JUKI MO-623 Serger Review: Can A 2/3 Thread Overlocker Work?

Juki’s Garnet line of sergers provides an easy introduction to overlocking technology, as well as a low-cost way to own a well-made Juki machine. But, is the stripped-down Juki MO-623 too stripped down? Or is it the no-frills serger for you? Let’s find out as we explore the model fully in our JUKI MO-623 review.

About Juki and the Juki MO-623

The Japanese company Juki was founded in 1938. While today the company is primarily known for its industrial sewing machines, Juki actually began with the purpose of creating sergers for the home market. Today they produce both industrial and home machinery that is durable, well built, and easy to use…if a bit on the pricey side.

Juki’s Garnet line, which includes the Juki MO-623 and the Juki MO-644D, is a line of portable, affordable home sergers. 

The first thing you’ll notice about the Juki MO-623 is its price. Depending on your retailer, you can find this model for around the same price as a lower-tier computerized sewing machine. Considering how expensive even budget sergers are, that’s a steal…especially for a Juki.

However, this bargain will cost you in terms of features. 

The vast majority of sergers have two needles. Some have three, but the Juki MO-623 only has one needle. This means that with this machine, you can perform two and three thread stitching only, as opposed to the 2/3/4 stitching capabilities of most home sergers.

This means a smaller selection of stitches, of course. It also means that this model is best suited for light and medium weight work. So if you’re looking for a serger to sew heavier fabrics, this probably isn’t the best one.

On the other hand, limited functionality and fewer threads and needles mean less complexity. A one-needle, three-thread machine is easier to thread, easier to learn, and easier to operate than a machine with multiple needles.

Complexity of setup and operation are two of the biggest barriers when it comes to getting the most out of your serger. For this reason, the Juki MO-623 could provide a gentle introduction to the technology for a first-time serger owner.

This could also be a good model for someone who wants to explore overlocking, but can’t, or doesn’t want to spend a lot of money.

Also, sewists of any level who need an overlocker for light work will be delighted by this machine’s combination of low price and quality construction.

The Juki MO-623 does have a few helpful extras, like simplified threading and a built-in rolled hem, which we’ll discuss in more detail a bit later.

But first, let’s see what you get for your money.

How Stripped-Down is too Stripped-Down?

We all want to maximize value for money, and that means looking for the most and best features at the lowest price. 

But too many features can overwhelm. What’s more, no matter what type of equipment we choose, most of us pick a few favorite features and use them over and over, ignoring the rest, so even the best overlock machine on paper may not necessarily be the right one for your sewing room. 

Case in point: the computerized sewing machine. Looking at product descriptions, it might seem that manufacturers are competing to provide the greatest number of built-in decorative stitch designs. The Singer Quantum Stylist 9985 has nearly 1,000!

For many people that’s a selling point. But, let’s be honest, how many decorative stitch designs are you actually going to use?

A serger has four main jobs: 

• Making tough, flexible, overcast seams
• Sewing knits and stretch fabrics
• Decorative fabric edging
• Special effects like ruffles and pintucks

You can accomplish all of these things with a serger that sews with three threads, and they all sew with three threads.

However, if you intend to work with delicate fabrics, especially if you’re planning on decorative edging, you’ll need a serger that also sews with two threads.

Likewise, if you plan to work with medium-to-heavy fabrics, you’ll need a serger that works with four or more threads.

Most home sergers are 2/3/4 sergers. That is, they sew with two, three, and four threads. A few budget models sew with only three and four. On the other side of the spectrum, you can find premium models that sew with up to eight threads.

What’s interesting about the Juki MO-623 is its single needle and two- and three-thread sewing. Most of the stripped-down budget sergers I’ve seen sew with three and four threads, which equips them for the serging tasks that home sewists perform most often.

At the same time, with a 3-4 serger, you do miss out on those lighter tasks, like decorative edging and rolled hems on ultralight fabrics.

Do you need that fourth thread? That’s a question that only you can answer. But, at the budget level, it’s nice to have a choice.

Features and Benefits Review of the Juki MO-623

We’ve referred to the Juki MO-623 as “stripped down.” However, it does have some attractive features and extras. Here are some of our favorites.

Built-in Rolled Hem

A rolled hem rolls up the edges of ravel-prone fabrics and gently seals them off. To do this on many sergers, you need to move, remove, or switch out different parts such as the cutting blade, needle plate or stitch finger. 

A built-in rolled hem allows you to flip a switch to make all of the necessary adjustments.

It’s very convenient and will save you time and aggravation. This is one of the features that budget sergers sometimes skip, so that’s a plus for the MO-623.

High Speed Stitching

All sergers are high-speed instruments. Even the slowest ones, which produce around 1,000 stitches per minute, are substantially faster than the majority of regular home sewing machines. The average speed of a home serger is around 1,300 stitches per minute.

The Juki MO-623 can produce 1,500 stitches per minute. This is pretty close to top of the range for sergers at all levels and it’s heads and shoulders above just about every other budget machine.

Dedicated Knife Drive

In a nod to Juki’s industrial sensibilities, the cutting knife of the MO-623 has its own dedicated drive. This means more powerful cutting.

Simplified Threading

Most sergers have color-coded threading. That is, the thread guides are marked with different color dots to show the path that each thread must take. Many sergers also come with a pair of serger tweezers or some other implement that makes threading the difficult-to-reach guides a bit easier.

The Juki MO-623 comes with both of these conveniences.

Uses Regular Sewing Machine Needles

Some sergers use special serger needles. Others can use the same needles that your regular sewing machine uses. It doesn’t make a difference to the quality of your stitching. However, if your serger needle breaks in the middle of a project, it’s very convenient to be able to borrow a needle from your regular sewing machine if you need to.

Integrated Handle

A handle is very important for a portable sewing machine. Most sergers have a handle that’s attached with screws or other fasteners. Many Juki machines, including the MO-623, have a handle that’s part of the machine’s frame. This adds strength and durability to the handle, decreasing the chances that the handle will fail during transport.

Alternatives to the Juki MO-623

There are a lot of sergers on the market. There are also quite a few budget sergers.

But price isn’t everything. The most important thing — even more important than getting the lowest price — is finding the right features for your needs.

Different budget sergers come with different arrays of features. With a little research, it’s possible to find a serger that’s both a good deal and does the things that you need it to do.

Here are a few budget models that we think are worth a look.

Brother 1034D

You might recognize Brother as a maker of printers, print cartridges, and office machinery. However, the company started as a sewing machine manufacturer, and today they produce some of the most highly rated sewing machines and sergers on the market. 

The Brother 1034D is a budget serger. Like the MO-623, it’s functions are streamlined. To wit, this is a 3-4 serger. It also has a free arm.

It doesn’t have a built-in rolled hem or two-thread stitching capabilities. On the other hand, depending on the type of sewing you’re planning to do, you might not need those. 

If you’re looking for a no-frills machine to do three and four thread stitching, this is a well-made model that won’t bust your budget.

Singer X5004HD

The Singer X5004HD is another affordable serger with a different bundle of features. While it lacks the MO-623’s built-in rolled hem and high stitching speed, it does have:

• A heavy duty metal frame
• Two-, three-, and four-thread stitching capabilities
• A 60 percent larger cutting knife to help with heavier fabrics
• A respectable 1,300 stitches per minute stitching speed

If you’re on a budget, but plan on working with medium and heavy-weight fabrics, this could be your model.

Juki MO-644D

Juki typically makes expensive machines, but they also have some more affordable models. In addition to the MO-623, the Juki MO-644D  (also part of the Garnet line) is a low-cost alternative.

Like the MO-623, the Juki MO-644D can sew 1,500 stitches per minute. It also has the MO-623’s dedicated knife drive.

Unlike the MO-623, however, the MO-644 has two-, three- and four-thread stitching and a breakaway lower looper for faster, easier threading.

Depending on your retailer, the Juki MO-644D will probably cost you about the same as the MO-623.

JUKI MO-623 Review: Final Thoughts

The Juki MO-623 is a well-made, no frills two- and three-thread serger. It gets excellent marks from customers for ease of use and light-to-medium weight stitching. Not only that, it also has some nice surprise features that one doesn’t often find on a budget serger.

At the same time, different sergers can come with very different bundles of features. And, no matter which one you choose, if you buy a budget model, you’re going to miss out on something.

Consider your sewing needs carefully. What types of fabrics will you be working with primarily? And which types of sewing are you planning to do?

For light and medium weight fabrics and decorative serger edgings, you’d be hard pressed to find better value for money than the Juki MO-623. 

But if you anticipate doing medium to heavier-weight work, then a model with four-thread sewing capabilities, and possibly a heavy-duty frame, might be a better choice.