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Sewing machines can do a lot, but it’s difficult to get a nice, professional looking hem. That’s where sergers come in. They create finishes that you wouldn’t get otherwise, and they’re a great way to upgrade your craft capabilities. So if you’re looking for the best serger sewing machine on the market, take a look at this list, and you’ll be on your way to pro-level crafting.

According to our tests, overall, the best serger is the Brother 1034D. It has a differential feed that yields a smooth finish on all fabrics, and it is incredibly hard to beat at its price point. 

Our Top Picks For The Best Serger Sewing Machines

More About The Janome 8002D

Once you sit down with this serger, you'll find yourself inventing projects to undertake! The really nice thing about this serger is that it’s pretty much ready to go as soon as you open the box and plug it in which is especially nice for impatient crafters. It also makes the elusive rolled hem as easy as ever, which is a huge bonus.

There are tons of overlay options, which is perfect for people that like to get inventive with their seam work. It doesn’t come with preset tension, which is actually a good thing, since a lot of sergers are preset, leading to sloppy finishes depending on the type of fabric you’re working on. All it takes is a turn of the dial to get the perfect tension for your project.

More About The Brother Designio Series DZ1234

This serger might look intimidating, but don't be fooled; it's actually easy to use, even for beginners. It's more dynamic than most models, and you can even use regular sewing needles with it.

Not only can it tackle super thick fabric, but it can also put a nice finish on gauzy fabric without snagging or ruining the material. It’s hard to beat this machine when it comes to serger sewing. It’s got another really nice design feature though:

Its built in storage is a thoughtful feature. It makes a big difference when you’re constantly losing the little bits you need. The trim trap also comes off, and you can use it to keep the presser foot stored when you’re done using it. 

More About The Juki MO644D Serger

This portable serger is light, compact, and easy to carry. That doesn’t stop it from working hard though. It’s almost surprising how heavy duty this serger sewing machine is; it can get through heavy materials, even denim or leather. It can also sew through quite a few layers of material, which is really impressive.

You’ll be impressed with how quiet this machine runs, especially considering the amount of work it can power through. It stays nice and steady while you work, which is a relief, since a lot of portable machines tend to wobble around. Once you work with it, you’ll see how well it works, and how well it’s built. It’s a serger you can count on for years of great work.

More About The Juki MO654DE

This serger is fantastic because it does everything your sewing machine can’t quite manage. It makes really even, strong stitches no matter what you’re using it on, even tough materials like tape. The tension dials are easy to figure out, just make sure when you pull the thread into the dials that it’s nice and tight.

Another great feature of this machine is the rolled hems. Rolled hems are easy to create, since it has an automatic rolled hem function. This means that the most desirable hemming style is easy to achieve. It also includes a couple safety features, which a lot of sergers leave out. For example, if you have the side open to rethread the serger, the motor is locked out, and won’t accidentally start up.

One of the best things about this serger is that it even stitches on elastic with ease.

More About The Singer Finishing Touch

The Singer Finishing Touch serger is a great serger for any skill level, and it’s a great machine to learn on. The stitches are really sturdy, they won’t pop or break if the fabric has tension put on it; basically, you can have confidence that all your creations are going to stay in the shape great form as when you first finished them.

It’s ideal for light and medium fabrics, so it can tackle most household projects easily. It’s a fast worker too, reaching up to 1,300 stitches per minute. Another bonus is that it has a free arm. While that may be more common feature among sewing machines, it’s pretty rare to find a serger that has a free arm. It’s a huge convenience, since you can easily get hard to reach places, like sleeves and cuffs.

More About The Brother 2340CV

If you need a serger that can handle just about anything, this Brother serger is what you’ve been searching for. It’s a fairly advanced serger, but beginners can still use it, since they include great materials for getting started and the color coded threading is fairly straightforward.

It makes sturdy stitches on nearly any fabric weight. The nice thing about this serger is that it pretty much eliminates issues with wavy stitching and stretched looking finishes. This is a common problem with lighter knits and stretchier fabrics. It’s not just functional though, it also lets you create tons of decorative stitches, that are just as sturdy as a chain stitch.

What is a Serger Sewing Machine

A serger sewing machine differs from a traditional sewing machine in that it allows the user to trim as well as enclose a seam or edge. It is also known as an overlocking sewing machine. Most serger machines use either 3 or 4 threads to create a locked stitch, whereas a sewing machine only uses 1.

Serger machines also work a lot faster, creating a lot more stitches per minute than traditional sewing machines making them ideal for use in the manufacturing industry where time is money. Serger machines are key for creating a professional looking edge or seam on your sewing projects. 

Features to Keep in Mind When Looking For The Best Serger Sewing Machine

Budget

If you are new to using a serger machine, it's best not to spend too much until you learn how to use one efficiently. Of course, if you buy one that is very cheap, you’re probably not going to get very desirable results. Keeping within the mid-range sergers is probably the safest bet.

For those who are experienced, or who are using the serger in manufacturing, a higher range machine is probably most suitable. Make sure to do sufficient research and read customer machine reviews before deciding on what machine to buy.

Fabric Feed

If you want to use your serger to create twists and ruffles, you will need one that has a differential fabric feed. This will allow you more creativity to create a range of stylish edges on your fabric.

Ease of Use

Complex machines are often more hassle than they are worth. Buying a machine that is easy to use even for a beginner is going to surely improve your sewing game as opposed to putting you off using it.

Tension

Thread tension is crucial to a serger. If you don’t make sure it’s set correctly, you’ll end up with problematic sewing. If the tension is too tight, the thread can break. If the tension is too low, you won’t get much flat seam.

Automatic or Manual Threading

Threading a serger machine can be quite daunting as well as time consuming task. It can often be very frustrating and tedious so getting a machine which as an automatic threading function will save you all of this frustration. Threading a serger machine wrongly can lead to a host of difficulties, so unless you’re a confident and experienced user manual threading machines are best avoided.

Number of Threads

Check how many threads your serger uses. Most home serger machines use either 3 or 4 and we wouldn’t recommend that you purchase one which uses any less. Some high end manufacturing serger machines use up to 8 threads but this is unnecessary for home use.

Different Types of Serger Stitches

There are four main stitches that a serger machine can create, all of different stitch length options, which are perfect for finishing off a professional looking seam. You will find these four different stitches used throughout your home on clothing garments and other fabric household items.

The first stitch is known as a 3-thread overlock. This stitch/stitch length is ideal for using on stretchy knit fabrics or woven fabrics. This stitch is created using one needle so it isn’t overly strong making it best for use on items that won’t be having a huge amount of stress put on them.

The second stitch is a 4-thread overlock, this is the stitch you will probably use the most on your serger. This stitch is most commonly used to seam clothing as it is durable and long lasting.

The third stitch is the flatlock and is most often used on stretchy clothing, most commonly athleisure wear such as yoga pants. This stitch is very distinctive as one side has loops while the other side has horizontal lines. Using this stitch will add very little weight or thickness to the fabric.

The last of the most common stitch is the 2 thread rolled edge which is used for narrow seams on fabrics that are sheer. It is most commonly known as a rolled hem. You will frequently see this stitch on napkins and tablecloths, it is very decorative and adds a beautiful finishing touch to items.

Conclusion

Serger machines are key for creating professional seams on fabrics. They work extremely fast and have a much quicker output than a traditional sewing machine. Serger machines are most frequently seen in manufacturing settings but should never be overlooked for home use, especially if you intend to sell your creations at a local market. There are plenty of affordable, high-quality serger machines on the market. All that is required is a little research to find the right machine for your needs.