Brother 1034D Serger: First Impressions and Demo
Since I’ve started making garments, I’ve come to realize how much easier my life would be if I had a serger.
Recently, I took a class at the Sewing Expo on sergers – it was aimed toward beginners and very helpful. The instruction took the stigma out of the complexities in using one.
Of course – it didn’t seem practical to think I was going to buy the $6,000 Baby Lock Ovation used in the studio. (Even if it was at a “show special” price of $3,000)
I started looking around and noticed the practically-a-steal Brother 1034D serger seemed like a feasible option. It was under $200 and already has more than 1,800 reviews on Amazon and over a 4-star rating.
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Just days ago I was again discussing the possibility of buying a serger with James.
He looked at me and asked, “How much does it cost?”
I said, “About $200.”
Then he told me to go ahead and order it right now. So I did. If your husband gives you his blessing to purchase anything to feed your sewing addiction – you’d better not miss that opportunity!
After making this special video message, I thought I’d give it another go making a second video. Here it is! I talk about what comes in the box, walk you through the machine briefly, and do a demonstration to show how it works.
Out of the box, it seems fairly solid. The Brother 1034D is heavy, there are mostly metal parts inside, and the plastic housing doesn’t look or feel cheap.
There were quite a few accessories included, with two extra feet I was not expecting. The instruction manual and techniques guide are decent, but I do want to say the CD-ROMs were quite comical. One is on operating the serger, and the other shows a variety of techniques. They were obviously made during the early 90s (during Desert Storm???) and use a different model. On my computer, I was unable to full screen the videos so I had to watch on a window that was about 4 inches by 3 inches. Whoever was shooting didn’t zoom in or get many close up shots of the serger’s inner workings.
Brother – I think it’s time for a change – make a new series of videos and include a DVD – and put them on YouTube.
With experience using both a super-pricey serger and its much, much, much more affordable counterpart, I can say that the Brother 1034D is a terrific value. Sure, there are some clear cut differences. The Baby Lock has a lot more bells and whistles (8-thread operation, air threading, etc.), but the Brother will get the job done.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve heard so many people raving about the Baby Lock sergers! However, unless I was a professional seamstress, making some serious bucks at sewing, or was simply an eccentric millionaire – I just can’t justify the cost at this time.
Plus, I want there to be a cover stitch machine in my future…
There are countless tutorials, tips, and tricks on Pinterest. I have created a new board called Brother 1034D Serger where I will be pinning whatever I find. Feel free to follow this board if you like.
See you next time!
– Jennifer