Brother 1034D Serger Comparison and In Depth Review

This is an in depth review of the Brother 1034D 3 or 4 thread serger with easy lay in threading with differential feed.

I will overview the following features and aspects of this serger:

An introduction to the machine
The overall features
Built-in stitch functions
What’s included
A video demo
What users have to say (reviews)
The pros and cons
And the best current price

So let’s get started!

Introduction to the Brother 1034D Serger

A serger is a machine that is designed to professionally finish the edges and hems of all different types of fabrics. Many seamstresses get by for years without a serger, though once you have one you wonder how you lived without it. A serger definitely steps up your sewing game with beautifully finished edges. (Learn more about the features of a serger vs. sewing machine if you aren’t clear on their differences)

The Brother 1034D serger features a 3/4 lay-in thread system with lower looper threader. There are several stitch options including 4 thread overlock, 3 thread overlock, narrow hem, rolled hem, and ribbon lock stitches. You can also sew blind hem pin tuck and flat lock stitches by purchasing optional presser feet.

Those are some basics. Now let’s get into the details.

Overall Features of This Machine

Here is a general overview of the features and accessories included with the Brother 1034D Serger. Continue reading below for a more in depth overview of each of the features that are included in this table.

	Brother 1034D
Number of Threads	3/4
Needle	Size 11 or 14
Built-in Stitch Functions	22
Differential Feed	0.7 to 2.0
Adjustable Stitch	Yes, 5mm to 7mm
Stitch Speed	1300 spm
Weight	15.0 lbs.
Rating (5)	4.6

Easy Threading System

No this machine does not thread itself 🙂

Some people have nightmares about threading their serger and yes, it can be frustrating the first few times. The first time I tried to thread mine, it was a disaster! Now that I can do it in a couple minutes, I wonder what the issue was.

To be honest, the Brother 1034D is actually very easy to thread. It has easy to follow color-coded, lay-in threading with clear pictures for every step.

You just have to follow the steps carefully (I think I was being too impatient the first time I tried).

If you have trouble, you can find many great videos on youtube to help you step-by-step. It’s like learning how to ride a bike – once you get the hang of it, you never have to relearn.

he Brother 1034D has a built-in guide that shows you just where to thread each of the 4 threads. While there are a lot of steps to threading the 3rd and 4th thread lines, it isn’t impossible with the easy guide that takes you one step at a time through the process. It took me 2 tries but I was really surprised, once again, with how easy it is.

The most important thing is to thread in the proper order so follow the instruction manual until you learn the proper steps to threading.

Differential Feed

It has a differential feed, which is a a great feature. Being able to adjust this comes in handy when working with knit or stretchy fabrics so you don’t get that wavy or bumpy look.

That’s one thing that I love about this machine – you can use it to create a professional finish on any type of fabric from denim, to jersey knits, to silk.

It also has a removable arm (some sergers don’t have this feature), which is helpful when serging things like pant legs or sleeves.

Retractable Knife Blade

The serger has a built in retractable knife blade that will trim the edge right before being serged for a professional and clean edge with all the fabrics aligning just right. For projects where you may not want to trim the edge, you can easily turn off the knife blade. This is one of my favorite features that I utilize all the time.

Brother 1034D Built-In Stitches

The image to the right shows the versatile stitch options that come with the 1034D.

With the presser feet that are included you can perform the following stitches:

4 thread overlock
3 thread overlock
Narrow hem
Rolled hem
Ribbon lock stitches

By purchasing optional presser feet you can perform these additional stitches:

Pin tucks
Blind hemming
Flat lock

What’s Included

Accessory feet: – Multi-purpose guide foot
Gathering foot
Foot controller
Accessory bag (see below)
Soft cover
Instructional CD
Bilingual English/Spanish operation manual
25-year limited warranty

Accessories Included

Needle set
4 spool nets
Tweezers
Cleaning brush
Hexl wrench
Trim trap

There are also many other accessories that you can pick up for your Brother serger. The Brother website has a complete list as well as other sewing websites or Amazon.com.

One accessory that I highly recommend is a hard cover. It is a worthwhile investment that [easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”right” asin=”B001UFWKBQ” cloaking=”default” height=”110″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/11iv0GZsLuL._SL110_.jpg” tag=”sewsavvy-20″ width=”103″]will protect your machine and makes it easier to transport. This is a worthwhile investment if you have to move your serger from one place to another. If you plan to have your sewing area setup and your serger out at all times, then a hard cover probably isn’t necessary.

If you are new to serging I also recommend The Complete Serger Handbook by Chris [easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”right” asin=”0806998075″ cloaking=”default” height=”110″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51M5gYNyAHL._SL110_.jpg” tag=”sewsavvy-20″ width=”94″]James. This helped me a lot when I first got my machine and was learning the basics. You can buy it or see if it is available at your local library.

Also, here is a link to the Brother 1034D manual to give some more insight into how it works.

Video Demo of the Brother Serger in Action

I have this serger and as I’ve already stated, I am completely satisfied with it. I thought about pulling it out and doing a demo myself, but I don’t have the time or energy (mom of 3 and one on the way 🙂 ) but I found plenty of videos online showing how it works, what it can do, finished projects, etc.

This is a video from hsn.com. I don’t think the machine is still listed for sale on their website but this video does a great job of showing the overall features of this machine.

[video_youtube video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA2HvyPvuc4″ width=”480″ height=”360″]

There are also many other videos online showing the things you can do with the Brother 1034D serger.

User Reviews of the Brother 1034D

Currently Rated 4.6 / 5.0 with 1500+ User Reviews

Users of this machine rave about how versatile it is – perfect for everyday sewing projects but also great for more advanced quilting projects.

Users were also happy with the simplicity of the machine, making it great for beginners, but were also impressed with the quality and technology that also make it ideal for experienced sewers.

Overall owners commented that for the price and the performance, this serger has a perfect balance.

Pros and Cons of the Brother 1034D

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PROS

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Easy to set the tension
Everything is marked by color and number to make threading easy
Affordably priced

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CONS

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Doesn’t have the ability to chain stitch or cover stitch
Some owners say it is a very loud machine (I agree but I don’t have another serger that I can compare it to so I don’t know if sergers are just generally louder)
Some users complained that it was not as effective when using with thick materials (such as several layers of denim)

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Overall Summary of the Brother 1034D

I think this is an excellent machine for beginners who want to invest in a serger but do not want to spend an arm and a leg.

I’ve been using this exact serger for a few years now and I love it. I used a Singer serger for a day and returned it for this one, so I can’t make any big comparisons from one serger to another. I’ve heard that Babylock sergers are the holy grail, but I didn’t have $400+ in my budget and most people don’t.

Right now the Brother 1034D does everything I need it to do with the projects I use it for. I’ve made curtains, baby blankets, clothing, and more. I use it to roll edges, gather fabric, and many other things. I think it is a great machine and with proper care and maintenance, it should last for many, many years.

Current Best Price for the 1034D and Where to Buy

You can find the Brother 1034D Serger on Amazon.com and if you are a member of Amazon Prime you can get it shipped to your door in under 2 days. [easyazon_block add_to_cart=”default” align=”right” asin=”B009SC1YA6″ cloaking=”default” layout=”top” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”sewsavvy-20″] (I highly recommend this. I’ve been a Prime member since 2009. It has a myriad of benefits on top of the free 2 day shipping on thousands of items 🙂 )

Another plus to ordering from Amazon is that you can sometimes find an open box deal on sewing machines (used, but in great condition), which can save you anywhere from $20 to $50. I’ve bought a used sewing machine (they are typically items that someone simply returned for whatever reason but still in perfect working order) and I’ve never had an issue.

Amazon also has tons of user reviews so you can see what people who have this particular machine think about it.

Let me know if you have any questions. I’ll do my best to answer. Happy sewing shopping 🙂