Coverstitch success!

My coverstitch machine arrived, and has already been put to much use.  I was so excited to see the UPS truck!  After unpacking everything (and what a full box it was!), it didn't take long before I was able to get the machine going.  Of course I read the manual first.  Then, I dumbly ignored the voice in my head, and instead of re-threading the machine from scratch I knotted onto the sample threads.  BIG. MISTAKE.  The looper thread wasn't threaded properly, so my test swatch got sucked into the machine.  I learned very quickly that when coverstitch goes bad, it goes REALLY BAD.  As in, spending an hour getting the fabric unstuck from the feed dogs bad.  Apparently you need three different screw drivers to remove various parts of the machine, so my husband very kindly gave me a tool set so that I would stop bothering him.  Added bonus there!  I finally realized that there is a knob inside the machine that would help release the fabric next time it gets stuck.  And I'm sure there will be another time in the not-so-distant future that it will get stuck.  But, once I got the threading correct, it was lovely!

By using a different color thread for each position I was able to get a good idea for how the coverstitch is formed.  Now I'm thinking that it would be interesting to use different thread colors on a plain tee or skirt.  Hmmm.....

My first project to employ the coverstitch machine was another Anna Cross Over Bra.  I can't seem to have too many of these!  I'm finally getting good at applying the lingerie elastic.  I used coverstitch on the cup seam to hold down the seam allowance and make a nice top stitching, and also on the side seam to hold both layers of the seam allowance on the back portion.  I thought this would be similar to the finish on commercially sewn bras that helps keep the sides firm and flat.  Do you see that my thread is actually ivory?  This is why we don't choose thread at night with poor lighting.  Mea culpa.

Next I did the same for a black Anna Cross Over Bra.  I've been very lucky in my fabric shopping lately and have found lots of nice knits in the remnant section.  Since these bras only use a bit of fabric (pattern says 1/2 yard, but I think for my size it is more like 1/4), most remnants I find are big enough to make one if not two bras.  I bought this black fabric without looking too closely at the label.  I thought it was a lightweight ITY, but it turns out to be swimsuit fabric.  I thought I'd try it anyway, and I really enjoy wearing it.  The fabric is very soft and slinky, and works well under my tees.

The last project was a tee for my husband.  After my last big fabric purchase, he mentioned (in a somewhat annoyed voice) that I haven't sewn much for him.  I took this as a subtle hint that he wanted something he could wear more often than the smoking jacket I made him for Christmas.  I bought a Kwik Sewn men's t-shirt pattern and went to work.  I used a nice cotton/poly interlock that I found in the mill-end table at Hancock Fabrics.  It turned out slightly big (I guess husband is between two sizes), but he likes it very much and wore it immediately.  I didn't manage to snap a photo before he went outside to grill dinner, so all I have a picture of the coverstitch.

I'm very particular about matching the fabric and thread colors, which I guess comes from my years in the fashion industry.  Of course, there is a very limited selection of serger threads, and I haven't figured out yet if my coverstitch machine can use regular sewing thread or not.  The burgundy thread I bought was close, but not close enough for me to use as the stitching on the outside.  So when that happens, I usually decide to use a totally contrasting color rather than make it look like a bad match.  In this case I used black, and I think it looks nice.

I promised my husband I'd make him a woven button up shirt, so more coverstitching will have to wait a bit.  Until next time, happy crafting...