Brother CV3550 Coverstitch Machine Information and First Impression!

Read Time: 3m 30s

I bit the bullet and purchased a Brother CV3550 Coverstitch machine from my local sewing shop (Hobbysew Top Ryde City) a few years ago because I really wanted a machine that offered a top cover option at a reasonable price for my business. I added the Dual Function Binder (SA231CV) to my purchase as I mostly work with knit fabrics and liked the thought of having the option to bind effortlessly. Admittedly, I haven't used it as often as I'd like, but the few times I've had the opportunity to play, I've been happy with the decision of adding it.

It has taken me a little while to put together this blog as COVID life (2020 - 2022) got in the way but I'm still seeing sewers looking for information online on the Brother CV3550, so hopefully this blog will help you make up your mind.

Overview, Features and What's Included

While double sided coverstitch machines have been available in the commercial market for a long time, this machine is one of the first of its kind in the domestic marketplace and being offered at a price point that is reasonable for home sewers.

Features:

• 2,3,4 or 5 stitches including top cover
• Double sided stitching
• Free arm or flat bed
• Auto thread tension release
• Tri-cover, wide, narrow and chain stitches
• F.A.S.T lower looping threading system
• Differential feed
• Adjustable foot pressure
• Colour coded threading system

What's included:

• Standard foot
• Clear foot
• Foot controller
• Manual
• Dust cover
• Tweezers
• Needles (3)
• Top Cover Spreader
• Top Cover Thread Guide
• Thread Spool Cap (5)
• Spool Mat (5)
• Thread Net (5)
• Hexagonal Screwdriver
• Cleaning Brush
• Accessory Bag
• Instructional DVD

First Impression

If you're looking for a reliable coverstitch machine, the Brother CV3550 is a great choice. Its branding is consistent across the board, making it easily recognisable and easy to use. With simple threading and a colour-coded thread guide, this machine makes threading a breeze.

For a successful and stress-free setup, I highly recommend reading the operation manual first. Doing this will help to ensure a good first experience. Moreover, if you plan to use knits, it is essential to switch out the universal needles (which comes with the machine) to stretch or jersey needles. Even though I tried sewing knits with the universal needle and it worked fine, it is best to use the appropriate needles for your fabric to get the best results.

As someone with experience using multiple machines from different brands, I found it easy to get the Brother CV3550 up and running for hemming. If you are struggling and are a visual person I recommend hopping onto YouTube and as there's many set up tutorials online.

I decided to go "all out" and set the machine up for top and bottom cover for my first attempt. Normally I'll ease into a machine slowly but the main reason I bought this machine was for this function so had to see if I spent my dollars wisely.

The fabric I'm testing is french terry (fabric scrap) and I've reversed coverstitch the hem. Normally you would coverstitch the hem blind and use the markers on the foot/machine as reference points but since this is a top and bottom cover I decided to take the easy route and have the folded hem facing up (I prefer the bottom cover on the top anyway).

This is the result...

If I want to be picky I can point out that I need to play with the top cover tension on this piece but overall, as a first attempt I'm happy with it.

Next attempt is 3 needle cover stitch! It took me two weeks after my initial "play" to have a project that required hemming and as you can see, I didn't bother changing the pink thread I had in place from my previous attempt. This is how the face "top" side looks like...

This is how the reverse "bottom" side looks like when completed.

I slowed down before reaching the side seam (auto pilot) but the machine didn't have any issues going over this jersey knit. Stitches looks great!

There is a small con that I'll mention and that is the machine is a little noisier and bouncier than I'd like. I find this can be the case with some domestic machines so I purchased a sewing mat to be placed underneath and that has helped calm the bouncing. Overall, for the price I paid I'm happy with the results I've managed to achieve. This machine is more than enough for me to sew my creations and ensure it is finished professionally.

I hope you have found this useful, I've had to cut it short as it seems like my blog has a limit and it didn't like me waffling on so cut off a substantial chunk I had typed up. I didn't realise until I navigated away from the screen.

Let me know if you'll like future blogs or tutorials on the CV3550 and I'll see what I can do!