Brother 2340CV Serger Review: A Coverstitch Machine For All?

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This coverstitch machine looks a lot like Brother’s budget overlock sergers, particularly the 1034D. But functionally, it’s a completely different animal. How different, exactly? And will those differences suit your needs better than your average overlock serger? We’ll explain all as we move through this Brother 2340CV review.

About the Brother 2340CV Coverstitch Machine

brother coverstitch 2340cv

Sewing machine model names aren’t random combinations of letters and numbers. The conventions vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but generally speaking, these conventions have a logic to them.

When it comes to Brother sewing machines, CV means coverstitch. And although some modern coverstitch machines and overlock sergers do overlap in function, they’re not the same.

Coverstitch Machine vs. Overlock Serger: What’s the Difference?

There are a few main differences between coverstitch machines and overlock sergers right off the bat. 

First, overlock sergers trim fabric edges as you sew. They have a knife — sometimes more than one — that does this. Coverstitch machines do not trim edges. Also, an overlock serger has two loopers that loop thread around the fabric edges. A coverstitch machine only has one.

On the other hand, most coverstitch machines have a larger work area than most sergers, especially to the right of the needles. And, speaking of needles, coverstitch machines generally have three needles, while most overlock sergers have two.

Stitching capabilities are different as well. We’ll discuss this in-depth in a bit. The upshot, however, is that an overlock serger seals off fabric edges with overcast stitches, while a coverstitch doesn’t overcast.

In addition, while both machines can perform some of the same functions, such as stitching stretchy and knit fabrics, they’re different machines for different purposes.

Which one is better? That’s not the right question. It would be more useful to ask which is better for your specific needs.


The Brother 2340CV Coverstitch Machine

LIKES
  • Great value for money
  • Relatively easy to thread
  • 2-3-4 thread sewing
  • Adjustable presser foot pressure
DISLIKES
  • Accessories sold separately are expensive
  • Thread tension release is complicated
  • Somewhat poky stitching speed

Looking at specific functionalities, the differences between the Brother 2340CV coverstitch machine and a similar-looking overlock serger, become obvious.

How so?

Short answer: overcasting vs. topstitching.

Overlock sergers make overlock stitches. That is, they loop thread around the fabric edges while simultaneously sewing a straight seam. These are necessarily edging stitches. You can’t sew a row of overlock stitches down the middle of a piece of fabric. And you can’t use a serger for topstitching.

Coverstitch machines, unsurprisingly, make cover stitches. They use one, two, or three needles to sew straight rows on the top side of the fabric, while connecting the rows with a chain stitch on the underside. One of the main uses of a coverstitch machine is hemming, though you can also use the chain stitch decoratively.

To sum up, an overlock serger is excellent for:

  • Creating strong, stretchy enclosed seams
  • Garment construction
  • Decorative edges

On the other hand, a coverstitch machine excels at:

  • Creating strong, stretchy topstitched seams
  • Hemming
  • Attaching lace and elastic

There are some hybrid machines that combine some of the best overlock serger features with some of the features of coverstitch machines. But the Brother 2340CV is not one of these, so that’s another discussion for another time.

What’s in the box? 

Accessories that come with the Brother Coverstitch 2340CV, include:

  • Cleaning brush
  • Spool mat
  • Hexagonal wrench
  • Thread spool cap
  • Thread net
  • SCHMETZ needle set
  • Tweezers
  • LC1 Special presser foot
  • Soft cover

Technical Specifications

What to Look For in a Coverstitch Machine

So you’re looking for a machine to do professional, topstitched edges and bindings. You could use a double needle with your regular sewing machine, but you want a bit more pizazz. You need a coverstitch machine.

But what do you look for?

Simplified Threading

Threading a coverstitch machine is already a bit simpler than threading an overlock serger, simply because a coverstitch machine has half the number of loopers.

However, there are other ways that a manufacturer can make threading easier.

First, some coverstitch machines are self-threading. The Baby Lock Cover Stitch, for example, uses tube and pressurized air to thread the looper.

Other coverstitch machines have a color-coded thread guide, like an overlock serger.

Still others may include threading tools or allow you to reposition the looper in order to make it easier to thread.

Auto Drop Feed

Some users find it difficult to remove work from a coverstitch machine once they’ve finished sewing. 

The auto drop feed feature means that when you raise the presser foot, the feed dogs automatically drop. This can make removing your work more straightforward.

Auto Tension Release

Some sergers and coverstitch machines have automatically releasing thread tension. This means that when you lift the presser foot, the thread tension eases, making it easier to remove your work.

Tension Controls

Sergers and coverstitch machines come with two different tensioning methods: lay-in tension and knob-control tension.

Both adjust thread tension using disks. However, some find lay-in tension to be easier. Simply lay the thread into the path and done. Other people, on the other hand, may prefer the tension knobs that we’re all used to from our regular sewing machines.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, you might even find an appliance that automatically adjusts the tension of your threads to fit your stitch choices.

Brother 2340CV Coverstitch Machine Features And Benefits Review

Brother 2340CV 3 needles
Despite what you may read elsewhere, the Brother 2340CV does indeed have 3 needles

Before we start discussing the merits of this model, I want to point out that there’s a bit of conflicting information coming from different retailers. Here’s a summary.

Power Source

Some sellers are advertising the Brother 2340CV as a treadle-powered machine. That is, a machine that is powered by your feet, rather than by electricity.

We contacted Brother, who said that all models made for the U.S. market are powered by electricity. 

It’s possible that some sellers actually meant that you operate this machine using a foot pedal. This machine does come with a foot pedal, like most sewing machines. However it runs on electricity…thankfully!

Number of Needles

Some retailers incorrectly describe the Brother 2340CV as a two-needle machine. It is not. The Brother 2340CV has three needles.

Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s have a look at some of the 2340CV’s features:

2-3-4 Thread Sewing

Like many overlock sergers, the Brother 2340CV coverstitch machine can sew with two, three, or four threads. That means you can make a two, three, or four-thread coverstitch.

Simplified Threading

The Brother 2340CV is a bit simpler to thread than an overlock serger because it has only one looper. The three needles are pretty straightforward to thread.

And the looper? Like many overlock sergers, it has a color-coded path to follow, which makes it a bit easier.

Differential Feed

Like an overlock serger, a coverstitch machine has more than one set of feed dogs. Both types of machines also have a differential feed mechanism, which allows you to adjust the speed of the feed dog sets with relation to one another.

This allows you to stretch or compress the fabric while you’re sewing it. As a result, sewing knits and stretch fabrics is a breeze.

Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure

The presser foot holds fabric against the feed dogs, so that the feed dogs can feed it through the machine. Most sewing machines have a set presser foot pressure. Some, however, like the Brother 2340CV, allow you to adjust that pressure.

This can come in handy when sewing different types and weights of fabric, especially thicker fabrics and bindings.

Value for Money

One of Brother’s specialties is producing budget equipment with features you only expect on a higher-end machine.

Coverstitch machines tend to be expensive, no question, even when compared with overlock sergers. But the Brother 2340CV will run you about the same as a budget overlock serger. So if you’re interested in experimenting with a coverstitch machine, but don’t want to invest an entire paycheck to find out if it’s the right piece of equipment for you, then this might be a good way to go.

Alternatives to the Brother 2340CV

There are considerably fewer domestic coverstitch machines on the market than overlock sergers. It’s even more important, therefore, to examine a variety of models before deciding on one.

Bernette B42 Funlock

bernette funlock b42

The Bernette B42 Funlock, like the Brother 2340CV, is a standard, middle-of-the-road coverstitch machine. It has the same number of stitches, and, like the 2340CV, has simplified threading.

Bernette is a subsidiary of the Swiss sewing machine company Bernina. They produce stylish, well-made sewing machines that tend to be on the expensive side. But, depending on your retailer, the Bernette B42 Funlock may cost you about the same or only slightly more than the Brother 2340CV. 

This could be a good choice for someone who values quality build over a bargain.

Juki MCS 1500

juki mcs-1500

The Juki MCS 1500 is a bit more expensive than the Brother 2340CV. However, for the right buyer, it might be worth the splurge.

First, the MCS 1500 has a tension knob system that you might recognize from your regular sewing machine, as opposed to the lay-in tensioning of many overlock sergers. 

The knobs also have handy diagrams that show you which thread they control, and the typical tension settings for that thread.

Also, the MCS 1500 has simplified looper threading.

Baby Lock Cover Stitch

Like many Baby Lock machines, the Cover Stitch is the “if-money-is-no-option” option. This one will cost you quite a bit more than the Brother 2340CV, but you do get quite a bit in exchange, including:

  • Self-threading looper
  • Thread cutter
  • Knob tensioning
  • Auto tension release
  • Auto drop feed when tension is released

One of the reasons people love Baby Lock machines is that they take a lot of the difficulty out of operating your equipment, leaving you free to spend your energy creating. 

If that’s the user experience you’re looking for, the Baby Lock Cover Stitch may be a good choice for you.

Brother 2340CV Review: Final Thoughts

brother pacesetter 2340cv

Although a coverstitch machine (or coverstitch serger) shares some function overlap with overlock sergers and regular sewing machines, it is distinct from both of these, and fulfills distinct purposes.

A coverstitch machine is an excellent choice for hemming, cuffs, and bindings. It uses between one and three needles to create secure, topstitched rows on the right side of the fabric, connected with a chain stitch on the reverse side.

Coverstitch machines tend to be expensive, but the Brother 2340 serger, like many Brother machines, falls at the lower end of the price scale.

If you’re interested in having a go with a coverstitch machine, but don’t want to spend a huge amount of money, it could be a good choice. 

brother 2340cv reviews

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