mechanism to adjust the needle thread tension, either with a wheel or a lever, but some models have additional controls to help adjust the tension when sewing through tight seam junctions like you might find on a sweatshirt or fleece.
• Free Arm – In this author’s opinion, free arm is the most important feature to look for in a cover stitch sewing machine, as it makes hemming shirt sleeves and other narrow hoses infinitely easier. If you will only be hemming flat objects, choose a machine with a free arm.
• Adjustable presser foot pressure – allows the presser foot to be closer or further away from the machine bed and (along with the differential feed) can be a lifesaver for correcting curled hems. You can hem everything from thick sweatshirts to thin and draped jerseys with equal success.
• Differential Feed – Serger owners are already familiar with the differential feed feature, which adjusts the feed so that elastic fabrics stretch unevenly during sewing, which can also result in curled hems.

FEATURES OF THE COVER STITCH MACHINE

• Stitch options: Consider which stitches you will use the most. If you’re mainly hemming T-shirts, a three-thread cover stitch will probably suffice. But active wearers will probably want the option of a top cover stitch. To learn more about the different stitches, a cover stitch can create what they look like and when to use them.
• Differential Feed: This control allows you to change the speed of the top and bottom feeders. You need this to prevent wavy seam lines and to pick up the fabric. Here’s how it works on my computer. When the dial is at “1”, top and bottom fabrics are fed evenly. As the dial increases toward “2,” the upper fabric moves faster than the lower fabric. And when the dial is lowered towards “0”, the lower fabric is fed faster than the upper one. Look specifically for a machine that has an adjustment wheel with multiple differential feed settings, rather than two or three setting options, as this is limiting.
• High Lift Presser Foot: Most models have this feature, but a few don’t and I find it invaluable. This feature allows you to raise the presser foot extra high so you can place bulky items under the presser foot. It also gives you better access when sewing. For example, since you don’t want to use pins when sewing a cover, being able to lift the presser foot out of the way is very convenient to place fabric underneath without disturbing the alignment.
• Adjustable presser foot pressure: This feature is extremely useful if you are sewing with different weights of fabrics. Bulky fabrics require different pressure than thin fabrics. If the presser foot puts too much pressure on the fabric, it can create stretched and wavy stitch lines. Again, look for a machine that allows you to fine-tune the settings rather than just giving you a few setting options.
• Attachment Options: If you plan to use your sewing machine to sew elastic into underwear or add fabric ties, be sure to check out the available attachments for your machine. Some machines only accept branded accessories, while others accept generic options that may be more affordable.

CONCLUSION

What is a cover stitch machine. Cover stitch consists of two or more needles that add straight stitches to the fabric and a loop thread on the opposite side of the fabric that zigzags between the straight stitches. Cover stitch results in parallel lines of straight stitches on one side of the fabric and an overlapped stitch on the reverse side. It is widely used in garment manufacturing, especially for attaching hems and flat seams, where the raw edges can be finished in the same operation as creating the seam. Unlike the toggle stitch, which is sewn over the edge of the fabric, the cover stitch can be made anywhere on the fabric. Cover stitch is useful for necklines and hems, especially knits, because the stitch will stretch.