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From: Melanie T
Date: 03-25-2006, 04:59 PM (1 of 3)
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If you are thinking about buying one of the cheap coverstitch stitch machines on eBay, I strongly advise DON'T! I bought a Yamata gk257 on eBay several weeks ago and it is a case of getting what I paid for. (No one to blame but myself). It did a ok job on the hem of knits, but nowhere else. If I sew on a woven or on the lengthwise rib of the knit it bunches up, the stitches are way too short and the right hand thread keeps breaking. As long as I stick to the cross wise grain (cross wise stretch) it looks passable. I went to the Janome dealer this morning and had her demo a coverpro for me just to see if there was any tricks to using one that I didn't know. She was a new lady since the last time I was in and she did a wonderful job of demoing the machine. (I think I am hooked). I then came home and fought with my gk257 for 3 hours. I am a pro at threading it now, I even know how to (I think properly) adjust the looper and I still can't get a nice stitch. The manual is a very poor translation from Chinese and the diagrams are lousy. It offers very little help for trouble shooting, unless (one would hope) you can read Chinese. I got sick of only one speed, ZOOM! and am now using the foot control for my blind hemmer. As that is electronic, and has the same end that plugs into the machine, I have much more control of the machine speed than with the manual foot control that came with it (not us approved in any case). I'm going to communicate with the eBay seller and try to send it back or maybe I can trade it in on a coverpro. In any case, I think it is time to save my pennies for a proper one. Sometimes cheaping out works, but not this time. I have lots of machines and can usually figure them out, I consider myself something of a Mrs. fix-it, but this one has me stumped and mad. 
Melanie
4 little sewing machine mechanics (6, 4, 2, Born June 14) Ontario Canada |
User: Melanie T
Member since: 09-21-2004 Total posts: 155 |
From: sewingcybermom
Date: 03-26-2006, 07:53 PM (2 of 3)
Hi Melanie! I just sold a really great Bernina coverstitch machine on e-bay for $500.00! Yep, I agree, don't go for the cheap stuff. Wait till you hear this one....I was looking for a coverstitch machine with three needles and more of a working space than my bernina. I love my Bernina's, but working with skating apparel and dance costumes, I longed for a free arm and more versatility. So off I went to e-bay. I typed in Janome coverpro and bingo!! I found a lady selling a janome coverpro, brand new in the box!! She owned a sewing shop and was closing it. She offered no warranty because she gave up her authorization to sell Janomes, but what do I care!! I won the brand new Janome for $475.00!!!!!  I called my local dealer and when she told me the price, I almost dropped! So I immediately listed my Bernina and sold it immediately. No kidding. I went to check the listing to see how it looked and it said "this auction has ended with buy it now". Less than 10 minutes on e-bay. How lucky am I??? So...I have my Janome and it was brand new, (can't believe I bought something NOT named Bernina) and I'm loving it. It sews like a dream, has a free arm, a ton of space to the right of the needle and it is quite fast. I don't think it's as fast as my bernina, but I'll live with it. So hang in there and save up for the real thing!! Good luck! See some of my work here:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ce%20costumes/ |
User: sewingcybermom
Member since: 01-18-2006 Total posts: 58 
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From: Melanie T
Date: 04-08-2006, 02:39 PM (3 of 3)
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I placed a local ad and someone came along and happily bought my gk257 for what I paid for it. Yeah! No more expensive door stop. I am happy and she is happy for now. I explained that I couldn't get it to work, but she uses industrials and is confident she can get it to work for her. I sure hope she can. Now for that coverpro.... Melanie
4 little sewing machine mechanics (6, 4, 2, Born June 14) Ontario Canada |
User: Melanie T
Member since: 09-21-2004 Total posts: 155 |
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