Baby Lock Primo: Cover Unboxing, Experiences, and Review

The Baby Lock Primo is a latest-generation coverstitch machine. Read the detailed test report with unboxing and user experience now.

The most important facts at a glance

• In this post, I will take you through the unboxing of the Baby Lock Primo
• You will find out which accessories are included and which are available
• ...and receive information about the operation and functions of the machine
• We compare the Baby Lock Primo with other Baby Lock coverstitch machines
• In this post, you will get all the info and links for the Baby Lock Primo

YouTube Video Test Report: Baby Lock Primo

What is a coverstitch machine?

A coverstitch machine is a sewing machine that can create what are known as cover stitches. Cover stitches are also sometimes called topstitching. A classic cover stitch consists of straight stitch lines on one side and interlaced elastic stitches on the other. Coverstitch machines are typically used for hemming or decorative work.

Why should I buy a coverstitch machine?

Anyone who enjoys working with elastic fabrics will likely know the coverstitch from this context. No other machine (excluding coverlock machines) can conjure up elastic hems as skillfully as a coverstitch machine. Super clean, very even, and covering the hem edge on the underside like a dream: no other household sewing machine can achieve this.
The best part: you can simply flip the stitches over and bring that chic, loopy coverstitch to the top. This allows you to create beautiful accent stitches on the right side of the fabric.

By the way, the Primo from Baby Lock is definitely more than just a machine for elastic fabrics. It is explicitly recommended for working with woven fabrics as well. And that is why it has the innovative pendulum foot, which allows you to create stitches with creative potential and decorative effects.

What can a coverstitch machine do compared to a household sewing machine and an overlocker?

A coverstitch machine can do much more than just classic hemming. With the appropriate accessories (there is a special Baby Lock accessory set for coverstitch machines), you can master the following special tasks, for example:

• Double-fold bias binder: Binding necklines for bodysuits and T-shirts
• Belt loop folder: Folding and sewing belt loops in one pass
• Single folder: For a classic, professional hem
• Straight hemmer: For hemming necklines and armholes
• Piping foot: For sewing piping with or without a cord

Important to know: The coverstitch machine only stitches onto the fabric; unlike an overlocker, it does not trim the fabric edge.

How does the double-fold bias binder work on the Baby Lock Primo?

The double-fold bias binder, sometimes called a tape binder, is just one of the many options you can work with on the Primo. And it is one of my absolute favorite accessories. My theory is: there is no other way to bind necklines or armholes that looks anywhere near as magical.

Normally, when using the DFBB (I'll use the abbreviation if that's okay, you know what I mean) for binding, you use a clear-view foot. This is also available for the Primo; it’s the standard foot, just made of transparent plastic.

The cool thing about the pendulum foot is the transparent insert in the middle. This allows you to see exactly where you are sewing while binding. I find it perfect for this purpose. By the way: the clear part in the center is just snapped on and can be removed if you need to attach other accessories, such as a tape guide that might eventually become available.

The DFBB is screwed onto the front of the Primo. It comes with two small screws:

Then you just need to cut a strip of jersey in the required width, insert it with the left side facing forward, and guide the neckline edge along the fabric fold of the strip.

As simple as it is ingenious. No pulling, no stretching.
The double-fold bias binder is available in different widths.

You can find detailed instructions on our site, of course: Sewing with the tape binder

And here is what the result looks like:

From the left side, you can clearly see the interlaced underside of the stitch, which feels very soft and comfortable against the skin. I used only two needles for this cover stitch, but you can of course use 3 needles and, for example, completely cover the fabric edge from the left side.

And needless to say, you can go completely wild and sew from the right side using a decorative stitch and the pendulum foot. That’s what it’s for, don’t you think?

Regardless, I think that once you start trying out this machine and exploring its possibilities, you will barely recognize your favorite handmade pieces in the future.

How do you change the sewing feet on the Baby Lock Primo?

The pendulum foot is a complete package, meaning it is screwed onto the presser bar as is. On the left, there is a thick screw used to secure the foot.

In my view, you can do just about anything with this pendulum foot because it is very easy to switch off the pendulum option via a lever and sew regular cover stitches. It is hardly necessary to change the foot.

But if you do want to, a standard foot is included as standard.

The standard foot has a snap-on attachment; you might already be familiar with this from your household sewing machine:

This attachment is simply screwed onto the presser foot holder, the foot is snapped on, and off you go!

What I really like here: the feet for Baby Lock machines are nicely matte and have a wonderfully smooth surface that simply gets along with all materials.

How are the needles threaded on the Baby Lock Primo?

Threading three needles is really no fun! Or is it? With the Primo, even that is fun. I would even go so far as to say: the threading system is (even though it's manual – and I'm usually at odds with that!) perhaps the best one ever.

Let’s take a closer look. Under the Baby Lock logo, you can see a small white lever. You can choose between C1, C2, and C3. This refers to nothing other than coverstitch needles 1-3. Yes.

So you choose which coverstitch needles you want to thread and flip the lever. Then you set the needles to their highest position.

I then press the threading lever on the left downwards. While I turn the handwheel, it clicks, and the threader engages:

Then the thread is simply hooked in horizontally from the front. You know everything is in place if you can't just pull the thread back out. The threader has a kind of small barb. Just tap the threader, and it flips upwards, and:

...the needle is already threaded. It creates a nice, large thread loop that you can grab and use to pull the thread completely through. It couldn't be easier. And it is absolutely foolproof.

How are the looper threads threaded on the Baby Lock Primo?

This is where the brilliant air-threader comes into play. Just set the lock to "Threading," thread the thread into the pre-tension, push it into the threading hole, and press the button. And presto, the looper thread is lying in the cute little box down by the presser foot. Pure magic.

How much does the Baby Lock Primo cost?

So much functionality comes with a price. The Baby Lock Primo is available for around 2800 euros. The pendulum foot, the standard foot, the practical knee lifter, and other accessories are included as standard.

Why a Baby Lock coverstitch?

The most important thing with a classic cover stitch: it must look professional and clean. And: it must not have any skipped stitches.

Baby Lock machines are known for being able to do both to absolute perfection. The sophisticated technology makes it possible. And with this technology (and the innovations that Baby Lock is also famous for), sewing becomes a piece of cake, even for beginners.

Also super easy: the threading.

What is special about Baby Lock machines?

Baby Lock machines, whether overlockers, coverlocks, or coverstitch machines, are robust, long-lasting workhorses. They sew the cleanest stitches imaginable and are ridiculously easy to thread.

Starting with the Victory model, practically all Baby Locks have an automatic thread delivery system. This means: no matter what fabric or thickness you are sewing, you don't need to adjust anything and always get the perfect sewing result.

Baby Lock specializes in overlock and coverstitch machines, as well as coverlocks (combo devices consisting of an overlocker and coverstitch machine), and is constantly developing its machines further. That is why you sometimes encounter terms like "Update" or "New model" in product descriptions.

Baby Lock's innovative power can be clearly observed in the Primo with its ingenious pendulum foot. This means you can not only perform outstanding cover stitching with the machine but also garnish your projects with incredibly cool, decorative stitches and details. And honestly, no other machine in the world can do that in this way.

Comparison: Baby Lock Coverstitch and Baby Lock Primo

The Baby Lock Coverstitch was my first coverstitch machine. For many years, I sewed every T-shirt and sweatshirt hem with it and thought it was heavenly. I must add: the Coverstitch is not a bargain, but it’s not a super-high-priced little machine either. It is solid and indestructible. And it works endlessly.

I also bought a double-fold bias binder and managed to get the most wonderful bindings for bodysuits, bustiers, and necklines with it.

However, my old Coverstitch was a bit weak in the knees when it came to lighting. And there was also room for improvement regarding the space to the right of the needle. That's why I pricked up my ears when I heard: a new coverstitch machine from Baby Lock is coming. And it can do more.

The Coverstitch sewed with 4 cones; the Primo works right away with six cones. Two of them are reserved for the decorative threads. The decorative threads are inserted into the presser foot from the front and the side. The pendulum foot swings the threads back and forth during sewing so that one of the decorative threads is fixed in the stitch with every stitch. This creates beautiful stitch patterns that look very decorative.

Because of these decorative options, the Baby Lock Primo is also called the "Creative Cover Stitch."

What we especially like: thanks to the needle up/down button (it surely has a proper name), you can sew very clean corners. Something like that wasn't exactly effortless with my old Coverstitch:

Big plus: You can thread thick, even woolly yarns to give your seams even more punch. And: In the future, there will be even more accessories and additional feet available that will make so much more possible. Mega!

A big plus: The improved lighting on the Primo (3 LEDs!) and the knee lift.

Baby Lock Primo Unboxing and First Impression

A big moment when the machine is unpacked for the first time, isn't it? Everything smells so new, the molded Styrofoam packaging crunches under your fingers, and the Baby Lock is still completely dust-free. 😁

And here she is now in all her glory, the Primo.
At the bottom right of the picture, you can see the practical knee lift.

Quick tip: To avoid annoying cable tangles, my husband sawed holes into my work table. They are just big enough for the cables of my Baby Locks to pass through. :)

You might notice that the Baby Lock Primo arrives already threaded. That’s practical, as it helps overcome any initial intimidation.

This is especially important with the Primo, because it is a bit different from "normal" coverstitch machines. It has a pendulum foot, which looks different from the cover foot of well-known coverstitch machines. It is equipped with yarn guides. These are the two yellow arrows on the side of the presser foot. The threads are pulled through the eyelet at the front of the presser foot after coming out of the thread tension.

This foot really is something quite special – but we'll get to that in the next section!

If you thread the Baby Lock Primo using the tie-on method, as I show you in my guide "Threading an Overlock," you can get started right away.

What makes the Baby Lock Primo so special?

Actually, the Baby Lock Primo is a "completely normal" coverstitch machine that can sew "completely normal" cover stitches. That means beautiful hems, pretty bindings for armholes and necklines, belt loops, and decorative chain stitches.

However, as a special feature, the Primo has the pendulum foot. And the pendulum foot ensures that the Primo can perform all sorts of fancy tricks with all kinds of yarns. To be precise: gorgeous decorative seams, borders, thread painting, or topstitching of the finest kind.

What can you use these creative stitches for? Well: Boho-look clothing, accent seams on pants, blouses, jackets, bags, shirts, decorative seams running across entire tops using variegated yarns, woolly eye-catchers from leftover sock yarn, and much more. Don't believe it? Then take a look here:

At the very top and very bottom of the picture, you can see the Triple Creative Top Coverstitch 6 mm. Do you see the wavy lines in turquoise and orange? The laying threads take care of that.

For the three seams at the top, I sewed this stitch with sock yarn. Super special, right? I simply wound sock yarn onto a bobbin and threaded it into the Primo. This works in the "normal" thread path. But the Primo additionally has an eyelet for especially thick or woolly yarns or ribbons. You can, of course, use those too. Basically anything that fits through the thread guide of the pendulum foot.

The violet-blue stitch (2nd from the bottom) looks a little different. What’s the story there? Well, you can also work with just a single laying thread. And use that to achieve even more effects.

By the way, the decorative pendulum stitches are also absolutely amazing for topstitching binding strips, take a look:

Which yarns fit the Baby Lock Primo?

For the Baby Lock Primo, you can use practically any high-quality yarn that you can get your hands on. Including decorative alternatives such as embroidery threads, metallic threads, ribbons, decorative yarns, variegated yarns, ready-made cords, wool yarns, effect yarns, and much more.

Aside from that, I usually use standard all-purpose overlock thread. I use almost exclusively my Mettler threads for my Baby Locks. And there are various options that all work great:

• Mettler Trojalock^*: High-quality standard overlock thread for all seams
• Mettler Seraflock^*: Bulky thread, especially great for sportswear and functional clothing
• Mettler Seralene^*: Especially fine overlock thread, perfect for fine fabrics like viscose, batiste, or silk

But Baby Lock itself also has nice, fluffy bulky thread^* that works very well with the Baby Lock Primo. For especially expressive effects, the extra-thick bulky thread^* from Baby Lock is super well-suited.

What is the difference between a coverstitch and a coverlock machine?

A coverstitch is a machine that allows for classic cover stitches, i.e., what you know, for example, from the hems of purchased T-shirts. A coverlock machine is a combination of an overlock and a coverstitch machine. It can perform not only classic cover stitches but also closing seams. The overlock function of the machine is used for this. To use the respective function, the coverlock machine must be converted or reconfigured beforehand.

Read the review of the Baby Lock Gloria, my coverlock machine, here.

What can the Baby Lock Primo do?

The Baby Lock Primo functions that help you achieve perfect seams even as a beginner:

• Automatic thread tension: You don't have to adjust anything manually
• Needle threads: Threading with manual threading system
• 3 needles: for "normal" cover stitches and decorative stitches
• Looper threads: Air threading system for looper threads
• Differential feed: Perfect for elastic or delicate fabrics
• Fast sewing: 1500 stitches per minute
• Stitch types: Chain stitch, coverstitch, Creative Top Cover chain stitch, and Creative Top Coverstitch, all in several versions
• Stitch width for coverstitch: Up to 6 mm
• Lighting: 3 LED lamps

Where is Baby Lock manufactured?

The Baby Lock factory is located in Yamagata, Japan. There is also a Baby Lock headquarters in Chemnitz. There, you can, for example, take wonderful sewing courses on topics like "Overlock" or "Coverlocking."

Why Baby Lock?

The advantages of Baby Lock machines are literally in your hands. I have been sewing for 10 years with overlockers, coverstitch machines, and coverlock machines from Baby Lock and am always impressed by their intuitive operability. Once you have sewn on a Baby Lock, you won't want anything else... The machines are simply

• robust
• quiet
• efficient
• easy to thread
• reliable

and create fantastic seams with many variation possibilities.

Who is the Baby Lock Primo the right coverstitch machine for?

If you like sewing clothing from elastic or non-elastic fabrics, love bags, enjoy creative leeway, and want perfect seams, then the Primo is THE machine for you. My colleague Corinna Sprang (you know her on Instagram as @elbmiezen) tried the Primo at my place and then bought one for herself. She writes:

The device is amazing! Thread it and everything runs ad hoc. I am heavily impressed!😻

First conclusion: I tried a coverstitch machine a few years ago and had set the topic aside, frustrated.

With the Primo, it worked great on the very first try. That’s incredibly motivating to keep going right away and play around creatively. I had the exact same experience with my enlighten. With the Primo, in my view, this is due to the very well-thought-out, user-friendly construction. It starts with small things like the magnetic waste tray and the tweezers with which you can also insert the needles, and goes on through the very understandable and ATD-supported threading and the automatic thread tension, all the way to the pendulum foot.

Corinna sews a lot of clothing and bags, but also loves decor and patchwork. She spontaneously wrote a love letter to the Primo regarding the great chain stitch with pendulum function, saying: "You somehow immediately get into play-mode. Even thread painting works!"

Personally, I eventually got annoyed with hemming using a twin needle and looked for an alternative that creates perfect seams. Because when you've poured your heart and soul into a great top or a well-fitting pair of trousers, and the whole thing fails at the topstitching of the hem, that’s just annoying.

Since I’ve been sewing with a coverstitch machine from Baby Lock, this problem no longer exists in my sewing world. The Primo also gives me a few brilliant options that I am very happy about and that I really missed. I’ll just say: topstitching the triangle on sweatshirts! 😁

I personally like working with the knee lift because it keeps my hands completely free. I’m very used to that from my sewing machine and am glad that it now works with coverstitching too.

Is it worth buying a Baby Lock Primo?

For me, the Baby Lock Primo is an absolutely brilliant machine that no one can ignore if they are interested in coverstitch machines with creative potential in this price range. In any case, I’m not giving mine up. And my colleague Corinna feels the same way.

How does the conversion from Creative Top Stitch with swing foot to coverstitch work?

Calling it a conversion is actually nonsense. If you have equipped the machine with all 6 cones and don’t need a decorative stitch (for example, because you don’t want to sew decoratively anymore but just want to do simple topstitching), then it is enough to adjust the small lever that activates the swing foot function, located right next to the presser foot.

Then the machine sews simple, wonderful, and veeeery even coverstitch seams. You don’t even have to change the presser foot and can simply cut off the looper threads.

Can you also buy the Baby Lock Primo online?

I often recommend buying a sewing machine from a local retailer. This has many advantages, such as advice or product demonstration. And the ability to contact the specialist dealer directly if there are any problems.

However, you can’t always find the machine you want at your local specialist dealer. In my view, it is completely unproblematic to buy Baby Lock machines online. Here, too, you should of course order your new dream machine from an online shop with a good reputation and good reviews.

Baby Locks are so intuitive to operate that you will be able to get along perfectly well with the instruction manual alone.

Conclusion: Thoroughly primo, this Primo

When you have a Baby Lock coverstitch machine, you don’t think there could be anything better. Until you’ve tested the Primo. The creative possibilities are stunning and just really fun. I’m already really looking forward to showing you my sewing projects soon where the Primo has been used.

What I think is super great: that the Primo is not only suitable for elastic fabrics. You can use it just as wonderfully for firm fabrics. Think, for example, of pattern pieces made of imitation leather that you have added cool decorative seams to. A stylish fanny pack out of that? BINGO!

For the photoshoot for my new sewing book, I conjured up a tunic from beautiful burgundy muslin and decoratively topstitched the hems with matching embroidery thread. It looks sooo good! Really fresh and a bit boho. Simply perfect.

And now, of course, I’m looking forward to the additional accessories that are supposed to come in the future. Although the accessories already available are sparking my sense of play and making me really happy. The sewing results simply speak for themselves...

Let me know if the Primo would be a machine for you too! I’m curious to see what you think of the new functions.

Happy simple sewing, your Sabine