Avoid Skipped Stitches: How to Troubleshoot Your Coverstitch Machine

Skipped stitches, bad tension, uneven seams, poor feeding are common issues on many coverstitch machines, especially when sewing on more challenging knits. In this guide, you'll learn how to troubleshoot and fix common problems on coverstitch machines.
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Tip 1.
Use the right needles
Skipped stitches on knits are often caused by using the wrong needles. The Schmetz Elx overlock system is recommended by most manufactures for household machines. But check with your dealer and see what they recommend
Tip 2
Make sure the needles sit all the way up in the slot
If there is just a tiny gap, chances are your stitch will be messed up since the needles will be uneven
Tip 3,
Lift your presser foot before threading the machine
You need to release the tension disks before you thread the machine and you do that by lifting the presser foot. If you don' the tension will be messed up and cause all sorts of troubles
Tip 4
Check for lint in the tension disks
Lint and thread that are stuck in the disks will mess up the stitches
Tip 5
Place all the threads north west before sewing.
If your threads are all over the place when you begin sewing, chances are high that they will jumble up and cause issues when sewing.
Tip 6
Choose the right stitch length
Most of us have found that a longer stitch length will cause less skipped stitches
Tip 7
Remove seam bulk when hemming
A thick seam might mess up the stitches when hemming. Do remove bulk, clip the seam allowance and fold in opposite directions. You can also hammer the seam to make it flatter
Tip 8
Try adjusting the presser foot pressure,
In some instances lowering och increasing the presser foot pressure can also helped with skipped stitches
Tip 9
Sew with confidence
Don't stop and start all the time. Every time you stop to check something there is a risk that the next time the needle hits the fabric there will be something off.
Tip 10
Start and end with fabric scraps when sewing on the flat
This will eliminate the risk for messed stitching in the beginning of the seam
Tip 11
Secure the threads properly
It's common to have threads unravelling when first starting out using the cover stitch machine. To keep the stitch from unravelling, you need to secure them properly.
There are two common ways to this.
Option 1 Release the threads and attach them by hand.
Lower the needle using the handwheel until you hear a click. Then lift the needles again, by turning the handwheel in the opposite direction.
This will release the threads
Pinch the threads between the thumb and indexfinger and pull northwest.
Pull the threads on the reverse side using a needle and secure by hand.
Option 2
Secure the threads by using the pull method.
Sew the last stitch using the hand wheel and then stop at the highest needle point.
Lift the presser foot
Use a crotchet hook or tweezers to pull the needle thread towards you
Clip the thread
Pull the fabric towards the back and then to the left
This will pull the needle threads to the reverse side and secure the stitch.
You might need to try this a few times.
Don't release the thread/tension by moving the needle down until you hear a click and then up (which is the normal way and what the manual will suggest) Instead sew a full stitch by hand and then pull!
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[@Thelaststitch]

🧵 Grab Free Coverstitch Troubleshooting Guide www.thelaststitch.com/coverstitch-troubleshooting-guide

[@sewhappysarahr8912]

I have a bernette b42 funlock. It has been a bit of a process to learn it. I have found that if I start with my needles in the down position, it helps to reduce the bird nest of threads that I was frequently getting. That and adjusting my presser foot pressure has made my funlock so much more fun!

[@amyharris54]

MANY, MANY THANKS!!! Such an intimidating machine! A combination of several of your tips saved me a trip to the repair shop!! Truly appreciate your video!!

[@maritahensley3295]

I just started sewing and I had mine in the box for 7 years I just took if out and I'm watching your videos:) I just wanted to say Thank you for the helpful information...

[@o6662]

Wooly poly (aka wooly nylon) in the lower looper also helps combat skipped stitches. In fact, it was the game changer for me. It has inherently good stretch, so it's kinda a no-brainer for the bottom stitches. I have a black and a white and don't see any need to invest in any other colors, at least, at this time. Johanna, I very much look forward to all your videos and really appreciate your coverage of the cover stitch machine as there is not that much information out there for us newbies.

[@Thelaststitch]

I love woolly too, it also adds tension, which could be an explanation for why it works better than regular thread when it comes to prevent skipped stitches? Just guessing here, but I have a similar experience that woolly has improved the result in many cases. Thank you for your kind words, I'm very passionate about this subject :-) I bought my first machine in 2004 and it was even harder then to find good info, so I want to spread the knowledge

[@713Joanne]

Your videos are awesome!! I’ve learned so much! Thank you!

[@RissaC333]

Bless you for making these videos 🙏 they are so helpful! 💗

[@peggylooby631]

You are the best Johanna!

[@gaby_bm]

Sooo helpful, thank yoouuu

[@Sheilazcrochetz]

Thank you for this video ! My Janome 900cp was skipping stitches and despite changing needles, clearing out dust, checking dial settings, forgot to adjust presser foot pressure. Doing the happy dance !

[@Thelaststitch]

Thank you Sheila! Getting comments like this is the best thing, I love being to help with troubleshooting since I struggled so much myself with coverstitching,

[@1SewSweet]

Great tips Johanna! I have one of those "budget" type cover stitch machines and just bought it last year so it's relatively new! To secure the threads, I use the option where you pull the threads toward you, clip them and then quickly pull the fabric behind and to the left… This works like a charm! And have been using it since I purchased my machine. However, I'm going to have to try some of your tips for the skipped stitches, because on occasion, I have had skipped stitches. I would really like to try placing a piece of fabric at the beginning and the end of my projects. I have not tried this yet. Thank you so much for your wonderful information!

[@Thelaststitch]

The scraps has been such helpful thing, especially when sewing on tricky fabrics. It's like the coverstitch needs to practice for a few stitches to really get the stitching right and they actually recommend it in my manual for my current coverstitch machine.

[@celiahaddon4087]

Very helpful tips. I would also add that loosening the looper tension can help prevent skipped stitches on fine fabrics.

[@Thelaststitch]

Excellent, thank you for your tip!

[@sueb4496]

Thank you! That make sense. I did all of the tips, but loosening the tension made a lot of sense and it only skipped on the seams , I didn’t do tip 7🙈...but at least the main part is fine.

[@ultraviolet1804]

Awesome, thank you. I found Klasse needles are too long (the hard way) and brands Organ or Schmetz only for Janome or Babylocks :)

[@nancykarpen]

When I got my machine, a cp1000, and it's a long time ago now! There was a very active thread on Pattern Review on the Janome coverstitch machines. It seems that the machines came from the factory with very high foot pressure that created problems.. Once I lightened the pressure most of my issues went away. Your tips are good and were the things that I found that eliminated any issues I had. I will add one more. I was unable to sew for about 4 months and when I came back to using my coverstitch it was skipping badly. I changed the needles and the problem went away. We have high humidity and I wonder if that caused the issue with the needles.

[@Thelaststitch]

Good tips! Regarding the presser foot pressure I heard a seller say the same, plus the feed dogs might need some adjustment too. Apperntly it was set for too thin fabrics, because that is more common in Japan! And interesting about the needles.

[@angelrob17]

Hi! I just got my first coverstitch machine, a bernette b42funlock. So far it's going ok. I found you when I was searching for how to deal with bulky seams (still not working, but getting better!) My question is how do you lock the ends when you use a scrap of fabric at the beginning and end of your stitching? Would you not cut the scrap off and have nothing to tie? The information in your video is very helpful and I hope to soon be zooming along with my funlock!!

[@christineadamson9943]

On my Janome coverstitch machine the thread only unravels from the finish end not from the start end. This means that I don't have to tie the starting ends.

[@clarethornley4508]

Great video Johanna - so good I watched it twice! Quick question - if using fabric scraps to start and finish, when I've cut the scraps off, are the remaining ends secure? I'm thinking they'll be too short to secure by hand.

[@Thelaststitch]

I just leave the scrap on and then remove it aftet sewing the side seams (or the serger just cut it off). Hope that helps 😊

[@wm6441]

@@Thelaststitch I don't understand in what case do we use fabric scraps?

[@framrodj]

I have the Janome 1000cpx machine, used it about 6 times in several years, and never saw or noticed a problem with skipped/broken stitches til a friend told me about her problems sewing knits on her 900 model. Sure enough, she came over and voila....the stitch would be perfect and further down on the seam, the stitch would skip for NO reason! The tensions were all set as they originally were. So, I am truly at a loss and may try a different needle or just bring it to where I purchased it to have them try and figure it out! (unless anyone here has/had the same problem and can advise!)

[@Thelaststitch]

This seem to be a common occurance on some Janome machines and I've had this happen to sometimes. Not sure why it is happening, but that is something I would like to investigate. and share in the future. Maybe interview a Janome person and see what they say. My only tip is to just start over checking everything with threading, needles etc,. But yes, it is strange and annoying

[@framrodj]

Thank you so much for your reply. I think it would be a good idea to contact them, but in the meantime, I will try different needles.

[@stellagarrill3952]

Hi there Johanna, Thanks for the info and your book is great!. I hope you can help me. I have used the tape binder well in the past on this machine, however i have just spent a few hours trying, and it works fine with no fabric inserted, but once i insert fabric into binding i get skipped stitches and the looper thread is bunching. Could it be the foot pressure?, as i may have fiddled with it, and not sure where it should be. Its quite thin viscose knit. would love some advice! ahhh back to try some more options

[@stellagarrill3952]

SORTED! Higher Diff Feed and adjusting Foot Tension Knob to 1cm high. Got there in the end. Thank you anyway x

[@silkandcottonhawaii]

Stella Garrill thank you sooooooo much for posting your solution! Your information was the exact reason I watched this video. I too am using the binder foot and it’s skipping stitches when I insert the fabric that is being bound. Thanks so much for taking the time to post your solution. I’ll try it as soon as I get home. 😊

[@JohannesJunkJournalLife]

I can’t find a video on trouble shooting pfaff4852!!! Apparently I bought a dinasaur.

[@samt-b2499]

I've a question, when you say to clip your seam allowance and fold over, you cut straight through the overlock looper threads, is this not begging for it to unravel? I am seriously struggling with sewing over bulk with my cpx

[@joannewilliams1520]

You will cut from overlocked edge & not through the chain seam. As the next step is to hem, the cut edges will be incased & fraying is not a problem.

[@anniesaussies7499]

HELP!! Janome 900cpx stitching in the round on lycra spandex! Skipped stitches no matter what I do, adjusted everything on the machine, clipped and folded seams as well, needles changed... Any tips please?

[@Thelaststitch]

Have you tried size 90 needles? And are using the Schmetz ELX overlock/serger needles? If you are still struggling after all this I would have the machine checked by a mechanic.

[@annmikesell1992]

Annie’s Aussies thank you! I actually tried wooly nylon thread in the looper and it’s working great!

[@shortyylu]

I will only get 1 skipped stitch on the looper side

[@Upbeatnow]

I cannot find a video that addresses my problem. I just started using the Brother 2340CV overstitch machine last week and this week when I finish a three stitch line there are not just four threads...there are 8 to ten threads coming out of the top and bottom of the material. I have looked at this long enough to see that the top treads are somehow getting looped around under the fabric as straight threads making it appear that there are top threads coming from the bottom of the machine. While it is annoying, it hasn't prevented me from using the machine. I just know it is not right in some way. If anyone here knows the answer to this problem, please attach a comment. Thank you.

[@karenmullenax3832]

Literally just broke my cover stitch machine!!!! So sad

[@judykski4916]

Overall, your tips were great. However, there is a problem with Tip #7: Remove bulk. If a beginner to coverstitching who has never done this before watches this section of the video, they may have no idea where you clipped that seam allowance (SA). Also, you don't clip all the way to, but not through the needle stitching line. DO take the time to show the viewer what to do with those two sections of SA by showing how they will be splayed in the hem, thus reducing bulk. That is the main premise of this step, correct? I realize this video has been created to sell your excellent book (I have a copy) on coverstitching, but please take the time to present the information you are trying to reach your audience with.

[@Thelaststitch]

Thank you for your input, and I agree I could have explained this more clearly in the video, it's always a bit tricky when making instructional sewing videos because there is so much information to cover and for me to remember to mention, so sometimes certain things don't get enough explanation. Which is always a bummer when I realise that, because once the video is out and there is no way of editing it. And thank you for your kind words about my book.

[@hounamao7140]

that's honestly the crapiest machine I've ever owned. It skips stitch at some point on every single hem no matter the tension, needle, or whatsoever. and not stopping on a cover stitch machine is pretty unrealistic considering it's mostly made for stitching in the round. Thanks for the video anyway. But next time I'll stick to Elna. it never disappoints me in terms of quality.