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From: mommydionne
Date: 07-25-2006, 06:44 PM (1 of 16)
I'm considering upgrading my huskylock 910 to the 936 for the coverstitch feature, I sew a lot of knits and sportswear etc (just got a batch of coolmax from wazoodle  ), is it worth the extra $$? Those with a coverstitch, do you use it? just asking.
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 07-25-2006, 07:06 PM (2 of 16)
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I've used my coverstitch a few times, but I rarely work with knits and don't sew for kids much. It would look great if you sew with knits and especially for kids because it's fast and you would finish more stuff before they outgrow it. I would think if you have a bunch of t-shirts to hem at one time you could whip right through them with the cover stitch. It might be hard to sew in growing room though, I'm not sure. I don't think I would buy a serger without one now. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Skye
Date: 07-25-2006, 08:53 PM (3 of 16)
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Hi Jeanette, I have a stand alone c/s machine (Janome 1000CP) and love it. I love having both my serger and c/s machine set up no having to change thread paths etc. Just change seats I sew alot of knits and the c/s is great for finishing the hems and necklines. I would recommend if $$ allow it to get one with triple stitch capacity this gives you more flexiblity ie 3 needles, double needle (3mm and 6mm on my one ) and chain stitch. Where I live (New Zealand ) I paid equiv to $US 550 for my machine February 05 - the machine sort of followed me home  My serger has c/s but to tell you the truth I have not tried that function out. Anyway down here buying a good 4 thread serger and c/s machine the cost would be similar to buying a serger with c/s function dont know what the situation is in the North. Over on patternreview.com there has/is alot of discussion regarding the c/s machines and their accessories. I sew on our dining room table and DH says when I have my 3 machines out it looks impressive - he is not so impressed with the threads thru'out the house tho'- however he is very good at vacuuming them up for me He is a keeper (he irons too) Skye |
User: Skye
Member since: 09-28-2000 Total posts: 233 |
From: weezyrider
Date: 07-26-2006, 10:26 AM (4 of 16)
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I had a 936. It could be a bear to get the coverlock going, especially threading.Sold it and got an Elna 744 which is a mechanical that does the coverlock. Much easier to switch, but still a pain - so bought a Babylock CS on sale. I sold the Viking serger simply because the foot setup was too long. I like to sew doll clothes and used to just sew around curves on an old Pfaff just like a sewing machine. The dealer had several brands of machines, so I was able to measure the foot. Elna was the smallest. Weezy |
User: weezyrider
Member since: 08-19-2003 Total posts: 218 
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From: mommydionne
Date: 07-26-2006, 01:11 PM (5 of 16)
hmmmm.... perhaps keep the viking 910 (which I do like) and get a coverstitch only machine? Could be an option as my trade in to upgrade will likely be 500-700 and up  More Machines.... hahahahahaha 
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 07-26-2006, 06:26 PM (6 of 16)
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I bought the Janome 900 CS .. because that is all I could afford.. 2 needle coverstitch.. I LOVE it.. I make so many t-shirts and sweat shirts that I needed it for the hems.. My serger is more than 15 years old , but still going strong so I kept it .. Now I too have to change seats, but I could not afford it any other way, so I'm happy..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: mommydionne
Date: 07-27-2006, 07:38 PM (7 of 16)
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I may be waiting, the price for the three line coverstitch janome is $1000 in my area, but I can wait, it would be much easier to have two separate machines than have to switch the 936 around, looked like a pita in the shop when the owner demoed it for me.
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
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From: weezyrider
Date: 07-28-2006, 11:04 AM (8 of 16)
It is and it is. 
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User: weezyrider
Member since: 08-19-2003 Total posts: 218
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From: MaryW
Date: 07-28-2006, 11:27 AM (9 of 16)
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I agree, it is. However my Pfaff Coverstyle is an excellent machine other than the changing over. I love the diff. feed and there are loads of other little features I haven't even tried yet.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: weezyrider
Date: 07-28-2006, 11:51 AM (10 of 16)
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Not sure about the models, but Pfaff and Elna seem to be similar. Think same manufacturer. A lot of the Pfaff and Elna feet are interchangeable. Weezy |
User: weezyrider
Member since: 08-19-2003 Total posts: 218
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 07-28-2006, 05:47 PM (11 of 16)
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I have seen where many posted that the 936 was a more tedious switch over to coverhem and several owners ended up purchasing a separate coverhem only machine. I have an Elna 744. I have to say it is an easy switch over. It might be easier than most sergers to switch because the 744 is only a 4 thread and not a 5 thread. All that is needed to switch over is to add the little table to the front of the machine..thread the chain looper, switch the lever postion on the foot. The needles tilt back for easy needle changing..there are 5 needle positions. The back two postions are for the many serged stitch programs. The front 3 needle postions are for the 2 seam narrow or 2 seam wide or three seam coverhem and chainstitch. There is no need to change the foot or the plate when converting to coverhem. You just dial the numbered stitch you want. This is not a computerized serger..the stitches are numbered..I believe there are 16 stitches. Releasing coverhem stitches is also easier on the 744. It can sew off with just a touch on the needle thread tension release button. There is also an auto tack feature that inserts your chain into the seam. With automatic tensions one never has to adjust tension..you just turn the knob and dial which stitch program you wish that is shown on the graph on the front of the machine and tensions are automatically set. I paid $800 for my machine new at a local dealers. I found the price of a coverhem only machine locally was the same price that I paid for my Elna and it did not offer the 3 seam coverhem that the 744 has. The Janome Coverpros were not on the market at the time I purchased my serger. At the time I had a Pfaff 4842 that I loved and I only wanted the extra coverhem and I probably would have purchased a CoverPro had they been on the market because I wanted the 3 seam coverhem that one of their models offeres. I have no regrets. I gave my Pfaff to a family member and I love my 744 being the easiest serger I have ever used. The most expensive I have owned but the easiest. I also find it to be quieter and less fussy than some of the sergers costing almost 3 times the price. Oh, and yes..as to Pfaff and Elna being similar..Pfaff and Elna are both still made in Japan and the Elna 744 and 945 can use the same feet as the Pfaff Coverlock models. The Pfaff 4862 in fact is much like the Elna 744 with the auto tensions and both are coverlocks and only 4 thread models but I don't think the Pfaff 4862 offers the triple coverhem as does the 744 and the needle postions are not the same nor does it have a tilt needle bar like the Elna. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: weezyrider
Date: 07-29-2006, 08:23 AM (12 of 16)
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I agree that the 744 is much easier to thread, unless you are in a hurry! Then every machine seems to be possessed! The 744 is fairly close to the old Pfaff 78- series and is much easier to use. I don't use the tilt needle bar. It's an extra I can live without. There was one other oddity with the 936. It needed room for the fabric. I had it close to a wall, (narrow table width) and it would feed funny. Moved it out by 6 or so inches and it sewed straighter! BTW - never could get a decent rolled hem on chiffon on the 936. Same thread, same fabric and the 744 did it. Weezy |
User: weezyrider
Member since: 08-19-2003 Total posts: 218
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From: sewcr8v
Date: 07-29-2006, 08:27 PM (13 of 16)
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I like my 936... I find threading a breeze, adjusting settings to my fabric also easy. The coverstitch worked a whole lot better when I noticed there was a mistake in the manual in the threading - I can explain in detail if anyone wants. As for the rolled hem - make sure you tighten your lower looper pretty much as far as it will go. This is a good machine if you are good with sergers or will follow the manual. My favourite reference book, that would be good with any serger is The Complete Serger Handbook, by Chris (forget the last name). Learning technique is everything with any serger - once you master it most sergers these days should be fairly easy to operate. For a good inexpensive coverstitch machine I highly recommend the Bernette Funlock 009.
Sewcr8v
Keep the world sewing... |
User: sewcr8v
Member since: 09-05-2004 Total posts: 30 
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From: Kylnne2
Date: 07-30-2006, 02:48 AM (14 of 16)
| I love my Elna, and will always keep it and I do like having the combined serger/coverhem all in one machine but the Janome Cover Pro models have come down in price since they were introduced to the public and I think if I was in the market for a coverhem machine and I already owned a serger that I liked and was comfortable in using and it performed well I would just add a coverhem only machine. The Babylock Cover Hem only model seems very nice but I understand it is rather pricey. The lower model Janome CP ( I think the model is 900) does not have the 3 thread coverhem but I have seen it priced low and the CP 1000 with the 3 thread is only a few hundered dollars more. Prices really do vary in different areas. These machines perform well and their owners love them. There is an on going discussion thread on the Cover Pros at PatternReview on line that is almost 50 pages long. |
User: Kylnne2
Member since: 07-10-2004 Total posts: 629 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 07-30-2006, 07:35 AM (15 of 16)
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The coverstitch worked a whole lot better when I noticed there was a mistake in the manual in the threading In my manual there is a mistake in changing from a serger to cover stitch. The mistake -- it says move the lever to the right when it should say left. Yeah -- that's a biggie and could have been a serious problem but the sales lady noticed it when she was demonstrating the machine and we changed it there and then. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 07-30-2006, 10:17 PM (16 of 16)
I have the Singer 14T967DC It has the three needle cover stitch but I've never used it. I haven't sewn knits lately. But it was very reasonable 499.00 in US dollars at All Brands. It's easy to use has a chain stitch and all kinds of serger stitches. It's a 5 thread machine. The stitch quality is very good. I am a  satisfied customer.
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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