We have just completed another virtual course of 3 classes on our Janome Coverhem machines through our Janome Canada dealers. Erin and I team-taught these classes and we had a lot of fun showing all the stitch programs available on our Janome Coverpro’s….and a whole lot more.
The pic above is the reverse side of a two thread wide hem. The fabric used to make this knit top is quite stretchy and so the hem stitching needs to be able to stretch with the fabric. A straight stitch on a sewing machine just won’t do what I need…..a proper coverhem is required to give that flexible, professional finish. I bought my Janome Coverpro many years ago and I honestly do not regret a single day I have had the pleasure of using it. It has elevated my garment sewing to a professional level and is so quick and easy to get the results I desire.
There is my knit top: drape neck, bound armholes and coverhemmed hem line (reverse side shown in pic above).
TIP: it is well worth spending that little bit extra money for good quality fabric. I have been “burnt” several times with buying cheap, poor quality fabric which did not wash and wear well. This is regrettable as you spend more or less the same amount of effort and time making the garment to be disappointed when your garment does not hold up well. Some poor quality fabrics do not have good “recovery” so they tend to stretch out. I also do not like it when a fabric pills and fades – signs of inferior quality. I have learned my lesson and I’m happy to say that this remnant above was not inexpensive but was well worth the extra $$ as the quality is there and I have so enjoyed wearing this top often.
This is one of the first items I made with a medium weight ribbed cotton knit using this boxy shaped T which is quite loose fitting – nice for hot weather. I used my Janome 1000CPX for the hem, sleeve edges as well as over the binding for the neck opening. I serged the binding in place and then pressed the seam to one side. Lastly, I used the coverhem from the front/right side so that the seam inside was “flattened” and held in very nicely in place. The 2 thread wide stitching on the outside was an effective top stitching. Again, the good quality cotton knit has stood up to wash & wear….yay!
This was a lovely piece of striped scuba I bought in London, UK when I last went to visit my son and his family. As it is a quite stable knit, I did not need to use any stay tape. The neckline was just turned to the inside and coverhemmed down with a two thread narrow stitch. The hem line was also coverhemmed with navy thread so it is almost invisible.
A close up of the neck line: raw edge turned to the wrong side, press (with a press cloth), ride edge of the foot alongside the folded edge while stitching a two thread narrow coverhem…..SO quick and easy. The decision of whether to use a navy or white thread needed to be made. I went with navy as that is what I used on the hemline and sleeve hems.
Here is a link to more information about our Janome Coverpro machines.