A serger is a special type of sewing machine that binds fabric together using an overlock stitch. An overlock stitch is created using 3-4 stitches on the serger. It’s a finishing stitch that you have probably noticed on all clothing that you wear.
If you’re wanting to sew clothes either as a hobby or professionally, you’ll need a serger to be able to finish off the project professionally and to keep the clothing in great condition.
But before you rush off to buy the best serger, it’s a good idea to do some reading and research so that you make the right choice. A serger can be very expensive, and you don’t want to buy the wrong one.
To make it easier for you to research, I’ve created a buying guide that covers all the popular and best serger brands and models on the market in 2021. Have a read through the features and benefits and see which one suits your sewing needs the most!
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Best serger review 2021
Here are the best serger sewing machines:
Best overall serger: Brother 1034D 3/4 thread serger with differential feed
Best portable serger: JUKI MO654DE Portable Thread Serger Sewing Machine
Best serger for beginners: Janome 8002D Serger
Best budget serger: Singer Professional 14T968DC Serger
| Brand/Model | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
Brother Serger, 1034DX, 3/4 Thread Serger   | 3 or 4 threads 22 stitching functions Up to 1300 stitches per min 25 year warranty | Check Price Here |
Singer ProFinish 14CG754 Serger 2-3-4 Thread Capability Overlock with Blind Hem  | 2, 3 and 4 thread 4 built-in rolled hems Up to 1300 stitches per min 25 year warranty | Check Price Here |
Brother Designio Series DZ1234 Serger  | 3 or 4 thread Up to 1300 stitches per min Uses standard sewing machine needles 25 year warranty | Check Price Here |
JUKI MO654DE Portable Thread Serger Sewing Machine  | 2, 3 or 4 thread Up to 1500 stitches per minute Fastest serger | Check Price Here |
JUKI MO644D Portable Serger  | 2, 3 or 4 thread Auto rolled hem Portable size | Check Price Here |
Brother 2340CV, Cover, Advanced Serger  | 2, 3 or 4 thread Up to 1300 stitches per minute 25 year warranty | Check Price Here |
Janome 8002D Serger  | 3 or 4 thread Up to 1300 stitches per minute 25 year warranty | Check Price Here |
SINGER | Professional 5 14T968DC Serger with 2-3-4-5 Threaded Capability  | 2, 3, 4 or 5 thread Up to 1300 stitches per minute 25 year warranty | Check Price Here |
Brother 1034D 3/4 Thread Serger with Differential Feed
The Brother 1034D gives you a professionally finished edge on whatever fabric you use including linens, knits and formal wear. You can gather fabric; create decorative edges and ruffles; join laces; serge spaghetti straps and narrow sleeves and many other functions.
The machine has 22 built-in stitch functions with a 4-thread and 3-thread overlock stitch as well as narrow, rolled hem and ribbon lock stitches. There are speciality stitches for when you’re creating bridal wear and home crafts.
If you’re using thin, knitted or stretchy fabrics, the differential feed will give you a high-quality even stitch.
For those who are new to sergers, you’ll find threading the machine very easy to learn and use. There’s an instructional video as well as printed manual. The upper and lower looper threading are both color-coded and numbered to make it easier for you to thread.
We love that there is free lifetime phone support so if you’re not sure of anything, you can contact Brother’s customer service team and they will help guide you through your problem. There is also a 25-year limited warranty.
Accessories included with the serger are 2 snap-on feet, a foot controller, gathering foot, needles and a soft cover. You can use standard sewing machine needles on the serger.
Pros:
Adjustable stitch width between 5mm to 7mm from left needle.
Removable free arm for when you need to serge sleeves and other cylindrical items
Differential fabric feed ratio is 0.7 to 2.0
Fast stitching speed of up to 1300 stitches per minute
Adjustable on/off knife feature which is used for pintucking and flatlock
Adjustable foot pressure for when you are working with heavy or light fabrics to prevent puckering and to make it easier to sew curves
Removable stitch finger for well-formed fabric edge stitching
Bright light to light up your workspace
Optional feet available for purchase
Cons:
Check price here
Singer | ProFinish 14CG754 Serger 2-3-4 Thread Capability Overlock with Blind Hem, Rolled Hems and Flatlocking
It has a 2,3 and 4 thread capability. This gives you a wider range of stitch options depending on the project you’re working on. The different stitch types include blind hems, flatlocking, rolled hems, finishing raw edges and sewing seams.
The stitch length can be adjusted by length and width. The differential feed and color-coded threading makes the serger easy to thread and use.
It comes with a carry handle, so if you need to move your serger around it won’t be too heavy and difficult for you to carry. This is great if you’re a sewing student and need to take your serger with you to class.
If you sew professional garments, you’ll be pleased to know that the Singer comes with an optional free arm. This lets you easily sew cuffs and sleeves.
The Singer Pro-Finish serger has a speed of up to 1300 stitches per minute. It also has automatic fabric trimming which will help make your garments look professional. The upper knife is movable so that you don’t trim your fabric accidentally while sewing.
For hems, the machine has 4 built-in rolled hems. You can convert the machine to the rolled hem sewing mode quite easily. All you need to do is move the easy-to-access lever which moves the stitch finger into position for rolled hemming.
Other features we like include an LED light and an extra-high presser foot lifter.
Accessories included with the serger are an all-purpose foot, set of needles, tweezers, spreader, a small screwdriver, power cord, foot control and an instructional manual.
The Singer Pro-Finish serger comes with a 25-year limited warranty.
Check price here
Brother Designio Series DZ1234 Serger
It is a 3 or 4 thread serger, as with most other sergers on the market.
The Designio serger sews up to 1300 stitches per minute which helps you work faster on your garments and other sewing projects.
It has easy-to-use color-coded threading to make it easier and faster for you to thread your serger. This is great for beginners.
Included with the serger is a gathering foot, a blind hem stitch foot and a piping foot.
The gathering foot helps you connect your fabric and finish edges in one step. You won’t need any pins to secure your fabric. You can gather single or double layers of fabric.
The piping foot holds and guides narrow piping as well as holding zippers in place.
The blind hem stitch foot helps you create blind hems on different types of fabrics. This is great for when you need to do edge stitching or attaching lace or other fabric and for joining edges.
There are 2 sets of starter thread also included.
The differential fabric feed has a ratio of 0.7-2.0 on most fabrics including lightweight knits. You can adjust the stitch width between 3.0mm and 7.0mm depending on the project you’re working on. This gives you the option to work on different types of projects and garments and to adjust your settings as required.
The stitch width can be adjusted between 3.0mm and 7.0mm.
The serger has a free arm and can convert into a flat-bed sewing surface. This is great for when you have difficult projects with hard to reach areas in the design. You can create beautiful sleeves and cuffs with ease. You can also remove the table section to serge sleeves easily.
One of the great things about the Brother Designio series is that you can use standard home sewing needles for finishing edges and hems rather than buying special needles. There’s also a retractable knife to use when you’re creating rolled hems.
The serger also comes with a soft protective case, trim trap, foot controller, large white thread, mini color thread, a needle and thread set, thread spool cap, hexagonal wrench, tweezer, cleaning brush and accessory feet.
There is an operational CD and a techniques CD and book and an operational manual both in English and Spanish.
The Brother Designio serger comes with a 25-year limited warranty.
Check price here
JUKI MO654DE Portable Thread Serger Sewing Machine
The Japanese Juki brand is known for being an industrial brand of sewing machines and sergers. The high quality standards make Juki an appealing brand for those who sew for a living and want professional garments.
The serger is a 2/3/4 thread serger and has an automatic rolled hem.
Color-coded threading helps you thread your serger with ease, and there is an external adjustment for stitch length and differential feed.
The Juki serger has a maximum speed of up to 1500 stitches per minute which is faster than most other sergers on the market. This is another reason why professionals prefer to use Juki sergers and sewing machines.
You can sew light to heavy fabrics with a maximum stitch length of 4mm. The differential feed ratio is 0.7 to 2.0.
The serger comes with a multi-purpose foot to help you work on a variety of projects and even if you’re working with elastic or tape. There are optional presser feet available for other tasks such as piping, blind stitch, cording and gathering.
We like that there’s a safety switch for when you open the side cover for threading. The safety switch locks out the motor when the side cover is open, which protects you.
Check price here
JUKI MO644D Portable Serger
The Juki has a 2/3/4 thread option with automatic rolled hem.
Like most other sergers, it has a color-coded threading looper adjustment so that you can easily adjust the stitch length and differential feed.
There’s a powerful knife system with dedicated drive mechanism to help trim many different types of fabrics. Being a professional or a student, you’ll be working with medium weight fabrics that require a powerful knife.
Included with the Juki serger is a multi-purpose foot for a variety of sewing stitches that can be used with elastic and tape too. You can purchase additional presser feet for other tasks such as piping and gathering.
Check price here
Brother 2340CV, Cover, Advanced Serger, Color-Coded Threading Guide, Dial Stitch Length, Presser Foot Pressure Adjustment, White
Being an advanced serger, you can work with many types of stitches on multiple fabrics. The serger is 2/3/4 thread cover stitch only.
The Brother serger can be used for projects such as making strapping for swimsuits and dance garments. There’s a variety of standard stitches as well as decorative stitches and stitches for edging, hems and belt loops.
The stitch width range is between 3mm and 6mm while stitch length is 2mm to 4mm. You can adjust the speed of material flowing as you’re using your machine by using the adjustable dial. This is helpful so that you have control over the sewing process and don’t make as many mistakes.
There’s an easy to follow color-coded threading guide to make it quick and easy for you to thread the serger. This is important when you’re sewing professionally as you don’t want to waste time with tasks such as threading.
You’ll also save time with the fast and easy looper threading system.
Included with the serger is a blind stitch foot and a gather foot and other standard accessories such as a needle set, tweezers, spool caps, spool mats, a cleaning brush, a hexagonal wrench, an operating manual and a soft cover.
There is a 25-year limited warranty and lifetime free technical phone support so if you ever need help or have a problem with your serger, you can call the Brother customer service team to help you fix your issue.
Check price here
Janome 8002D Serger
It is a compact serger which means it won’t take up much room on your sewing table. This is great if you live in a small apartment or don’t have much space in your sewing room due to your sewing machine, fabric and other equipment.
It has a fast speed of up to 1300 stitches per minute.
It has a 3 or 4 thread overlock stitching with a built-in rolled hem feature for high-quality hemming. The serger cuts and finishes seams quickly and easily, which is important when you’re a professional who prides on high quality but also efficiency. You don’t want to waste time with a machine that isn’t responsive to your needs.
The color-coded dials help you thread easily and the rolled hem changeover makes it easy for you to convert your serger to a rolled hem.
The retractable upper knife cuts off your seam allowance as you’re sewing, to create a clean, professional edge. The cutting width range is from 3.1mm to 7.3mm and the differential feed ratio is from 0.5 to 2.25.
The differential feed controls the movement of the front and rear feed dogs, which control the movement of the fabric through the machine. This is important as different types of fabrics have different movement requirements. The serger prevents puckering and stretching of complicated, lightweight fabrics.
Accessories such as screwdrivers, a set of needles and tweezers are included with the serger. There is a 25 year limited warranty.
Check price here
Singer Professional 14T968DC Serger with 2-3-4-5 Threaded Capability
The serger has 2/3/4/5 thread capability which is more than other sergers, and gives you a wide choice of stitch options for professional results regardless of the project.
There is a self-adjusting tension system that you set by turning the dial until you choose the right chart, and then the tension settings adjust themselves.
The Singer has a sewing speed of up to 1300 stitches per minute which is great if you work on many projects and need to be quick. You’re able to choose from stitches for sewing hems, rolled hems, cover hems and decorative edges.
When you’re sewing rolled hems, simply convert the machine to the rolled hem mode. To do this, you just use the access lever which moves the stitch finger into the right position for rolled hemming.
Included with the serger is an all-purpose foot, tweezers, screwdrivers, needle set, spool caps, anti-spill thread net, spare cutting knife, oiler, brush and other accessories. Also included is a soft-sided cover, an instructional manual and a CD workbook.
Singer offers a 25-year limited warranty.
Check price here
What is a serger?
A serger is similar to a sewing machine and is used to finish off a sewing project by helping create professional-looking hems. It is also known as an “overlocker” in countries such as Australia.
Using a serger allows fabric to be cut as you work on the project, and also allows you to easily work from one garment to the next.
Sewing enthusiasts who make their own clothing and work on projects such as curtains or cushions prefer to use a serger to do hems and professional-looking stitches more easily than when using a sewing machine.
Those who run a sewing business use a serger more than a sewing machine and it’s a must-have piece of sewing equipment. Sergers allow you to create professional finishes regardless of the type of fabric you’re working with- whether light fabrics such as cotton or heavier and thicker fabrics and materials.
One of the great things about using a serger is that some sergers allow you to have up to four or five threads in a stitch such as when you’re creating a chain stitch for denim seams.
If you work on projects for around the home such as bedding, cushions, curtains and tablecloths, a serger helps you create decorative patterns and finishes.
The downside to buying a serger is the cost of purchasing one and also the storage space. There are different types of sergers and a suitable serger at each price point. Some can cost as little as $300 while the top sergers can cost more than $1000.
You also need to create space in your sewing room or workstation to fit the serger. The good thing is that there are portable, slim sergers that make it easier for you to work in a small space.
How do you choose the best serger?
When comparing all the sergers reviewed, if you’re shopping the fastest serger then either of the Juki sergers would be your best choice, at the maximum speed of 1500 stitches per minute.
If you’re only a beginner and don’t have a lot of experience using a serger, then choosing the Janome 8002D serger or the Singer Professional 14T968DC serger would be best. This will allow you to learn how to use the serger rather than spending a lot of money on a machine you’ve never used and don’t know whether you’ll want to use long term.
For those on a smaller budget, the Singer Professional 14T968DC Serger would give you the best value for your money. The Juki sergers are quite expensive so are usually purchased by those who run a sewing business and can afford it.
I’m so excited to get my hands on a serger! I’ve been wanting to try one for a while now.
How exciting for you! You’ll notice a huge difference in your sewing project quality once you get a serger.