Best Serger: Complete Reviews with Comparisons
Being a creative person, a fashion designed, tailor, or seamstress can be very fun and rewarding. With that being said, you do need to have the proper tools to get the job done.
Yes, sewing machines are the go-to tool for many tailors, but if you did not already know, it’s not the only machine that can be used. There is also the serger machine.
Americans call it a serger, whereas the rest of the world calls it an overlock sewing machine. Just remember that they are the same thing.
Serger machines can create fine overlock stitches, stitches and seams that can actually stretch with the garment. This makes them a really valuable tool in the world of clothing creation.
However, there are many different serger machines out there, which can make coming to a final purchasing decision pretty tough. Today we are here to help you find the best serger, and we have 5 great models for you to look at, as well as a buyer’s guide.
Top 5 Best Sergers Comparison Chart
Best Serger Reviews
1. Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger
This is a fairly high-quality and versatile serger that comes in at a decent price. It’s not the newest or fanciest option on the market right now, but for the relatively low price it comes in at, combined with the various functions it comes with, the Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger is a good option to keep in mind.
Product Highlights
The Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger is a high-performance serger that can deliver great stitches and seams on a variety of materials and fabrics like linens, knits, and formal wear. It can create ruffles, gathers, decorative edges, join laces, spaghetti straps, and more. This machine can pound out 1,300 stitches per minute.
It comes with various stitch options such as 4-thread overlock, 3-thread overlock, narrow, rolled hem, ribbon lock, and more, not to mention some great stitches for special occasion wear like wedding gowns. The differential fabric feed on this item is a great aspect because it allows for really professional and even stitches.
What is nice about the Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger is that it is very easy to thread thanks to the color coded threading instructions, which help to remove a lot of confusion. What’s also great is that the Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger is easy to use overall. All the features are made to be simple and easy to understand. It also has an adjustable on/off knife feature, a removable free arm, and even uses standard sewing needles.
The Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger comes with some extras including 2 snap-on feet, a foot controller, a soft cover, needles, tweezers, maintenance tools, and a couple of other things too. You might also like how this particular serger machine comes with a 25-year limited warranty in case anything goes wrong with it.
What's to like about the Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger
We like how the Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger is fairly easy to use and can be easily learned by beginners. It comes in at a very decent price, it allows for many different stitch types, and comes with several features for great stitch accuracy and quality.
What's not to like about the Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger
One thing that does need to be noted about the Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger is that it does not appear to be all that durable. Some of the parts can snap or break with moderate use, and especially with heavy use; just don’t put it through too much punishment.
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2. Singer ProFinish Serger
This is another great middle-of-the-line serger machine to go with. In all reality, it is actually fairly similar to the one we just looked at, which is true both for its features and the price. It’s easy to use, has some great features, and does not even cost that much. It is a good option for beginners, but can perform some pretty big jobs nonetheless.
Product Highlights
One big product feature here is that the Singer ProFinish Serger comes with 2/3/4 thread capability, which means that you can use varying amounts of threads for various stitches. This machine can indeed create a wide variety of high quality stitches for all kinds of projects, while always maintaining a high level of quality.
One of things which many people like about the Singer ProFinish Serger is that it is a very portable serger machine. For one, it is fairly lightweight, so carrying it around is no big deal, which is also true thanks to the special carrying handle which it comes with.
The stitch lengths and widths on this serger machine can be adjusted. Moreover, it has a differential feed so you can create all kinds of stitches with professional quality results.
The Singer ProFinish Serger has an optional free arm that lets you easily sew cuffs and sleeves without issue. The automatic fabric trimming feature is quite useful too, not to mention that this serger can put out an astounding 1,300 stitches per minute.
You might also like how it how it has 4 built-in rolled hems and can be easily converted to the rolled hem mode for increased versatility. It’s also a good option to go with thanks to the color coding which helps to make threading quite a bit easier.
Something that you might like here is that the Singer ProFinish Serger comes with a large needle set, tweezers, an all-purpose foot, a spreader, a screwdriver, foot control, and more. This machine also has a limited 25-year warranty, which is good in case something goes wrong.
The Singer ProFinish Serger also comes with a movable upper knife and automatic fabric trimming, plus an adjustable tension feature.
What's to like about the Singer ProFinish Serger
One good aspect of the Singer ProFinish Serger is that it is very easy to use in most every way. Moreover, it can easily work with a variety of fabrics and produce a wide variety of stitch types. It’s a simple to use, affordable, and high performance option. Being portable and lightweight is also a bonus.
What's not to like about the Singer ProFinish Serger
As seems to be the case with these less-expensive models, the Singer ProFinish Serger is not all that durable. The motor may burn out after prolonged use, and some of the included accessories, like the needles, really could be a bit better.
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3. JUKI MO644D Portable Serger
This is a slightly more expensive serger than the other ones which we have looked at so far. For one, it is super portable and lightweight, and it has many useful features and capabilities. It might be a bit more pricey than the others we have looked at, but in our opinion, the extra cost is well worth the investment with the JUKI MO644D Portable Serger.
Product Highlights
If you need a highly portable and lightweight serger, the JUKI MO644D Portable Serger is a great way to go. It weighs much less than most other options out there, so carrying it around is not much of an issue. Furthermore, it even comes with a convenient carrying handle to make life just that much easier.
One thing that does need to be noted about the JUKI MO644D Portable Serger is that it is intended for lightweight and medium fabrics. It is a high-quality machine, and it produces great results, but due to its small size and limited power, it cannot handle thick materials all that well. With that being said, it works great for lighter materials.
The JUKI MO644D Portable Serger features a color-coded threading system and a breakaway looper, which makes it a bit easier when it comes to threading. Here you also get a multi-purpose foot so you can sew a variety of stitches with multiple fabric types. There are also a wide variety of presser feet available for use. You can adjust stitch length, width, and has a 2/3/4 differential feed capability.
What's to like about the JUKI MO644D Portable Serger
Perhaps the best part about the JUKI MO644D Portable Serger is that it is so lightweight and comes with a carrying handle. Also, it is very easy to use, plus it can perform a variety of tasks and work with various fabrics to create different stitches.
What's not to like about the JUKI MO644D Portable Serger
Something that is not great about the JUKI MO644D Portable Serger is that it cannot handle heavier or thicker fabrics. It truly is a lightweight serger.
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4. Brother ST4031HD Serger
This is another good serger to go with. It’s less expensive than the previous option we just looked at, but still a bit pricier than the first two. This is a big-time and heavy-duty serger, one made for big projects and thick fabrics. For all intents and purposes, for the fairly affordable price it comes in at, it is actually quite an impressive machine.
Product Highlights
For one, the Brother ST4031HD Serger can handle very thick fabrics, even multiple layers of denim at one. It is a heavy-duty machine, and still allows for accurate and even stitches on the thickest of materials. The heavy-duty metal frame may not be lightweight in the least, but it certainly is durable and can handle a lot of punishment. The removable trim trap is a pretty nice addition here.
The Brother ST4031HD Serger comes with a wide extension table, which is very useful for anybody working on large projects, as it adds some extra space for you to work with. What is also nice here is that it can put out up to 1,300 stitches per minute for fast-action stitching.
Moreover, it has 3 or 4 thread capabilities, which is pretty useful because it can produce a variety of stitches on various materials.
It features a metal thread stand for enhanced durability and longevity, plus it also features an easy to maneuver color coded threading system so you can easily thread it and get to work.
The Brother ST4031HD Serger also comes with a differential feed system that can be adjusted from 0.7 to 2, for easy, reliable, and accurate stitching. The Brother ST4031HD Serger also allows you to adjust both the stitch width and the stitch length.
When you buy the Brother ST4031HD Serger, you also get 3 different serger feet so you can perform a variety of tasks. It also comes with a 4-piece needle set, 4 mini spools, 4 spool caps and thread nets, a foot controller, and instructional DVD, and all essential maintenance tools too.
What's to like about the Brother ST4031HD Serger
Something that we like about the Brother ST4031HD Serger is that it is a very heavy-duty machine. It can handle very thick fabrics with ease, and its high performance design allows it to keep chugging on at full speed without fear of breaking down. It can perform many different tasks with ease.
What's not to like about the Brother ST4031HD Serger
One thing which could be better about the Brother ST4031HD Serger is that it is so heavy. It is not a portable serger. Also, we would like to see it be able to handle 2-thread serging, instead of just 3 or 4.
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5. IZO Home Goods Serger Thread
We thought that we would also include some specialized serger thread in this article. We have already looked at 4 great serger machines, but no thread. The point here is that serger thread is not the same as sewing thread. Let’s take a look at this particular thread just to see what it is all about.
Product Highlights
One thing to note about IZO Home Goods Serger Thread is that it does not cost very much at all. This is especially true considering that you get 4 full spools, each of which contain 6,000 yards of thread.
The thread itself is made of polyester, which is quite durable. It is made thin and durable, so it can move with fabrics, but still stay in one piece. IZO Home Goods Serger Thread has the ability to provide really nice and accurate stitches without fraying.
What's to like about the IZO Home Goods Serger Thread
We like how IZO Home Goods Serger Thread is tough, durable, and does not fray, plus how you get so much for a very low cost.
What's not to like about the IZO Home Goods Serger Thread
We would like to see IZO Home Goods Serger Thread come in a variety of colors, and maybe in options other than polyester.
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BUYER'S GUIDE
Before you go out and buy any serger machine, there are some main considerations and factors that you need to keep in mind, so let’s go over these right now.
Type
The first thing that you want to look for before buying a serger machine is the type. In this case, this refers to the threading capability of the serger in question. Some can use 2, 3, 4, or 5 threads, so you need to know the requirements of your projects before buying one.
There are also serger machines that come with built-in computers for ease of use and advanced functions, which is something to look for if you need a machine for heavy-duty use.
Safety Features
One of the most important safety features of the serger machine is the movable knife. The knife is used to cut thread, but it should be able to move so that it does not cut you while you are making overlock stitches. Some serger machines also come with an automatic stop feature to ensure that you don’t impale your fingers while serging.
Automatic Lower Looper Threader
The automatic lower looper thread is another important feature to look for. This feature means that you can just push on the lower looper threader and the thread will go through on its own. It makes life a lot easier because it helps you thread the machine without much effort.
Adjustable Calibrated Knife
You should also look for a serger that has an adjustable calibrated knife. If you have an adjustable knife, one that is finely calibrated, you can make precise stitches and thread cuts every time.
Weight
The other thing that you want to look out for is the weight of the serger machine in question. Yes, a heavier serger machine will probably have more hardware, features, and overall usefulness, not to mention durability, but a lighter option is easier to transport and use. It’s a bit of a tradeoff here that you have to think about.
Serger F.A.Q's.
What is serger thread?
Serger thread is kind of like sewing thread, but much more specialized. In essence, it is a lot finer and thinner than sewing thread, in order to avoid bulky and unsightly seams and stitches. This thread is usually sold on a spool or cone of 3,000 yards, and can be made of wooly nylon, nylon, polyester, or cotton.
How to thread an overlock sewing machine
First make sure that the machine is not plugged in. For the upper looper thread, set the spool to the right of the machine and pull the upper looper thread so it is just below the needles; then pull the thread over the top and front of the over-locker.
Remove the faceplate of the overlock machine and pull the thread through the metal loops. There should be a color coded guide to help you out with this. Now you have to repeat the process with the lower looper, and then finally put the thread through the needle or needles of the over-locker.
How to use a serger for beginners
Honestly, this is something we could write a whole book on, so to make things a little easier for you, you can watch the video here.
What does a serger machine do?
A serger machine is quite similar to a sewing machine. It is used for stitching and making seams. The difference is that a serger can make seams and stitches that can stretch, and usually uses 2, 3, or 4 threads, where as a sewing machine’s seams and stitches cannot stretch, plus they usually only use a single thread.
How to thread a serger?
Now, this is also a bit hard to answer, as different serger machines will have different ways of threading. It’s a long and complicated process, so to make things a little easier for you, take a look at the video which we have included here.
FINAL VERDICT
Our top pick for the best serger has to be the Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger. This machine has a lot of great features and it really is worth the money, especially seeing as it is one of the less expensive options out there. It can work with a variety of fabrics, produce many different stitches, and comes with everything you need to get started.
If you need a serger that is cost effective, but also heavy duty, the Brother ST4031HD Serger is the way to go, as it can handle heavier fabrics than the Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger.