Buying guide · coverstitch
A coverstitch makes the twin-needle hem you see on every bought T-shirt. If you already own an overlocker, buy a dedicated machine rather than a combination unit — the changeover is what stops people alternating.
A coverstitch makes the twin-needle hem you see on every bought T-shirt. If you already own an overlocker, buy a dedicated machine rather than a combination unit — the changeover is what stops people alternating.
The main use. The stitch stretches, which is what a straight stitch on jersey does not do.
Where the professional finish is most visible and where the stretch matters most.
Where the chain stitch on the underside becomes a design feature.
Where flatlock seams and stretch are functional requirements rather than aesthetics.
| Your work | The machine | The consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Regular knit hems | A dedicated coverstitch | Space and cost |
| Occasional knits | A twin needle on your machine | Less stretch |
| Limited space | A combined machine | Switching modes takes time |
| Sleeves and cuffs | A free arm | Sewing in the round |
Coverstitch machines are sensitive to thread quality and tension and produce plenty of lint from knit fabric. A machine that has started skipping stitches usually has a blunt needle or lint under the plate rather than a fault.
Multiple needles at speed.
Coverstitch · looper threader · LED
A dedicated coverstitch machine — not a combination unit — with a separate needle threader and a looper threading mechanism. One reference on all six markets we checked.
Best for: Anyone who already owns an overlocker and wants proper twin-needle hems on knits
≈ $700 / £570 / 650 €
3 needles · 1,350 spm · colour-coded threading
A cover and chain stitch machine with three needles, colour-coded threading guides and a stated 1,350 stitches per minute. Present on five of the six markets we checked — not Spain.
Best for: Knit garment hems, and the occasional chain stitch for jeans-style seams
≈ $800 / £825 / 1020 €
Close, on a normal sewing machine, and for a fraction of the cost. The top looks the same; underneath you get a zigzag rather than a proper chain stitch, so it is less elastic and less durable. For occasional hems a twin needle is the sensible answer.
Too much tension pulling the two rows together. Reduce top tension, lengthen the stitch slightly and support the fabric with a strip of stabiliser.
It produces the stretchy twin-needle hem seen on ready-made knitwear, with a chain stitch on the underside. It is the finish a straight stitch cannot give on jersey.
Combined saves space and money; dedicated saves the reconfiguration time. If you alternate often, that time dominates the experience.
Usually differential feed not adjusted, or no stabiliser. Both are standard practice on knit hems rather than fixes for a fault.
There is a specific release sequence, because pulling the work out wrongly unravels the stitch. The manual describes it and it is worth learning early.
No. Unlike an overlocker it has no knife. The edge is finished separately or left as it is inside the garment.
Needles suited to knits, in the system the maker specifies. Using the wrong system is a common cause of skipped stitches on these machines.
For : Anyone who already owns an overlocker and wants proper twin-needle hems on knits
Main strength : Dedicated machine — no conversion time between overlocking and hemming
Main limitation : A second machine on the table, and 8.6 kg of it
For : Knit garment hems, and the occasional chain stitch for jeans-style seams
Main strength : Colour-coded threading guides — the single feature that decides whether this class of machine gets used
Main limitation : Not listed on amazon.es
Consumables and protective gear from the same aisle, at the price we recorded. Check compatibility with the model you choose before ordering: it depends on the fitting and the part number, which the product page states.
Head-to-heads already published between two models from this guide or this aisle.
The models here come from the catalogue of this site. Specifications are those published by the manufacturer and on the Amazon product page; prices are what Keepa reported on the date below, and both move. The ranking uses declared specifications, the balance of stated strengths and limitations, and price. No product on this site has been physically tested, and nothing here claims otherwise.
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