Learn how to use your coverstitch tutorial for knit hems

Learn how to use your coverstitch tutorial for knit hems

Coverstitch is the stitch you see on the hems of t-shirts, and clothes made of stretchy material: in my case,

Here are my top 10 tips for using the coverstitch tape binder attachment. In the tutorial, I'm using Janome Coverpro but the methods work for any coverstitch machine.

How to avoid skipped stitches, uneven seams and unravelling on a coverstitch machine. A video coverstitch tutorial on how to troubleshoot your coverstitch.

Learn how to use your coverstitch tutorial for knit hems

A blog about my sewing, knitting, and spinning adventures.

Hi everyone! Today we’re looking at how to Reverse Coverstitch for decorative topstitching effect on your clothes! I’m using the Kid’s Joggers, one of my...

Some weeks ago I was asked if I would do a tutorial on how to coverstitch a corner after blogging the top in the feature photo. Of course I said yes and then got distracted. However, it’s pla…

For Christmas this past year my awesome hubby got me an item I've been dreaming about since I started sewing--a coverstitch machine! When...

Here I will compare a sewing machine vs serger vs coverstitch machine so you can be sure you have the right working tool for your intended sewing projects.

Here are my top 10 tips for using the coverstitch tape binder attachment. In the tutorial, I'm using Janome Coverpro but the methods work for any coverstitch machine.

See what a coverstitch and chainstitch overlocker serger can do! Stretch seams, hems, binding. Best for swimsuits, dance costumes, gym wear

Now that so many of you have coverstitch machines, I thought I’d rerun this tutorial from 2001. This is a very easy and neat (yes, I love my sewing to be neat and tidy!) way to finish a knit.…

A coverstitch binding attachment will help you to achieve perfect and professional knit and jersey neckbands every time.

Here are my top 10 tips for using the coverstitch tape binder attachment. In the tutorial, I'm using Janome Coverpro but the methods work for any coverstitch machine.

How to avoid skipped stitches, uneven seams and unravelling on a coverstitch machine. A video coverstitch tutorial on how to troubleshoot your coverstitch.

The ultimate guide on how to properly use a coverstitch machine and avoid common problems such as skipped stitches and thread breaking.

Embellish a simple t-shirt with decorative stitching using the coverstitch machine! Follow this DIY tutorial to transform a simple tee into a sportswear.

In this post, I'll show you how to use a coverstitch machine, specifically the Janome 1000CPX. I'll also go over the differences between the 1000CPX, 900CPX, and 2000CPX. You'll be up and running with your coverstitch machine in no time!

How to make a serger mat to reduce vibration, sound, and movement. These anti vibration mats are great for muffling sewing machine noise.

How to hem knits using a coverstitch or a regular sewing machine

Are you curious about a coverstitch machine and what it does? This machine is key to achieving that perfect polished … More

A comprehensive guide to using and purchasing a coverstitch machine. By Melissa Fehr.

Thank you to Bryden S. for sharing this method with me. I hope everyone finds it as useful and timesaving as I do! I use a stand-alone Babylock Coverstitch machine. You should be able to follow along with different brands, but some of the steps may be different (releasing tension, for example). Belinda has put together an excellent tutorial for ending the coverstitch on the Brother 2340CV, here. Let's begin: 1. Stop stitching with the needles in the highest position, or turn the handwheel to raise them if needed. Next, raise the presser foot and release needle tension. (On the Babylock, raising the presser foot releases tension at the same time.) 2. With a long, skinny tool (I use the needle allen wrench which came with my machine), sweep under the presser foot and behind the needles, "hooking" the needle threads. 3. Continue sweeping forward until the needle threads are pulled out in front of the presser foot. 4. Continue pulling the needle threads until you have a thread loop about 4" long. 5. Snip the thread loop in the center so both needle threads are cut at the same time. (I usually snip while the skinny tool is still pulling the threads out, but I couldn't balance the tool, the scissors and the camera all at the same time.) 6. After the needle threads are cut, pull the fabric straight back. 7. Continue pulling straight back until the needle threads are pulled to the underside (this will happen as you pull the fabric back), and stop when you have about 5-6 inches of needle thread. (In this photo, you see the needle threads that were cut from the needles laying on top of the fabric. The needle threads in the stitches have just disappeared to the underside by my pulling the fabric.) 8. Turn the fabric over and there are your needle threads on the underside! 9. Cut the looper thread, leaving a 4-5 inch tail at the machine for your next project. 10. Needle and looper thread tails ready for next project. 11. Underside. These stitches will not pull out. Try it! You can finish the tails by threading them under the looper stitches with a wide-eyed blunt needle, tying a knot, or applying Fray Block. (If you are hemming or stitching in the round, you will need to manually pull the needles threads at the beginning of your stitching to the back before you get to the end so you don't stitch over exposed thread tails. I usually stop hemming right before I get to the end to do that, and then I continue the last few inches, stitch over the existing stitches for 2-3 stitches and then use the method above to pull the ending needle threads to the back.)

Coverstitch is the stitch you see on the hems of t-shirts, and clothes made of stretchy material: in my case,

Picot edge elastic around a neckline: Topstitching on a denim skirt: "Straddled" topstitching around a neckband: Topstitching around a vee neckband: Free-standing binding strip used as self-fabric drawstring: Topstitched waist on lounge pants: Beltloops made with beltloop folder: Applied neckline binding on tee: Topstitching on tee: Accents strips created with beltlooper and then topstitched into place with wide coverstitch. Bound neckline with free-hanging binding strips as ties: Double trim on crossover neckline: Foldover Elastic binding on crossover neckline: Camisole straps & binding completely done with binder attachment as a continuous strip: Topstitching on princess seams, looper side out: Cardigan with bound edges & binding for ties: Another neckline trim: Sleeve trim on bathrobe/dressing gown: Another sleeve trim: Two rows of multicolor triple coverstitching as "trim": Panties/knickers: Plush elastic serged on, turned and coverstitched. Elastic applied "in the flat." Knit top, coverstitched on princess seams and binding applied with binder attachment. Sleeve hem binding: Triple topstitching:

What is a coverstitch? A coverstitch is the twin or triple needle stitching you see on the hems of most ready-to-wear (RTW) knit garments. The top looks like parallel rows of straight stitching and the underside looks like serger loops which *cover* the turned down raw edge. Sometimes the "wrong" or loopy side is sewn on top as a design feature, especially in activewear. Coverstitch machines can also stitch single needle chain stitches. Are there coverstitch machines for the home sewer? Yes. Many top-of-the-line sergers/overlockers have a coverstitch option. However, there are also currently 4 brands of stand-alone coverstitch machines, Babylock (which I have), Brother, Janome and Bernina. There are subtle differences among all of the above machines, including price, available stitches, features, and accessories. Click HERE for a comparison chart. There are also industrial coverstitch machines available to the home sewer which have even more stitching options, such as coverstitch loops both top and bottom at the same time. Why would I want a stand-alone coverstitch machine? Sergers/overlockers with a coverstitch option must be converted from overlocking to coverstitching. Some machines convert more easily and faster than others, but all combo machines *must be* switched over somehow in order to coverstitch. Because a coverstitch can be used on the garment in places other than just hems and because some sergers/overlockers are convoluted to convert, it becomes a time and hassle factor to keep switching back and forth between overlocking and coverstitching during the construction of a garment. A stand-alone coverstitch machine is always ready to coverstitch and keeps your serger/overlocker always ready for its best task. Stand-alone coverstitch machines also produce more consistent and pleasing coverstitches than combo machines because they are built and engineered for just this one task. This means the stand-alone machine's foot and the space for it do not have to be "second fiddle" to a serger/overlocker's knives and feed dogs. How about accessories? Most of the above 4 brands of stand-alone home coverstitch machines have custom accessories available. These include specialty feet, binders, fellers, and beltloopers. See the Comparison Chart. In addition to buying "brand name" accessories from your dealer, generic "industrial" attachments can also be purchased on Ebay for considerably less cost. See the "Where to Buy" info on the General Tips page. The generics fit the Babylock without any modification and are nearly identical to the Babylock branded accessories. Slight modification and/or "rigging" is sometimes required to fit the generics onto the other home machines, but owners of all brands have reported success with attaching and using the generics. See the General Tips page for more info. What is a binder? A binder is an attachment for creating and attaching bindings in one pass on a coverstitch machine. You feed a precut strip of fabric through the binder and it folds the strip around the edge of a second piece of fabric, such as a neckline or sleeve hem, while you coverstitch the binding into place. Binders are available for a variety of finished binding widths and work so well that binding is a breeze! This is one of the Babylock branded binder attachments for the Babylock Coverstitch machine: And this is one of the industrial generic binder attachments I purchased from an Ebay seller. There is absolutely no difference (except price!) in design or functionality between the generics and the binders sold by Babylock dealers. Below is a Brother branded binder attachment. This is the Janome branded binder attachment, along with the plate needed to attach the binder to the Janome CP 900/1000. Below are binders which will fit onto many overlocker/sergers with a coverstitch option. Some are "plain" or single-fold, and others are "2 fold" or double-fold. Plain binders will fold the binding strip in half, leaving the raw edges flat and unfolded (unfinished). The 2 fold binder will fold the binding strip in half and will fold under both raw edges resulting in the clean, folded finish you're probably more familiar with. These are made by Babylock for the Evolve: Below are examples of some of the generic versions. The attachment plates are adjustable and/or removable to adapt to your particular overlocker/serger and/or stand-alone coverstitch machine. What is a beltloop folder? A beltloop folder is an attachment which feeds a strip of fabric, turns under both raw edges toward center while you to coverstitch down the center of the folded strip. Belt loop sections can then be cut from the longer strip and applied around a waistband using your usual method. What is a feller? A feller (or folder) is an attachment which turns a hem, either single or double-fold while you coverstitch the hem into place. Because the fold down is precisely aligned with the stitching, no trimming from the reverse is necessary. Fellers are available to downturn and upturn, in a variety of hem widths.

The ultimate guide on how to properly use a coverstitch machine and avoid common problems such as skipped stitches and thread breaking.

Learn the differences between a sewing machine vs. serger and coverstitch machine and which one is best for your needs.

Are you curious about a coverstitch machine and what it does? This machine is key to achieving that perfect polished … More

How to hem knits using a coverstitch or a regular sewing machine