Brother 2340CV Review: Is This $579 Coverstitch Machine Worth It?

Brother 2340CV specs

Specs above come from Brother USA's 2340CV product page and the manufacturer bullets on the Amazon listing.

What does the Brother 2340CV do best?

A coverstitch machine sews hems rather than seams. Needles make two or three straight rows on the right side while a looper thread zigzags underneath, so the hem stretches with the fabric instead of snapping. The Brother 2340CV does only this job, which keeps it simpler and cheaper than a serger and coverstitch combination.

Its three stitch options cover most knit garments: a narrow cover stitch at 3 mm for fine jersey, a wide cover stitch at 6 mm for T-shirts and leggings, and a tri-cover stitch with all three needles for sporty activewear hems. Take out the needles you do not need and the chain stitch makes a stretchy single-line seam or decorative topstitch.

Differential feed runs the front and rear feed dogs at different speeds, which stops knit hems from rippling or stretching out. Brother's slide lever makes it quick to adjust. At 1,100 stitches per minute it is a little faster than the Janome CoverPro models, and owners who love it say their knit garments finally look professionally finished.

What is the honest weakness of the Brother 2340CV?

Consistency takes tuning, and owner experience is genuinely mixed. PatternReview reviews range from owners who call it one of their best sewing purchases to owners who could not get it to sew reliably. The recurring trouble spots are thread tension and skipped stitches where the hem crosses a bulky seam, which affects every coverstitch machine but gets more attention on this one.

Brother does not list a free arm, while Janome lists one on the CoverPro 1000CPX and 2000CPX. On a flatbed, small circles such as toddler sleeves are harder to hem after the side seam is sewn, so many sewists hem flat first. It also does not overlock seams, so you still need a serger like the Brother 1034D. Finally, the stitch length tops out at 4 mm, which suits hems but limits long decorative chain stitching.

What do Brother 2340CV owners consistently report?

• Praise: knit garments look ready-to-wear once hems are coverstitched.
• Praise: good value, with PatternReview owners reporting prices paid from about $319 to $360 during promotions.
• Praise: three stitch options and a sturdy metal build for the price.
• Complaint: skipped stitches over thick seam crossings until needle, tension and foot pressure are dialed in.
• Complaint: a minority of owners never got consistent results and returned or sold the machine.

Owner fixes that come up repeatedly include fresh needles, practising on scraps of the same knit, and easing slowly over seam crossings. Blog survival guides for this model exist largely because the learning curve is real.

What warranty and support come with the Brother 2340CV?

Brother's product page lists a 1/5/25 Year Limited Serger Warranty for the 2340CV. Brother's published sewing machine warranty follows the same structure (1 year on the machine, 5 years on circuit boards, 25 years on the chassis) and excludes consumables such as needles and presser feet; check Brother's serger statement for the exact wording. Coverage applies to original purchasers from an authorized Brother reseller in the United States, and the Amazon listing notes the machine is intended for US use at 120 volts only.

Brother's support site has a dedicated FAQs and troubleshooting section for this model. We found no recall for the 2340CV in a search of CPSC's sewing machine recall listings.

How does the Brother 2340CV compare with the Janome CoverPro 1000CPX and 2000CPX?

Our Brother 2340CV vs Janome CoverPro 1000CPX comparison and Janome CoverPro 2000CPX vs Brother 2340CV comparison cover the two usual cross-shops. If you have no serger yet, read serger vs coverstitch first.

Sibling reviews: Janome CoverPro 1000CPX review, Janome CoverPro 2000CPX review and, for the serger half of a knit setup, the Juki MO-654DE review. Our best coverstitch machines roundup ranks them all.

What else should you budget for with the Brother 2340CV?

A coverstitch sits happily beside a serger and a sewing machine in an L or U-shaped layout. Hem areas are easy to misjudge on dark knits, so good light like the Daylight Slimline 4 makes guiding the hem line easier on the eyes.

• Thread: tri-cover uses three needle threads plus the looper, so a 4 cone pack such as Maxi-Lock 4 Cone Pack covers one color.
• Needles: use the needle system Brother's manual specifies. Many coverstitch owners use ELx705 needles like Schmetz ELx705 Needles, but confirm the manual allows them before buying.
• Pressing: a steam iron such as the Oliso TG1600 Pro Plus sets hem allowances flat before stitching, which reduces tunneling.
• Optional feet: Brother sells extra snap-on feet; budget $20 to $40 each if you want guides for clear elastic or binding.

Plan your fabric with the garment fabric calculator and see the expert garment sewing setup for a full knit workstation.