JUKI MO-644D Portable Serger / Overlock Machine Review

Although Juki may now be better known for industrial machinery, as opposed to home sewing machines, the company’s foundation was built upon domestic devices. The Juki MO644D, however, manages to mix the best of both worlds: a portable home serger with an industrial flavor.

The question is, though, is it the serger you need? Let’s find out as we work our way through this Juki MO644D review.

A Bit About Juki and the Juki MO644D

In the scheme of things, Juki is a relative newcomer to the field of sewing machine manufacture.

The company started in 1938 and began making sewing machines for the home market in 1945. Eight years later they expanded into the industrial sewing machine market as well. [1]

From there, Juki’s story has been one of innovation.

In addition to pioneering some of the first domestic sergers on the market, Juki’s innovations include:

• The first rotary needle thread takeup system (1954)
• First automatic thread trimmer (1978)
• The first auto needle threader (1978)

Today their machines are known for their durability, ease of use, and industrial sensibilities. 

The Juki MO644D

As you’ve probably already gathered by now, the Juki MO644D is a portable home serger. Weighing in at 18.4 pounds, it sews with two needles and two, three, and four threads.

Pretty standard so far, it’s true, but there are a few places where this model goes over and above the expected.

First, it’s a fast machine. 

Sergers are fast, in general. This is because they’re made to sew straight seams and little else. Slower models may give you a bit more than 1,000 stitches per minute, though the average is around 1,300. The Juki MO644D, however, has a max stitching speed of 1,500 stitches per minute, which is great for whipping through one seam after another.

Another feature that’s a cut above is the presser foot.

The presser foot holds the fabric to the feed dogs while you sew. With most machines, the presser foot exerts a standard pressure on the fabric. Also, you can only lift the presser foot so high.

But with the Juki MO-644D, you can adjust the presser foot pressure and lift the foot extra high to accommodate thicker and layered fabrics.

Another feature that echoes Juki’s industrial nature is the tensioning system. 

The tension knobs that give Juki machines their characteristic look operate in the same way as other machines’ lay-in tension: with disks. But Juki’s knobs operate more like the tensioning knob on many sewing machines, and some users may find that this gentles the learning curve.

Who is the Juki MO664D For?

You might think that an industrial-influenced machine like the Juki M0664D would intimidate serger novices, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, at least one sewing school I know uses this model in their introduction to sergers class.

It’s true that a serger is a complicated, specialized piece of equipment, but there’s no reason that anyone with an ambition to learn couldn’t learn on this model. And it even has a few convenience features, which we’ll discuss later.

In addition to its simple design, the Juki MO-644D is also lightweight and portable enough to bring to meetups or lessons. At the same time, experienced serger users will appreciate this model’s higher speed and other professional options.

That’s not to say that this model doesn’t have its faults. It does. 

The cutting width and stitch length adjusters are inconveniently located inside the left hand cover at the base of the machine. Also, the machine is rated for light and medium fabrics only. So if you’re hoping to serge through heavy work, this lightweight machine may not be the best option.

Still, there are some screaming deals out there right now on this machine. It was first released in 2008, and although it’s not obsolete by any stretch of the imagination, there are newer and more expensive models available.

So, depending on your retailer, you could pick this one up for the price of a lower-end sewing machine. And that’s saying something, as Juki doesn’t make cheap equipment.

With this in mind, let’s see what you get for your money:

Are You Looking for a Portable Serger?

The main reason for buying portable equipment is that you intend to take it somewhere. To that end, you want something that is small, light, and hopefully comes with some sort of protective case. Tough construction is a must.

Even if your machine never leaves the sewing room, however, these are all features that will serve you well.

In general, a serger is smaller than a regular sewing machine. This comes down to throat space. 
Regular sewing involves a variety of fabrics of different sizes and shapes. You might be sewing the edges together to form a seam. You might also be doing decorative sewing in the middle of a piece of fabric. Quilting and embroidery in particular require a lot of room to the right of the needle.

A serger sews edges and nothing else. It makes strong, stretchy overcast seams while trimming the seam edges. Alternatively, a serger can do decorative stitching, but only on the edges. 

So you don’t need much room to the right of the rightmost needle.

The shape is also different. While regular sewing machines are rectangular, sergers tend to be squarish. Many also have a built-in thread stand at the back.

As for weight, however, this can vary quite a bit from model to model. Some sergers are as heavy as some sewing machines — around 20 pounds. A few very slimmed-down models may weigh as little as 8-10 pounds, though that is far from the norm.

If you’re looking for a portable, a handle is also important. Many sergers have them, but they do vary. Some are quite sturdy (like the built-in handle of the Juki MO-664D), while others may seem like an afterthought.

Another consideration is durability. 

Every time you move your machine, you risk dropping, bumping, or scratching it. Features like a heavy-duty frame and a hard carrying case can help to protect a portable machine both during transit and in storage.

Plenty of overlockers have heavy-duty internal metal frames. Carrying cases, however, are few and far between, though you can purchase them separately.

Finally, look for a machine with as few protruding parts as possible. Things like knobs, thread separators that don’t retract, and other features that stick out can get caught or broken during transit, resulting in costly repairs.

Features and Benefits Review of the Juki MO-644D

There’s a lot to love about this little wonder. But before we get to that, a note of caution.

Some retailers mistakenly list this model as a treadle-powered machine. It is not. The Juki MO-644D is an electrical appliance. Although some modern manufacturers do still make treadle-powered sewing machines, this is not one of them.

So, what are the best features of the Juki MO-644D?

2/3/4 Thread Stitching

Sergers sew with two needles and between two and eight threads, depending on your model. The most commonly used overlocker stitches require three-and four-thread stitching capabilities, and almost all home sergers provide this.

However, if you want to do delicate decorative edging, especially on ultralight fabrics, you’ll need two-thread stitching. Likewise, heavy work with thick fabrics and multiple layers is best done with more than four threads.

Some models, especially at this price point, only offer three- and four-thread stitching, but the Juki MO-644D has two-, three-, and four-thread capabilities.

High Speed Sewing

This is another feature that distinguishes the Juki MO-644D from the competition. The average serger stitching speed is 1,300 stitches per minute. Some models don’t even meet that. 

The Juki MO-644D, however, stitches at 1,500 stitches per minute, which will make fast work of your seams.

Built-in Rolled Hem

A rolled hem is an elegant way to finish a fabric edge. You’ll often find it on scarves and other lightweight items.

To make a rolled hem requires two things: removing or disabling the cutting blade and moving the stitch finger. With some serger models, you’ll have to do this by hand, often with a screwdriver or hex wrench.

But machines like the Juki MO-664D, which have a built-in rolled hem, can make these adjustments with the flick of a switch. It’s very convenient.

Lower Looper Switch for Easier Threading

Threading is the bane of many serger owners’ existence. It’s complicated, has to be done in a specific order, and can come undone at the most inconvenient times.

The lower looper thread, in particular, can be difficult, as the thread guides are sometimes difficult to reach.

The Juki MO-644D has a lower looper switch that moves the lower looper into a position where it’s easy to thread. And this is a blessing.

Uses Standard Sewing Machine Needles

Some sergers use special serger needles. Other models, however, like the Juki MO-664D, use standard sewing machine needles. This can save you frustration and a trip to the sewing store if you break a needle in the middle of a project.

Check out How To Identify Sewing Machine Needles if you don’t know your stretch from your self-thread.

Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure

As we mentioned, you can adjust the pressure with which the presser foot holds fabrics against the feed dogs.

This can come in handy when working with fabrics that are lighter or heavier than average, as well as with stretch and knit fabrics.

Extra-High Presser Foot Lift

Although this machine is made for lightweight and medium weight fabrics, there may come a point at which you’ll want to try thicker fabrics or multiple layers. For these cases, being able to lift the presser foot a bit higher will come in handy.

That Handle

Many models have an attached handle. But many of Juki’s machines, including the MO-644D, have a handle that’s part of the frame, and that adds strength and durability.

Alternatives to the Juki MO-644D

We think the Juki MO-644D has a lot of things going for it. However, the home serger market is a crowded place, so there may be a model that’s better suited to your needs.

Here are a few other overlockers that we consider worthy competition:

Singer X5004HD Heavy Duty Serger

Singer has built its reputation on affordable, well-made sewing machines. The Singer X5004HD is one of them.

This is a standard 2/3/4 serger with eight built-in stitches and a rolled hem. At 1,300 stitches per minute, its stitching speed is a bit slower than that of the Juki MO-644D, but that’s still very respectable.

What sets this model apart, though, are its features as a portable.

It has a heavy-duty metal frame, which the MO-644D lacks. At the same time, it manages to be three pounds lighter. Also, the X5004D has lay-in tensioning, which eliminates the external knobs that can prove a breaking hazard during transport.

Oh, and it’s also highly affordable.

If portability is your main criterion, the Singer XD5004 is definitely one to check out.

Brother 1034D

The Brother 1034D is a budget 3 / 4 serger. That means that it only sews with three and four threads. For the right user, however, that might not matter.

This is another portable, and it weighs in at a scant eight pounds. What’s more, some (though not all) retailers will throw in a hard case to go with it. It also has a heavy-duty metal frame.

It’s priced a bit below the MO-644D. If you want a no-frills portable serger to get the job done, this might be the machine for you.

You can read more about this model in our Brother 1034D Serger Review or buy it now by clicking here.

Babylock Vibrant

The Vibrant is Babylock’s entry-level 2/3/4 serger, but it has some features that set it apart, including:

• Retractable thread cutter
• Built-in rolled hem
• Flatlock stitching

It also weighs less than the Juki MO-664D.

Baby Lock machines are made to be powerful and user-friendly, but they also tend to be expensive. However, if you choose your retailer wisely, you can find the Vibrant for only slightly more than you’d pay for the Juki MO-664D.

If you’re looking for a feature-rich experience at an affordable price, this could be one for your serger shortlist.

JUKI MO644D Review: Final Thoughts

The Juki MO-664D is an affordable portable 2/3/4 overlocker. It’s easy enough for a learner to use, but powerful enough for experienced serger users, as well.

Do you have experience with this model? Or do you have another favorite serger model that you’d like to recommend? Tell us about it in the comments below!

REFERENCES

1. JUKI | ABOUT JUKI | https://jukieurope.com/en/ism/about