What is better overlocker or carpetlocker?

Thanks to rapid scientific and technological progress, the modern sewing market now offers a huge selection of sewing equipment. Often even professionals get lost among all this diversity. Two devices are now particularly popular among various sewing devices: an overlocker and a carpetlocker. Their names are almost identical, however, despite this, this sewing technique differs in their areas of application.

The purpose of overlock and coverlock

An overlock is a highly specialized sewing device, the main purpose of which is processing and trimming the edges of fabric of products made from bulk textile materials. The operating principle of this device depends on the number of threads used. The most popular is the three-thread overlock stitch. When performing it, the tissue is pierced with a needle, after which the return movement of the needle begins, over the eye of which a loop is formed at this time. As the needle moves, the lower looper moves from left to right. The upper looper moves in the reverse order at the same time. The threads laid with loopers are fixed with a sliding needle, and at the same time the overcasting is formed.The quality of the seam in an overlocker is controlled by a converter that looks like a small iron bracket.

ATTENTION! The most comfortable to use are overlockers, in which you can turn the converter on and off depending on need.

A coverlock is a mechanism that combines the functions of an overlocker and a flat-stitch sewing machine. This is an indispensable assistant when working with knitted fabric. Main functions of the carpet:

• grinding tissue sections;
• formation of a flat cover seam;
• making a stitching seam.

The carpet stitch sews down the details of the product using a chain stitch. A similar stitch is made in two threads. It can stretch without damage and return to its original state. Professional seamstresses use devices of this type almost every day in their work.

Comparison of overlocker and coverlocker

Despite the obvious similarity in the names of these devices, there are much more differences between them than might seem at first glance.

Functions

The overlock stitches the fabric quite well. A carpetlock copes with a similar task no less adequately, but at the same time this device can connect fabrics together without trimming. It can both sew and overcast at the same time.

Rethreading

To replace threads in an overlocker, it is enough to cut off the old ones and install new spools. There is no need to reconfigure the internal mechanism. Certain overlocker models even provide automatic threading, which greatly simplifies the process of working with this device.

Coverlock is not so convenient in this regard.If there is a need to change a stitch, you will have to carefully read the instructions, delve into the structure of the machine and carefully study its internal mechanism to understand where the mode switches are located. If the settings are done incorrectly, you will not be able to make a high-quality stitch with a carpet locker.

Difficulty of operation

In terms of operation, an overlocker is much simpler than a carpetlocker. It does not have such a large number of additional lines in its functionality. Their main task is to process the edges, so they differ from each other only in the weave features and the number of threads.

On the carpet, on the contrary, you can make about 20 different seams. And these are not only seams aimed at overcasting sections of fabric, but also more complex ones - connecting seams consisting of five or more threads. Operating this device will require more skill related to setup and refilling.

Number of coils

The most common are two-thread overlockers. This is the most affordable model, which also has an affordable price. In general, an overlocker can have from two to five working threads.

REFERENCE! A three-thread overlock stitch is used for processing the edges of loose fabrics, as well as for sewing knitted fabrics with simultaneous processing of the cut.

The possibilities of a carpet locker are much wider. This device can have up to ten working threads. This allows you to make many decorative seams using such a device.

Number of loopers

A looper is a pointed metal part that resembles a hook with an eye for threading. It performs certain cyclic movements to catch the needle thread while sewing a complex chain stitch. The more loopers a device has, the more sewing operations it can perform. The overlocker has only two loopers. Coverlock has three, two of which perform overlock functions.

Versatility

If the sewing device is needed only for sewing sections of fabric, there is no need to spend money on a carpet lock, which has a high cost. In addition, it is more bulky. An overlocker can handle this type of work perfectly.

If you often have to sew products from knitted fabric, it is more advisable to purchase a carpet lock for work. Depending on the model, such a device may be equipped with many useful auxiliary features for more comfortable work. It can be:

• additional table;
• touch screen;
• container for waste.

But it is not recommended to focus on this difference, since the more options a device has, the more complex its internal system will be, and therefore the setup of the unit.

When choosing the optimal device, it is necessary to base it on personal preferences, assigned tasks and financial capabilities. A large number of different functions combined with a high cost or a device with limited functionality at an affordable price is up to the buyer to decide.