Are you in the market for a coverstitch machine? A coverstitch machine is perfect for hemming knit fabrics. It sews a seam that looks like a series of Vs. This type of machine is also great for binding edges and creating stretchy seams. If you’re looking for a machine to finish the edges of stretchy fabric, a coverstitch machine is the way to go. This post will go into more detail on what a coverstitch is, which coverstitch machines are the best, and answer some common questions about the coverstitch machine.
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What is the Coverstitch?
A coverstitch is a finishing stitch primarily used on stretchy fabrics. Coverstitches are commonly found on jersey knit shirts, swim suits, over elastic materials, and other commercially sewn stretchy fabrics. This stitch is great for protecting the edges of your fabrics while allowing them to maintain their stretch. The machine that sews this stitch is commonly known as a coverstitch machine – named for the stitch. Other machines like regular sewing machines or serger machines can also protect your fabrics’s edges, but if you are a home sewer going for a professional look on stretchy materials a cover stitch is the way to go.
Best Coverstitch Machine
Best All Around
- Can do both overlock and coverstitch machines
- 2, 3, 4, and 5 thread stitches
- 23 different stitches
- LED light
- 1,300 stitches per minute
- Comes with a soft dust cover
Best Dedicated Coverstitch Machine
- Sews the coverstitch and chain stitch
- Color coded threading paths
- Easy looper threading
- 1,350 stitches per minute
- Has a sewing light
Best Budget Machine
- Metal frame and internal parts
- 1,100 stitches per minute
- Has a tri-cover stitch plus wide and narrow cover stitches
- Differential feed
- Easy to thread with color coded guides
- Standard foot and a hemming presser foot included
- 25 year limited warranty
1. Bernette B48 Funlock Coverstitch Machine Details
The Bernette B48 Funlock machine is both a coverstitch and overlock machine. This amazing machine is great since it can do both stitches – most machine are specialized to do either the coverstitch or the over lock stitch. This machine has a bright LED light so you can clearly see what you are sewing, a rare feature on serger machines. It has colored paths for easily threading the machine as well as a mechanical threader for the lower loopers. The Bernette B48 Funlock machine has an amazing 23 different stitches it can do. This includes a combo of 15 different overlock stitches, three different coverstitches, four combo stitches, and a chain stitch. It also comes with a soft dust cover to help protect it.
Product Features:
- Can do both overlock and coverstitch machines
- 2, 3, 4, and 5 thread stitches
- 23 different stitches
- LED light
- 1,300 stitches per minute
- Comes with a soft dust cover
2. Juki MCS-1500 Cover Stitch and Chain Stitch Machine Details
The Juki MCS-1500 is a specialized chainstitch and coverstitch machine. This machine can sew a 3 and four thread coverstitch as well as a chain stitch. This machine sews at a quick 1,350 stitches per minute. It has a sewing light, so you can easily see what you are sewing. It also has color coded threading paths and easy looper threading.
Product Features:
- Sews the coverstitch and chain stitch
- Color coded threading paths
- Easy looper threading
- 1,350 stitches per minute
- Has a sewing light
3. Brother 2340CV Coverstitch Serger Details
The Brother 2340CV is a great cover stitch machine because it can do a lot of different stitches and it is easy to use. It can do a tricover stitch, a chain stitch, and a wide and narrow cover stitch. It has a color-coded threading system and an easy looper threading system. It also has a differential feed, which helps to adjust the stitch length and speed of material flowing through the machine. The Brother 2340CV is a great machine for sewing dance garments and swimsuits, because it can do durable strapping and a chain stitch finish. It also comes with a 25-year limited warranty.
Product Features:
- Metal frame and internal parts
- 1,100 stitches per minute
- Has a tri-cover stitch plus wide and narrow cover stitches
- Differential feed
- Easy to thread with color coded guides
- Standard foot and a hemming presser foot included
- 25 year limited warranty
4. Singer Professional 14T968DC Serger Details
The SINGER Professional 14T968DC Serger machine is a great choice for anyone looking for a quality serger machine. This serger machine has a 2, 3, 4, and 5 thread capability, which provides a wide range of stitch options for all types of projects. It can sew a traditional serge stitch, as well as a cover stitch, rolled hem, chain stitch, flatlock stitch, and more. The threading paths are color coded and it has the threading colors for each stitch printed on the side for easy reference. It also has an adjustable cutting width, stitch length control, and self-adjusting tension system, which allows for creative freedom and easy setup. The Singer Professional 5 14T968DC Serger sews at 1,300 stitches per minute, making it a great choice for anyone looking to speed through their projects.
Product Features:
- Has 2, 3, 4 and 5 thread capability for a wide selection of stitches
- Can do cover stitch, chain stitch, rolled hems, flat locking, and more.
- Colored threading paths
- Self adjusting tension system
- Sewing light so you can see what you're doing
- 1,300 stitches per minute
- Limited 90 day, 2 year, and 25 year warranties
5. Janome CoverPro 1000CPX Coverstitch Machine Details
A coverstitch machine is a special sewing machine that sews the edges of fabric together so they look neat and tidy. This is often used in fabric projects like making clothes or blankets. A coverstitch machine can be a little tricky to use at first, but it’s worth it because the finished product looks great! The Janome CoverPro 1000 CPX can sew the cover stitch, triple cover stitch, and chain stitch. This machine comes with a color coded threading path to make it easier to thread and a threading chart printed right on the machine. It can do free arm sewing ( a more rare feature on coverstitch machines ). It can sew at a quick 1,000 stitches per minute.
Product Features:
- Can do the cover stitch, chain stitch, and triple cover stitch
- Colored threading paths
- Threading chart printed on machine
- Can do free arm sewing
- 1, 2, or 3 needle stitches
- 1,000 stitches per minute
- No sewing light
6. Janome CoverPro 900CPX Coverstitch Machine Details
The Janome Coverpro 900cpx is a great coverstitch machine for sewing projects. The coverstitch is used to protect seam ends and hems. It is great on stretchy fabrics as it retains a lot of the fabric’s stretch after it is sewn. When you look at the seam edges on a knit shirt, especially a t-shirt, you are msot likely looking at a cover sttich. This cover stitch machine is easy to use and has a lot of features that make it a great choice for a variety of projects. The Coverpro 900cpx is perfect for quilting, home decor, and garment sewing. It has a built-in cover stitch feature that makes it easy to sew beautiful hems and finishes on your projects. It can also do a single needle chain stitch.
The Janome CoverPro 900cpx has a lot of great features that make this machine super easy to use. It has a quick reference chart right on the front of the machine. This chart displays all of the available stitch settings as well as the tension settings for those stitches. It makes it super easy to setup the machine to sew on your project. The Janome 900cpx also has free arm sewing. Free arm sewing is great for sewing cuffs, sleeve heads, collars, and other tight spaces. Another great feature of this machine is the extra large bed space. With a top cover stitch, you’ll often find that you are sewing in the middle of your project. The extra large bed space makes it easy to sew in the middle of a project or to pass larger projects through the machine.
Threading the Janome CoverPro 900 cpx is super easy. With the onboard stitch diagram you simply pick the stitch you want, run the thread through it’s path, and thread the color coordinated needle. On a lot of sergers, getting the lower looper thread in place is challenging. Not so on the CoverPro 900CPX. Threading the lower looper is easy on the CoverPro, pull the thread through the loopers and push it closed.
View our full review here.
Product Features:
- Coverstitch machine
- Can also do chain stitch
- Janome's exclusive Seam Tightening System (STS)
- Adjustable foot pressure
- Adjustable differential feed, stitch length, and stitch width
- Sews up to 1,000 stitches per minute
- Can do free arm sewing
7. Bernette B42 Funlock Coverstitch Machine Details
The Bernette B42 Coverstitch machine, aka the Funlock machine is a great coverstitch machine. This machine has a LED light which is a rare feature on a coverstitch machine. It can sew three different versions of a coverstitch as well as a chain stitch. It has a color coded threading path to make the machine easier to thread. It also as a separate needle threader and special looper threading mechanism to help make the machine easier to thread. This machine also comes with a soft dust cover to help protect it.
Product Features:
- Color coded thread paths
- Can do coverstitch and chain stitch
- has a LED sewing light
- Two and three needle coverstitch
- 1,300 stitches per minute
- Comes with a soft dust cover
8. JUKI MO-735 5-Thread Serger and Cover Hem Sewing Machine Details
When you’re looking for a quality serger machine, the Juki MO-735 is a great option. The Juki MO-735 is an overlock serger with coverstitch capability. This machine can cut, sew, and finish edges with overlock stitch like a champ. It can do overlock and coverstitch, as well as chainstitch and safety stitch. It has color coded threading to make threading this machine easier. This machine has a lot of features to make your sewing projects easier, like adjustable stitch length and differential feed. It also has a wide overedge width, so your seams will look great. Plus, the automatic needle threader and rolled hemming features make it easy to finish your projects quickly.
Product Features:
- 2 Needle Overlock stitch
- 2 & 3 Needle Bottom Coverstitch
- Chainstitch Mode
- 5-Thread Safety Stitch
- Color coded threading
- Automatic needle threading
- 1,500 stitches per minute
Best Coverstitch Machine FAQ
How to select a coverstitch machine?
You should select a coverstitch machine based on your budget and features that are important to you. For me, the most important thing when selecting a coverstitch machine are how easy it is to setup and thread, if there is a sewing light, and if it can do more stitches than just a coverstitch. Machines that automatically adjust the thread tension for the type of stitch you are doing are also very nice. Adjusting the thread tension is the bane of my sewing, so I always appreciate this great feature.
The best option for a cover stitch machine for me may not be a good option for you. Keeping the features that are important to you in mind along with your budge will help you sort through the different machines and find the best coverstitch sewing machine for you.
What features should I look for in a coverstitch machine?
Some of the best features to look for in a coverstitch machine are:
- Stitch type. Is the machine limited to coversttich, or can it do more?
- Stitch quality.
- Sewing area lighting.
- Stitch speed.
- Can it do free arm sewing?
- Can it sew thicker fabrics?
- Does it come with a warranty?
- How hard is it to thread?
Keep these features in mind when you consider your new coverstitch machine.
What does a coverstitch do?
The coverstitch is a special type of sewing stitch intended to finish the edges of fabric or provide a decorative stitch on fabric. The most important feature of the coverstitch is that is stretchy, unlike most other edge binding stitches. This stretchy-ness makes the coverstitch perfect for finishing the edges of jersey knits, spandex, or other stretchy materials.
What is a coverstitch machine?
A coverstitch machine is a machine dedicated to sewing a coverstitch. Most sewing machines or sergers can sew multiple different stitches ( excluding the cover stitch ). The coverstitch machine is the opposite – it is dedicated to sewing a coverstitch and sewing it well.
Is the coverstitch the same as a serger?
The coverstitch is not the same as a serger. A coverstitch is a type of stitch sewn by a coverstitch machine. This stretchy stitch is used to protect the edges of fabric to keep it from unravelling. In contrast, a serger is a machine that sews an overlock stitch. This stitch is NOT stretchy, but is also used to protect the edges of fabric. For a more in depth comparison, check out our post on overlock vs serger machines.
What is the difference between a coverstitch and an overlocker?
The difference between a coverstitch machine and an overlocker machine ( or serger ) is the type of stitches they sew. These are two different machines that specialize in sewing edge finishing stitches. It is the stretch in the stitches that is the main difference between these two machines. Both machines specialize in sewing stitches to protect and enclose the edges of your fabric. An overlocker sews the overlock stitch which is not stretchy. The coverstitch machine sews a coverstitch, which is stretchy.
Can I do a coverstitch on my serger?
While some sergers can sew a coverstitch, most can not. For full details on which combination machines can sew both a overlock and a coverstitch, read our post about the best sergers with coverstitch.
Do I need a serger or a coverstitch machine?
If you are sewing a lot of knit or stretchy fabrics, you probably need a dedicated coverstitch machines to protect the edges of your fabric without loosing their stretch. Otherwise, you should consider buying a serger for the overlock stitch. If you sew a mix of fabrics, there are machines that can sew both the overlock and cover stitch. Read more about these machines on our best sergers with coverstitch post.
What is the difference between a coverstitch machine and a regular sewing machine?
A coverstitch machine is dedicated to sewing the coverstitch – a stretchy stitch used to finish the edges of stretchy fabrics. Your regular sewing machines can also sew stitches to finish the edges of fabrics, and some of these stitches may also be stretchy. However, a coverstitch machine is going to be able to make a more stretchy stitch than a sewing machine stitch. Having a stretchy finishing stitch is really important when you’re sewing stretchy fabrics like lycra, spandex, and jersey knit.
Are coverstitch machines hard to use?
Coverstitch machines are relatively easy to use other than the difficulty in threading them. Coverstitch machines can be difficult to thread. With most machines using four or five different threads, it can be complex to know how to thread it. The best coverstitch machines have color coded thread paths and threading guides printed on the machines to help you thread them.
What type of thread do you use in a coverstitch machine?
Coverstitch machines use the same thread as serger machines, often stored on thread cones. These thread cones contain a lot more thread than your typical bobbin or spool. Coverstitch machines and sergers use a lot of thread, sometimes as much as 5 times more per thread being used.
What does a coverstitch look like?
Here are some examples of a coverstitch on knit jersey fabric. You can see the front of a coverstitch looks like two straight stitches side by side, while the back looks like a bunch of loopey v stitches. This stitch is extremely stretchy and gives your project professional results.
In Summary
After reading this post, you should have a good idea of what a coverstitch machine is, and if you need one or not. You should also have a good idea of which coverstitch machine is best for you. Thank you for reading my post about the best coverstitch machine. I hope you found it helpful.
Related Posts
- Looking for a machine that can surge and sew a coverstitch? Read our post about the best sergers with coverstitch.
- Think you need a regular serger instead of a coverstitch machine? Check out the best Brother sergers.
- Want just a regular sewing machine instead of a coverstitch machine? Read this post about the best sewing machines.