Sergers

Coverstitch Machine: What It Does and Who Needs One

We may earn a commission from some links on this page.

The short answer

A dedicated coverstitch machine is worth it once you're hemming knit garments often enough that swapping a combo machine between overlock and coverstitch modes becomes a real hassle.

Many sewists start making clothes with just a sewing machine and a serger. Then they notice that their hems don't look like the ones on store-bought clothes, even though the seams are clean. That is when most people look at a coverstitch machine. This page covers what the machine adds, how it differs from a combo machine, and what to check before you buy one.

What a coverstitch machine does

A coverstitch machine makes the flat hem with parallel rows of stitches that you see on most knit clothes. Look at the hem of almost any t-shirt and you will see it. It does not trim fabric like a serger does. It works on a folded edge, the hem, not a raw one. It usually uses 2 or 3 needle threads, plus one looper thread underneath.

Dedicated machine vs. combination machine

Some sergers have a coverstitch mode. To switch jobs, you change the needle plate, the stitch fingers and the way the thread runs. That saves you from buying a second machine.

But you face a real setup job each time you switch. A machine that only does coverstitch skips all of that. The cost is that you own, and store, a second machine.

Scroll for more →

Is it worth it for you

If you hem a knit project now and then, a combo machine is a fair stand-in. So is the twin-needle stretch stitch on a sewing machine. A machine that only does coverstitch earns its place once you make clothes often, not just once in a while. See Coverstitch, Explained if you are still not sure you need this stitch at all.

Best coverstitch machines: five ranked home models

This ranking is for dedicated household coverstitch machines, with no industrial or combination overlocker picks. We used published maker functions and exact retailer listings, checked for US purchase controls. The order favors a useful everyday setup, then extra threading help and stitch options.

#1. Janome CoverPro 2000CPX: everyday knit hems

Janome CoverPro 2000CPX

Our verdict:

Everyday knit hems

Best for regular garment makers who want a dedicated free-arm machine for ordinary cover hems.

Check price at Sewingmachinesplus

Keep in mind: it lacks the 3000P top cover stitch system.

The 2000CPX is our first comparison point for a reader who already has a sewing machine and serger. Janome lists two- and three-needle coverstitches, a chain stitch, a free arm and adjustable presser foot pressure. Tension Level Control and differential feed give you settings to work with as knit weights change.

Choose it when the job is primarily stretchy folded hems. It does not trim seam edges or add the decorative top-cover thread of the 3000P. Read the threading sequence and tension-release steps before removing a test seam; owning a dedicated machine saves mode changes, not the need to learn setup.

#2. bernette b62 AIRLOCK: help threading the looper

bernette b62 AIRLOCK

Our verdict:

Air-threaded looper

Best for sewers who want looper-threading assistance and a free arm for tubular hems.

Check price at Sewingmachinesplus

Keep in mind: the needles still need manual threading.

The b62's useful upgrade is air threading for the looper. Bernette also lists a free arm, a knee lifter, five LEDs and an included slide-on table. Those features can make sense in a room that hems knit garments frequently and alternates small cuffs with larger pieces.

Air threading does not thread the needles or automatically choose settings for each knit. Learn those paths too. This pick is the standard b62 AIRLOCK, not the b68 combination machine or Maker Edition. Its coverstitch and chain-stitch work still leaves raw-edge trimming to your serger.

#3. Janome CoverPro 3000 Professional: top cover stitches

Janome CoverPro 3000 Professional

Our verdict:

Top cover stitches

Best for garment makers who want decorative top cover stitching as well as standard knit hems.

View at Janome

Keep in mind: the extra top-cover thread path adds setup to a basic hem.

The 3000P adds a built-in top cover stitch guide to the ordinary coverstitch and chain-stitch functions. Janome lists a three-position needle threader, a free arm and foot-pressure adjustment. Choose it when the extra upper thread pattern is something you plan to use on sportswear or decorative garment seams.

It is a household coverstitch machine despite the Professional model name. If most projects need only an ordinary two-needle hem, the 2000CPX is the more focused comparison. A top-cover system increases the choices to learn; it does not establish better standard hems without a practical test.

#4. bernette b42 FUNLOCK: straightforward coverstitch controls

bernette b42 FUNLOCK

Our verdict:

Straightforward coverstitch setup

Best for sewers who want core coverstitches with color-coded threading paths.

View at Bernette

Keep in mind: it has no air threading or b62-style free arm.

Bernette lists three coverstitches with 2.8 mm and 5.6 mm widths, plus a chain stitch. Separate needle-threading help, a looper threading mechanism, differential feed and LED lighting cover the basic setup tools. The narrower stitch choice can be useful if you prefer to learn a few finishes carefully.

The b42 uses mechanical controls, with no touchscreen or embroidery mode. For sleeves and cuffs, compare the free-arm Janome or b62 layout before deciding on the b42's fixed-bed approach.

#5. Juki MCS-1500: cover and chain stitching

Juki MCS-1500

Our verdict:

Cover and chain stitches

Best for sewers seeking a dedicated machine for cover hems and chain stitching.

View at JUKI

Keep in mind: it does not trim and overlock raw edges.

The MCS-1500 has a three-needle configuration and color-coded threading guides. Its coverstitch and chain-stitch functions make it a domestic companion to a regular sewing machine and serger, rather than a replacement for either.

Compare the controls and threading routine in the manual before buying, especially if you expect it to behave like a single-needle sewing machine. The ranking reflects the published workflow.

Factors to consider when choosing a coverstitch machine

Start with the hem you want to make: ordinary coverstitch, a chain stitch, or a top cover stitch. Compare the free arm for tubular pieces, the looper threading method and the presser foot controls. These are separate needs; air threading and a top-cover guide solve different setup problems.

Check the package before ordering attachments. The maker's standard equipment and a retailer's added bundle are different lists, and a binder or specialist foot may be extra. For deciding whether this machine earns its place at all, the explainer below remains the starting point.

Comparing dedicated machines by price tier

Entry-level coverstitch machines usually sew the core two and three-needle stitches. They have basic differential feed too. Pricier models add a wider choice of needle spacing and finer tension control for each thread.

Some also add a chain stitch for basting or decorative work. For most home sewists who hem knits now and then or often, the entry-level features cover the job well. The extra features matter more if you sew a lot of clothes or want many hem styles.

What to look for if you do buy one

Beyond the basic stitch, a few features help on a coverstitch machine. The first is a range of needle spacing, which changes how many rows the hem shows and how far apart they sit. The second is differential feed, which helps with knits of different weights. The third is a clear threading guide, since threading one is at least as fiddly as threading a serger.

Some models also sew a separate chain stitch. That is handy for basting or some decorative seams. You do not need it for basic hems on clothes.

Needle spacing and how it changes the finished look

Most coverstitch machines let you sew with two or three needles. Some also let you change the space between them. Wide spacing gives a bold, clear row of stitches, like you see on sportswear.

Narrow spacing gives a quieter finish, closer to a basic t-shirt hem. If your machine lets you, sew a test hem on your real project fabric with two spacing options. Do this before you sew a hem that will show on a finished piece.

Maintenance differences from a serger

A coverstitch machine has no cutting knife. So it makes less lint and fewer fabric scraps than a serger, and it needs cleaning a little less often. It still needs regular brushing around the loopers and the needle area.

Change the needles about as often as you would on a serger, since these machines also run fast next to a normal sewing machine. Thread tension matters just as much as on a serger. The same habit applies: test on a scrap of your project fabric before you sew the real hem.

Budgeting for a first coverstitch purchase

A coverstitch machine is often the second or third machine in a sewing room. Most people buy it after a sewing machine, and often after a serger too. So be sure you will use it often before you buy one. If you don't yet know how often you will hem knits, try a cheaper route first.

A combo serger and coverstitch machine works. So does the twin-needle stretch stitch on your sewing machine. Both give you a coverstitch-style hem while you find out.

Switching between modes on a combination machine

If you choose a combo machine, expect some work each time you switch from overlock to coverstitch. You remove and refit the needle plate. You adjust the stitch fingers. You rethread at least part of the machine.

Most makers design this to take a few minutes once you know the steps. It is still slower than picking up a second machine that is already threaded for its job. Whether that trade is worth it depends on how often you switch between the two stitches in one sewing session.