Cover stitch machine

[sewingrandma]

Does anyone have one? Do you like it and is it worth the expense. Have read that sergers that have a cover stitch don't do as well with the stitch as a stand alone does plus they are more difficult to switch between the two. Any input on this? DH is looking at both types of machines now on ebay even though I never mentioned a desire for a coverstitch machine and so far he isn't taking no for an answer. So wish he had never discovered ebay Gotta love him though not many DHs are as thoughtful.

[MartySews2]

Brockie, I have a combo machine and it doesn't take much to switch to coverstiitch. I know that Laura has a Janome coverstitch only machine. Maybe she will chime in. I think Kaitlin does too.
Marty

[sewingrandma]

Which machine do you have Marty? I'm still researching and DH is still looking. I'm trying to keep him from buying until I find what I really want. We don't have many dealerships locally for me to even check out so it will be by word of mouth and what I find on line.

[MartySews2]

I have the Pfaff 4874 10 thread serger/coverstitch machine. The Pfaff 4862 is a 4 thread serger/coverstitch machine as is the 4872 wich is a 5 thread serger/coverstitch machine. I can recommend any of these machines. The Babylock Evolve, the Evolution and the new Ovation are fantastic machines with jet-air threading. They have 8 threads for decorative work. I can recommend them too.
Marty

[Skye]

I have a Janome coverpro 1000 which works well for me - love it. I have several generic binders that I use with it which I also love.
I like having the extra harp space in the c/s machine compared to the serger.
I like the flexiblity of 3 needles, 6mm and 3mm width c/s and the chain stitch is good for stitching darts on knits and I also use it to quickly baste a garment to try the fit. Chain stitch is very easy to up pick - by just pulling a thread.
I have a serger that does c/s but to be honest I have never used it much prefer to have my 3 machines set up and move between them.

[J H]

I also have the Janome Coverpro 1000CPX. I love it. Wouldn't dream of making knit shirts without it now. Also great for decorative stitching especially if using the chain stitch on the out side rather than the usual inside.

[Skye]

I agree Jill I have used vareigated thread in the loopers to hem children's t shirts.

I also was watching a you tube clip a while back and they were using it to decorated the boidy of the t shirt too.

[sewingrandma]

Thanks for all the input. If anyone has any more info let me know. I'm learning more and more about serger/coverstitch combos and plain coverstitch machines than I thought I ever would. I think I like the thought of not having to change from serger to coverstitch since I do have a nice serger already. I'm really leaning towards the Janome Coverpro as all the videos I've watched show all that it can do. Wish the extra feet weren't so expensive.

[LeapFrog Libby]

Brockie, I have the Coverpro 900 by Janome, simply because that is all I could afford. I have a basic serger that only does 3=4 thread work, but I love it. It is the second one I have had. Both made by babylock. I love all my machines, but I don't have a lot of money so I have to be careful what I spend it on. I would love to have the 1000 for the 3 needles instead of 2, but at the time Icould barely afford the 900.. It works wonderfully well, and like the others I like the chain stitch feature also for decorative purposes. I have several friends who are short like me and so I end up cuttoff lots of tops and rehemming them on the CS. Takes 2 or 3 minutes and they give me money to do this. If I don't have but 1 spool of thread of a particular color, then I fill bobbins and put the spool on the looper peg and use bobbins on the needle pegs. Works every time. I am going to test the chain stitch with some of the variegated maxi lock thread. That will look good I think, so I'm going to test it soon. My Memory Craft 4000 is almost 20 years old now and works like a new machine. Like I said before, I love all my machines, and at my age 79, I will not be buying any more, but I never got into the embroidery craze because of the cost involved. A friend warned me about that thank goodness.

[sewingrandma]

Thanks for the info Libby. There are several Coverpro 900 on ebay that we are looking at. DH thinks I should get the 1000 for the 3 needles though. Why would you like the 3 needles? Is it the extra design option, wider spacing between stitching lines? I'm curious and since this will be the only CS machine I get I want to get the best I can afford. Thanks again for everyones input.