Brother Serger 1034D Review

brother serger 1034D review

 Brother 1034D Serger Review Summary:

This is an excellent beginner to intermediate serger. Easy to get started with, with great functionality touches and reliable performance across the board. It can’t do chain or overlock stitches, but outside of that you get a lot for the modest price. Also consider the Brother DZ1234 Serger,*paid link  similar in features and performance but with a few extras and aesthetic differences.

Pros:

– Easy to use
– Lots of features
– Reliable tension
– Plenty of training material available online

Cons:
– No chain or overlock stiches

Brother 1034D Serger Best Buying Option*paid link

Full Review

The Brother 1034D Serger is the most popular model in this segment, outselling all other challengers on major shopping sites like Amazon. This 3/4 thread serger may not meet everyone’s needs, but it makes easy work out of the jobs it was designed to do. Let’s take a closer look at this excellent little machine.

First, a quick rundown of the most important features. Ultimately these will decide what the machine can and cannot do, and will help you decide if it is right for you.

The Brother 1034D 3 or 4 thread serger offers you:

– 22 built-in stitch functions with versatile stitches including 4-thread and 3-thread overlock, ribbon lock, narrow hem and rolled hem
– Adjustable stitch width between 3mm and 7mm
– removable free arm
– can use standard sewing machine needles
– differential fabric feed for better stitch quality
– up to 1300 stitches per minute
– easy color-coded threading system
– on/off knife feature
– adjustable foot pressure for accurate stitching on different fabric types

That is an excellent set of features for such a modestly priced machine. As we’ll see later in the review, there are some things this machine will not do, but right out of the box it packs plenty of value and versatility.

brother 1034d serger
Some of the stitches possible with the 1034D

Who is this machine for?

The 1034D Serger is a solid choice for anyone new to serging, simply because it is a straightforward, easy machine to work with. If you need to learn the ins and outs of serging, the Brother 1034D will smooth the road for you considerably.

The how-to videos included in the package is of decent quality and goes a long way towards speeding up your learning and understanding of the product. We know manuals never really cover everything you need to know, so these videos are a plus, although these days you can probably find even better ones on Youtube.

I would recommend that you watch some videos, especially on the threading, prior to setting up the machine as the instructional booklet can be a little confusing.

This machine comes pre-threaded with sample threads. You’ll probably want to remove these and add your own thread right away. When it comes to re-threading, with the proper instructions it is not that difficult. Easy to get wrong too if you don’t pay attention, but some users get it done in as little as five minutes.

Once you have the hang of it (after about two or three threadings) it’s not going to pose any problems for you in future. The color coding makes it even easier.

brother 1034d 3 or 4 thread serger

Brother Serger 1034D Performance

Firstly, you need to aware of the few things that the Brother 1034D 3 or 4 thread serger does not do. Most importantly it doesn’t do chain stitching or overlock stitching. If these are important to you, you’ll need to consider a more expensive (and complicated) model, like the Brother 2340CV Cover Stitch.

Setting the tension is easy and the manual covers tension issues with a handy chart, making it easier to isolate any problems. The default tension settings should get you going right away, and you can adjust from there as needed. The differential feed helps to evenly sew fabrics of varying thickness. The stitch width is adjustable from 3mm to 7mm.

The foot pedal, which controls the speed, is a joy to use. The machine is a little on the loud side, depending on the surface you use it on. Obviously using it on a rubber padded surface can help reduce the noise levels.

Conclusion

Overall, the Brother 1034D serger runs beautifully once set up. The fact that it can use standard sewing machine needles is a plus. A simple switch lets you disable the knife. This machine is all about practicality and simplicity, and it is a great beginner to intermediate serger.

Brother 1034D Serger Best Buying Option*paid link

Questions and Answers

Q: Does this machine have a thread cutter?

No, nor should you use it even if there was one. You have to chain off at least 3 – 4 inches, so a thread cutter is not applicable to this type of machine.

Q: Can it do a cover stitch?

No, this machine does not cover stitch.

Q: I am looking for an easy to thread serger. Will this do?

Yes, the 1034D is very easy to thread.

Q: How many needles does the machine use?

It depends on how many threads you want to use. You’ll use 1 needle for 3 threads, and 2 needles for 4 threads.

Q: Is this suitable for blind hem stitching?

Yes, it does a fine job.

Q: Can I embroider with it?

No, you cannot.

Q: Does it have a high or low shank?

Low shank.

Q: Does the machine come with thread?

Yes, the machine comes threaded with red, yellow, green and blue spools.

Q: Can I serge denim with this machine?

Yes, but you will need to change to thicker needles.