Brother 1034DX Serger Review: A 3/4 Thread Overlocker Machine

The Brother 1034DX is the follow-on model to the enduringly popular Brother 1034D. Both are budget three/four sergers with a huge and happy customer base. But, aside from being seven years newer, how is the 1034DX different from its predecessor? And is the newer model worth the extra bump in price? We’ll lay it out in this Brother 1034DX Review.

About Brother and the Brother 1034DX

You probably recognize Brother Industries as a manufacturer of printers, toner cartridges, and office machinery. But Brother actually started out as a sewing machine repair company. Later, they switched to designing and producing their own machines. 

And today, Brother makes some of the most popular, user-friendly sewing machines in the world for both home and industrial use. One of their particular specialties is building affordable equipment with features one usually only finds on more expensive models.

The Brother 1034DX is a budget serger, and the successor of the wildly popular 1034D. Does it live up to its label?

Brother 1034D Vs. 1034DX: What’s The Difference?

Looking at the specs, it’s difficult to see many differences. Both are 3-4 sergers. That is, they sew with three and four threads only. Both have a heavy-duty metal frame, a built-in trim trap, and a free arm. Both stitch at a very respectable 1,300 stitches per minute. Both also have a handy stitch width control knob, which we’ll talk about more in a bit.

The size and shape of the machines are slightly different. The differential feed and stitch length controls are on the right side of the 1034DX, whereas on the 1034D, they’re on the left. And, the newer model has LED lighting, which is brighter than its predecessor’s incandescent bulb.

As far as functionality goes, the 1034DX has a few more stitch options than its predecessor, including two types of roll stitches.

In addition, the 1034DX doesn’t have its predecessor’s thread tension release buttons. On the newer model, raising the presser foot releases the tension on all threads. This is a nice touch that makes it quicker and easier to free your work from the machine.

The 1034DX also has a lever that moves the lower looper into an easier position for threading. Threading the lower looper can be a pain in the neck, so every serger user can appreciate how convenient this is.

The price difference isn’t significant. Both models fall into the budget category. The older model, as you might expect, is at the lower end of the budget price spectrum, while the newer model is at the upper end. The decision is, whether the additional features might make a difference to you.

In our opinion, the lower looper switch and the auto tension release alone are worth the slight price increase.

Click the link to read our Brother 1034D Review for details on the earlier model.

Who is the Brother 1034DX For?

Most serger sewing machines are expensive.

If you know you need one and will make regular use of it, then you’d do well to buy a high-quality model with the exact set of features and functions that you require.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for your first serger, or if you want to try out the technology but aren’t sure how often you’ll use it, then a budget model may be a better choice. It may not have all of the bells and whistles, but you can always upgrade to a more expensive machine later. 

And if you don’t end up using it very often, you won’t have sunk a paycheck into finding that out.

The Brother 1034DX is a budget serger, so its functions are limited. You won’t be able to do delicate two-thread sewing with this model. Nor is it rated for the heavier work that you might perform with a five-or-more-thread premium serger.

On the other hand, it will perform the most common serger tasks, including creating strong, stretchy three- and four-thread seams and edges.

It also has a number of conveniences to make the harder parts of serger use easier. These include the trim trap, the stitch width selector, and the color-coded threading scheme.

So, let’s have a look.

How to Buy Your First Serger

The lower end of the price spectrum, as we’ve mentioned, is a great place to shop for a first serger. It’s a low barrier to entry, and low risk, too. However, different machines come with different complements of features, so it’s important to know what to look for. 

Here are a few of our must-haves.

Differential Feed

A regular sewing machine has one set of feed dogs, which move beneath the fabric, guiding it under the needles.

A serger has two sets.

For many types of sewing, you want the sets of feed dogs to move at the same speed. However, sometimes, such as when you’re making ruffles or working with knits, you want them to move at different speeds.

The differential feed control allows you to do that.

Most modern sergers have a differential feed control, but some do not. In our opinion, this is one of the defining features of a serger.

Number of Needles

Most sergers have two needles. Some premium models have three. A few have only one. A single needle, naturally, limits the type of stitches you can make.

Number of Threads

In general, the heavier your serging task, the more threads you’ll need.

The most common serging tasks use three and four threads. Some tasks, like decorative edging and working with ultralight fabrics, require two-thread stitching. However, you can find premium models that sew with between five and eight threads, which is best for heavier tasks and thick fabrics.

Stitch Selection

Just like your regular sewing machine, sergers come with various stitches built in, and these stitches can vary from machine to machine.

Some essential stitches you’ll want to look for include:

• Three-thread overlock, narrow and wide
• Four-thread overlock, narrow and wide
• Flatlock (two, three, and four threads)
• Rolled hem

It’s rare that you’ll find a serger that does a coverstitch or a chain stitch. You’ll need a coverstitch machine for those. That being said, you might come across a coverstitch/serger hybrid machine like the Singer Professional 14T968DC, which really does seem to do it all. 

You won’t find those at this price point, though.

Stitch Width Control

A regular sewing machine has a knob, dial, or buttons for adjusting stitch width. Sergers do it differently, and some sergers do it differently from others. Common stitch width adjustment technologies include:

• Moving, removing, or replacing the stitch finger
• Moving or disabling the cutting knife
• Sewing with either the right or the left needle

A few models, like the Brother 1034DX, have a knob that allows you to quickly and easily make all the necessary adjustments.

Built-in Rolled Hem

A rolled hem can give an elegant finish to a fabric edge. Just like with controlling stitch width, setting up your serger to do a rolled hem can require a screwdriver and a few minutes under the hood.

A serger with a built-in rolled hem, however, allows you to set your machine up for this type of stitch with the flick of a switch.

Free Arm

A free arm sewing machine allows you to detach part of the base to reveal a small, circular workspace. This workspace is essential for sewing collars, cuffs, trouser legs, and other small, circular items.

Will you use a free arm on a serger? Maybe, maybe not. A serger is made for high-speed straight rows of stitching, but you might want to serge off a collar or cuff.

It’s not a dealbreaker for us, but it is nice to have the choice.

Features and Benefits Review of the Brother 1034DX

The Brother 1034DX, like its predecessor, has a lot to recommend it, but it also has plenty of distinguishing features of its own.

Simplified Threading

If you’re shopping for your first serger, this is a big one. 

Threading a serger is complicated. This comes down to the loopers. While your needle(s) sew a straight stitch along the seam allowance, the loopers “loop” thread around the fabric edge to seal it off. Looper threads need to follow different paths through their respective sets of thread guides. Some of these guides are out-of-the-way and difficult to access. 

If that’s not enough, the threads and loopers all have to be threaded in a certain order.

As a result, you may spend more time, at first, threading and rethreading your machine, than you do actually sewing. 

The Brother 1034DX simplifies threading in two ways. First, the paths and thread guides are color coded. Most sergers do that, though.

But the Brother 1034DX also has a switch that moves the lower looper into a position that’s easier to thread, and most sergers do not have that.

Auto Tension Release

Coverstitch machine users sometimes complain that it’s difficult to get their work out of the machine when they’re finished stitching. This isn’t as much of a problem with a serger, but it can certainly come up.

The older Brother 1034D has individual tension release buttons that release the tension of individual threads. The Brother 1034DX, on the other hand, releases all of the threads’ tension when you lift the presser foot.

And that’s darned convenient.

Stitch Width Selector

Another convenience is the Brother 1034DX’s stitch width selector. Earlier, we talked about the different ways a serger might allow you to adjust the width of your stitches, but this model makes all the adjustments for you, with just the turn of a knob.

Trim Trap

A defining feature of a serger is that it trims the fabric edges to fit your stitches. As you might imagine, this can create quite a lot of waste. Some models allow this waste to fall into your lap or onto the table.

The Brother 1034DX has a built-in container to catch the scraps for easy disposal.

Again, this feature isn’t a dealbreaker. Plenty of sergers don’t have a built-in trim trap. In fact, one of many people’s first serger projects is to make their own. [1]

But again, it’s quite convenient.

Alternatives to the Brother 1034DX

There are a lot of sergers on the market. More importantly, there are a lot of budget sergers out there. Here are a few others for the sake of comparison.

Singer Making the Cut SO230

You might look at the incredibly small price tag of this model and wonder which features you’ll be missing. 

Actually, not too many.

The Singer Making the Cut SO230 is a brand new model. This is a 2-3-4 budget serger that featured on the Amazon exclusive show, Making the Cut. 

It doesn’t have the same convenience features as the Brother 1034DX, but it does have that two-thread capability. 

If price is your main concern, but you don’t want to sacrifice a quality build, this could be your new serger.

Juki MO644D

The Juki MO644D is a powerful, high-speed serger with an affordable price tag and industrial sensibilities.

This, too, is a 2-3-4 serger. It sews at an impressive 1,500 stitches per minute. In addition, it has an easy-threading lower looper like the Brother 1034DX. It also has a built-in rolled hem.

Juki makes expensive equipment, but the MO644D is part of the Garnet line, which aims to create quality machinery at a lower price.

If you’re looking for a high-quality 2-3-4 serger for about the same price as the Brother 1034DX, this is one to consider.

Janome 8002D

Janome is another company that tends to make higher-priced sewing machines. These machines also tend to be minimalistic, focussing on quality over quantity of features.

From time to time, you’ll find a Janome model that won’t bust your budget. The Janome 8002D is one of these.

The Janome 8002D is a 3-4 serger. It has color-coded threading, an extended differential feed range, and sews at a speed of 1,300 stitches per minute.

Like many Janome machines, it’s pretty bare bones. However, if a quality build is primary for you, this could be one to check out.

Brother 1034DX Review: Final Thoughts

When you’re buying your first serger, it can be difficult to predict which features you’ll use, and which you won’t. The best strategy is to look for a combination of features that complements your sewing. Oh, and value for money is paramount.

The Brother 1034DX is excellent value for money. Although it is limited to three- and four-thread stitching, three and four threads are all you need for most serging tasks. On top of that, the new convenience features make it a worthy successor to the 1034D, and well worth the small increase in price.

REFERENCES

1. Andrea Lyles | How to Make a Serger Thread Catcher | https://www.kaldreasewingco.com/post/how-to-make-a-serger-thread-catcher