Working with a cover stitching machine
In the modern world there are many different sewing techniques. Does every craftswoman want to understand its diversity? to make the sewing process even more convenient and faster.
Very popular recently is a cover stitch or cover stitch machine, which performs a flat elastic seam. One of the household options for machines with this function is a carpet locker, which combines the functions of an overlocker and a cover stitching machine. Today we want to look at the following topics in more detail:
Why do you need a cover stitching machine?
A cover-stitching machine is used when sewing clothes from highly stretchable fabrics, knitwear, stretch and knitted materials. A stitch on a cover stitch machine is created by creating a chain stitch that stretches when the fabric is stretched and does not break. This seam is used to sew down parts of knitwear, jeans and sew on elastic bands.
Let's figure out why a cover stitching machine is needed. Firstly, it is indispensable when sewing knitwear. Its seams are used when sewing T-shirts, T-shirts, underwear, sweatshirts, sweatshirts, dresses, clothes made of stretch and stretchable materials. If you plan to sew at least one of these things on a regular basis, then you simply cannot do without a flat-seam stitcher.
How do industrial covers differ from household ones?
Unlike a conventional sewing machine, the seams made on the cover stitch do not tear, but stretch along with the material. In addition, due to the complex weave of threads in a seam, if one of the threads breaks, the entire seam will not unravel.
A cover stitching machine, in addition to elastic stitches, can be used for sewing on lace, ribbons and adjusting elastic.
Why do you need a cover stitching machine if you have an overlocker?
The main purpose of the overlocker is high-quality and professional processing of cuts. If you have already purchased an overlocker, you can familiarize yourself with its functions in the instructions. Today, some models of overlockers perform flat seams and can partially replace cover stitching machines.
Why partially?
Because the main function of an overlocker is to process cuts, even if you look at the overlocker from the side, you can immediately notice its visual difference from a cover-stitching machine - this is the length of the sleeve. If in an overlocker there is practically no space left on the inside of the presser foot, then a covertitch machine has a fairly large space on the inside of the presser foot due to the increased length of the sleeve. This property allows you to connect parts with a flat seam and perform decorative stitches on the product.
What seams can be created using a cover stitching machine?
The most common seam used when sewing knitwear on a flat-stitch machine is a connecting seam. It is used to sew down the necks of garments with frills and to connect sleeves to the bodice when finishing sportswear. It is performed with two or three needles. Depending on this, the appearance of the seam differs. One of the brightest representatives of connecting two-thread seams is the chain stitch - this is a type of two-thread seam, which on the front side is a straight stitch, and on the back a chain of loops - this seam is also elastic. To obtain it, we need 2 spools of thread - the 1st is threaded into the lower looper, the 2nd into the needle, and you need to set the needle to the central position.
Wide and narrow flat seam. Typically, such stitches are indispensable when hemming the bottom of knitwear, as well as when sewing on a belt, especially an elastic one with an internal elastic band. This seam can be made with either two or three needles. In addition, if two needles are installed at different distances, then the width of the resulting seams will be different. Consider a two-needle flat seam. We will need 3 spools of thread. One thread is threaded into the lower looper. The other two are in needles. The needles are installed in holes next to each other (right and middle). Raise the presser foot, position the pattern and sew a seam.
A wide two-needle flat seam can be obtained if we install two needles at a distance from each other, through the hole - on the right and on the left, while the threading and settings remain the same. As a result, we get a wider distance between the two lines, that is, the seam is wider than the previous one.
You can get a three-needle flat seam; for this you will need to install a 3rd needle.
The possibilities of a flat-stitch machine don’t end there; you can change the positions and number of needles, as well as thread threads of different colors to get beautiful flat seams, used in sewing not only as connecting stitches, but also as finishing stitches. There are different types of decorative stitches and the set of such stitches depends on the brand of the cover stitching machine. The settings for each decorative seam are not described in detail in the instructions for your machine and can be easily understood.
