| Bernina:FunLock 009DCC (Coverstitch Machine) | | Viewed 1173 time(s) |
1 more reviews for this machine | Review rated Helpful by 1 people Very Helpful by 12 people | | Reviewed by: | iSewQuiltArt | 
| About iSewQuiltArt | | AUSTRALIA | | Member since: 4/4/08 | | Reviews written: 101 | | Sewing skills:Advanced | | Favored by: 23 people | | sewing machines reviewed: 32 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 12/13/12 4:46 AM | | Approx price paid: | $995 | | Had this machine for: | 11 months | | Recommended? | Yes | | Online Merchants: | Amazon.com | Features
- Adjustable Stitch Length and Width
- Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure
- Differential Feed
- Coverstitch
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Discuss Sewing Machines with PR members Sewing Machine Forum | | What iSewQuiltArt likes about this machine
I LOVE the compensating foot on this machine. LOVE it! It sails up and over seam intersections with no need for much prep of fabric at all! There are two floating plates that adjust to level the foot over bulky or uneven height seams. These keep a good grip on the fabric and prevent it from twisting as it sews through the bulky areas or uneven heights and I think that is the key to such nice stitch formation. I keep expecting for it to skip stitches just like my previous machine did, but it won't!! I watch with amazement with each project as perfect seams stitch out (after of course a test sew and any minor adjustments to tension for different thread and fabrics if needed)
I was given a different model coverstitch earlier as a gift which had issues with repeated skipped stitches despite fusing seams, butting seams in opposite directions, using steam and a clapper to flatten fused seams, using fabric to equalise the height of the foot coming onto and off of seam intersections. It did not happen all the time but more often than not and as we know, any coverstitch not properly secured will unravel.
It also had really very low clearance for fabric under the foot so bulky seams would get caught and twist through the machine. This machine does not have that problem.
The 009DCC has a higher clearance under the foot so I have had no issues with bulkier fabrics to date. Everything I have made or repaired so far stitches through the machine, even seams I approach with trepidation, wondering if things will go wrong.
These are a range of fibre in light to heavy weight jersey and double knit fabrics as well as stretch nylon elastane pants, and polarfleece.
The combination of compensating foot and greater clearance has made a huge difference to the speed and pleasure with which I hem knits.
I love the industrial 5mm twin needle coverstitch. It looks just like RTW rather than narrower or wider that other models do but that you see less in RTW. Its a nice width.
Threading is straightforward on top and once you have the manual open and followed the diagrams for threading the looper a few times you can figure it out without referring to the manual.
Looper tension is adjustable over looser, medium or tighter range of settings.
Upper tension is adjustable with dials, easily read.
When I bought it the store had just got it in for a customer on request who then cancelled the order and they had the machine on the floor on sale, so I scored several hundred dollars cost reduction. The lady demonstrating it wasn't sure how it threaded so we opened the manual and threaded it together. Perfect stitches first attempt!
We tested calico as well as a variety of knits including ITY stretch poly, cotton double knit, jersey, poly cotton interlock, polarfleece. Results were impressive and stitches are far more consistently neat in formation than my previous coverstitch machine.
I like the compact size of the little machine. My sewing room isn't massive and I have a herd of machines including overlockers and sm's. Size matters.
There are little suckers on the base of the machine so it doesn't wander across the table at all even during speedy hemming jobs.
Presser foot pressure is adjustable.
I can use cones of overlocker thread of high quality through the machine. My last machine would NOT coverstitch using high quality overlock thread and threw tantrums if I tried.
It takes thicker threads with no dramas, I have used quilting variegated cotton on a kid's project and it looked great and ran through the machine nicely.
Its simple and straightforward to learn, and has onboard decent lighting for night time cover stitching. I have not had to reach for an additional lamp for evening mending of things like the kid's school uniform hems.
It doesn't weigh all that much so even with a bad back I can carry it around with the built in handle with no drama.
It sounds and feels solid despite being small and compact. The workspace is adequate for the sorts of things I make. There is no freearm but I found the freearm on the previous machine I had was of little real use as it was too wide and the needle set too far up the freearm to be really helpful especially on kids wear.
I like the thread stand built in as well. If I want to wind bobbins and run through the machine instead of buying extra spools of thread, I put them on top of the cone adaptor and then the thread spool cap on top and thread as normal. Cones and large spools fit and run well on the machine.
I like and feel comforted that this machine has been around and continues to be produced because it works so well, even though the design is older in appearance, why re-engineer for cosmetics appearances and mess with an already great system that works? I felt good seeing that serious dressmakers chose this model from others even though it is less modern aesthetically. It has some excellent reviews online that I tripped across when researching a replacement coverstitch machine.
The difference in performance between this and the other machine I had before was light night and day. No more skipped stitches, unravelling seams and frustrations. Perfect stitching every time. A zippy little machine makes the finishing stage of knit wear sewing or mending kid's school uniforms and RTW knitwear a snap. Cannot recommend it highly enough. The increase in cost to lower priced coverstitch is more than justified IMHO given its consistently neat, perfect stitching. If the full RRP is more than you want to pay, watch for sales or ex demo models, or even second hand ones. Not much can really go wrong as they are quite simple little machines and being still produced if something like a looper were bent or damaged it can still be easily replaced.
What iSewQuiltArt does not like about this machine
Threading the lower looper is a bit slower than the previous machines as there are more places to thread, but then, it is not difficult, just a tiny bit more time consuming, and the stitch quality on the looper is neater by far than what the machine I had before was producing even after being adjusted by a mechanic. To speed up threading, you can tie on and carefully pull through, I tend to do it after the first spring/ clip guide thing at the back of the machine is cleared as that is where a knot will tangle or catch if it is going to do so.
The manual could possibly contain a greater wealth of information on coverstitching. Most manuals are thin on real information for coverstitch machines from what I have seen. I have learnt additional tricks and information from the net as well as books.
Otherwise there's nothing not to love. | *LOGIN to add a comment to this review
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8 Comments
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I have this machine too and love the compensating foot. Dealers have a serger work book that they can use for classes. Chapter 5 had great informayion for the cover stitch.
12/13/12 8:18 AM
This machine sounds wonderful, Great Review! It makes me want this machine even more. I have seen it at my local Bernina dealer and they want $1000 U.S. Dollars here. I would love one based on the good reviews but I need to save up more money, LOL. The day I saw it they didn't have it threaded or ready to sew and they were trying to steer me towards the Bernina serger/ coverhem machine and their sewing machines. All of which they demonstrated to me except for the little Fun lock coverhem machine. I may have to go back and try it out for myself. Thanks again for an informative review! Butter Bean
12/13/12 8:49 AM
Thanks so much for your in depth review. I believe I would like this machine very much.
12/14/12 6:18 AM
Butterbean, I'm sure the combo machine is nice but its a pain to switch to and fro between overlocker and coverstitch and my mechanic has always felt from a performance base that a combo machine is a compromise with the main functionality in favour of overlocker and that coverstitch is less natural for combo machines to do.
12/15/12 2:47 AM
I think you and you sewing mechanic are probably right about that. Plus it would be easier to have each dedicated machine ready to go if you have the space than trying to switch from serging to coverstitch function.
12/15/12 7:43 PM
I think you and you sewing mechanic are probably right about that. Plus it would be easier to have each dedicated machine ready to go if you have the space than trying to switch from serging to coverstitch function.
12/15/12 7:43 PM
The main reasons I have a dedicated coverstitch machine is that the stitch quality is better and it is much more convenient not to have to convert to and fro with a combo machine. The combo machine I once owned was horrible at coverstitch so when I got right into sewing knits, I pitched it out and used the funds toward a seperate coverstitch and overlocker. No regrets.
12/16/12 9:17 PM
I had this machine when they first came out.sold it and just bought another one,trade in at other store. My serger does have cover stitch but it is pain to switch back and forth. I also had another Coverstitch Mach and sold that one too. I really do like the 009 better and this one I will keep. I paid less than $200 for this one. dealer Didnt know what it was worth,wasn't Bernina store/dealer. Excellent review. Chainstitch bit tricky to thread.
3/10/13 12:27 PM