Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

First of all, I would like to point out that the Brother 2340CV is a cover stitch machine -- not a serger! That's why there's no cutting blade. The main purpose of this machine is to make the cover stitch hem that is found on so many RTW garments. (That's the hem with either two or three parallel rows of stitching on top, and the underneath side has looping threads which cover the raw edge.) A high-end serger may also be able to do a cover stitch, but usually requires a complicated conversion process. I have a Viking Huskylock 936 serger which I invested in partly because of its ability to convert to a cover stitch machine, but I found the conversion process to be difficult and time consuming, and was never pleased with the results. I decided to invest in a separate cover stitch machine, and chose the Brother 2340CV. I absolutely love it! It's a breeze to thread, and the cover stitch it produces is so much nicer than what I was able to make with my serger. I also like that I can keep it set up for hemming, and my serger now stays set up for serging. The manual tension release.... I was hesitant about this, and wasn't sure I could get used to it. However, the Babylock machine with the automatic tension release was quite a bit more expensive, and I technically didn't even need a cover stitch machine since my serger will convert. So I decided to give this a try, and found the manual release isn't an issue. There are a couple blogs online with tips for using this machine, and one of them had detailed instructions for finishing a seam and releasing the tension. It took me a couple tries, and suddenly I got the hang of it! Once you get the right technique, it's really easy. One reviewer mentioned problems with stitches. I've had no problems whatsoever. While it's possible she got a lemon, the problems described could also be due to a damaged needle (I use new needles for each project), or using the wrong type of needles for the fabric. Just something to keep in mind... My version of this machine came with extra feet for attaching binding and making belt loops. Works beautifully, but once again, tips found on online blogs make these processes much easier. If you're looking for a great cover stitch machine, I highly recommend this one. Just be aware that this machine is to be used in addition to, and not as a replacement for a serger. It is not a serger!! It would probably be helpful if Amazon updated their description and didn't refer to it as one.