Brother Designio Series DZ1234 Serger Review: Features And Performance
The Brother Designio Series DZ1234 serger is an excellent option for sewers looking for a feature-rich overlock machine without the premium price tag. This brother Designio Series DZ1234 review will provide a detailed overview of its capabilities to help you determine if it’s the right serger for your needs.
Sergers, also known as overlock machines, are an invaluable tool for any sewist. These specialty machines are designed specifically for finishing raw edges, sewing seams, and creating decorative effects like rolled hems. Sergers use 2-5 threads and cut fabric as they sew for clean, professional results in a fraction of the time it takes on a regular sewing machine.
The DZ1234 from Brother offers performance and features typically found on more advanced sergers at a budget-friendly price point. Keep reading this brother Designio Series DZ1234 review for an in-depth look at what this model has to offer.
Overview of the Brother Designio DZ1234 Serger
The Brother Designio DZ1234 is a 3/4 thread serger with a metal interior frame for durability. It’s a compact, portable machine weighing 18.1 pounds and measuring just 15.2 x 13 x 13.2 inches, making it easy to store in your sewing room or take to classes.
Brother is a leading global manufacturer of sewing and crafting machines. They have 90 years of experience producing quality, user-friendly machines for all skill levels. The DZ1234 has many attributes making it an excellent choice for beginners new to serging as well as more advanced sewers.
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Serger Type | 3/4 thread overlock |
| Speed | Up to 1,300 stitches per minute |
| Needles | 2 included |
| Thread Capability | 3 or 4 threads |
| Stitch Length | 2 – 4mm |
| Stitch Width | 3 – 7mm |
| Differential Feed Ratio | 0.7 – 2 |
| Presser Feet Included | Standard, Blind Hem, Piping, Gathering |
| Lighting | LED |
| Warranty | 25 years limited on chassis, 5 years on electronics |
Now let’s look at some of the noteworthy features and benefits of the DZ1234 serger in more detail.
Key Features and Benefits of the Brother Designio DZ1234
Serger Stitch Options: Overlock, Rolled Hem, Ribbon Lock and More
The Brother DZ1234 comes equipped with 22 built-in stitch functions to handle any type of serging task. You have plenty of options for seam finishes, decorative effects, and unique techniques.
Stitches available on this model include:
- 4-thread overlock – This versatile stitch is perfect for assembling seams and hemming. It creates a secure, durable seam ideal for swimwear, outerwear, denim, and other heavyweight fabrics.
- 3-thread overlock – Use this stitch with a single needle on knit fabrics and lightweight wovens where you want a seam with a little more flexibility. It’s great for t-shirts, activewear, linens, and silky fabrics.
- Narrow hem – Sew a narrow rolled edge finish with this stitch. It’s wonderful for creating ruffles, sewing sheer fabrics, and finishing necklines or trims.
- Rolled hem – This classic stitch makes beautiful narrow hems along the edge of lightweight fabrics like on scarves, napkins, or handkerchiefs.
- Ribbon lock – Secure ribbon or elastic along fabric edges with this sewing technique. It’s perfect for lingerie, activewear, masks, headbands, and more.
Image Source: Brother
The variety of options allow you to achieve professional results on any type of project from sheer silks to heavy outdoor gear.
Fast Sewing Speed Up To 1,300 Stitches Per Minute
The DZ1234 has a maximum sewing speed of 1,300 stitches per minutes, allowing you to finish projects quickly. You can easily adjust the speed as needed for different techniques and fabrics.
The fast speed is perfect when you’re constructing garments and want to speed through long seams. Or when hemming multiple items like napkins for a large event.
Sewing at high speeds does take practice. Make sure to start off slowly and use scrap fabric if you’re new to operating a serger.
Differential Feed Prevents Stretching and Puckering 0.7-2.0
Having an adjustable differential feed is an invaluable feature for preventing stretching, puckering, and waving of fabric. This provides superior stitch quality across different fabrics and techniques.
The differential feed controls the movement of the front set of feed dogs in relationship to the back. If the front moves faster, it puts in more fabric reducing stretch and gather. When the back moves faster, it creates gather.
You can set the differential feed ratio on the DZ1234 between 0.7 and 2.0. Adjusting this lets you customize the feed for the fabric you’re working with:
- Set the ratio below 1 for knits and stretchy material to prevent tunneling of the seams
- Use a higher setting above 1 when you want to gather fabric
- Keep it at 1 for most general sewing applications
Having precise control over the feed leads to perfect seams and hems every time.
Easy Threading with Color-Coded Guides
Threading any serger can seem intimidating at first glance. Fortunately, the Brother DZ1234 makes the process straightforward and easy.
Each threading path is marked with a colored guide. The loopers are green, needles are red and yellow, etc. Just follow the color coding when threading each area, consulting the numbered diagrams on the machine if needed.
The guides take a lot of frustration and guesswork out of setup. While learning to thread the loopers will take some practice, the intuitive system shortens the learning curve.
Image Source: Brother
Always be sure to refer to both the on-machine diagrams and printed manual to help with the initial threading. With some practice, you’ll be able to thread this serger quickly each time you need to change thread colors or types.
Adjustable Stitch Width 3mm-7mm For Perfect Flat Seams
Many sergers only allow you to adjust stitch length. The DZ1234 has dials enabling you to set both stitch width and length for enhanced customization.
Having the ability to adjust the stitch width from 3mm up to 7mm gives you greater control over the seam finish. This is especially important when sewing lightweight, delicate fabrics.
For example, a 3mm stitch would cause tunneling on a silk chiffon blouse. Increasing the width to 5mm creates a flat, barely visible seam on the sheer fabric.
Likewise, some knits feed and sew better with a narrower stitch width. Test different settings if you encounter looping threads, skewed seams, or similar issues on a certain fabric. Adjusting the width often helps resolve these problems.
Image Source: Brother
The stitch width control allows you to dial in the optimal setting for whatever material you’re working with.
Convenient Free Arm For Sleeves, Pant Legs, and Cylindrical Items
The removable free arm on the DZ1234 provides easy access for sewing cylindrical pieces like sleeves, pant legs, and cuffs.
Simply remove the flat bed attachment. This exposes the free arm, allowing tubular fabric pieces to slide over the narrow arm.
Having the free arm makes construction so much faster when dealing with garment details like setting in sleeves. No more struggling to fit the whole garment under the presser foot!
Of course, you can always reattach the flat bed to provide more surface area for large projects or bulky fabrics. It’s the best of both worlds.
Helpful Accessories Included: Specialty Feet, Tools, Thread, and More
Brother packs several handy accessories right in the box with the DZ1234 machine:
- Specialty presser feet – Blind hem, gathering, and piping feet provide versatility to create different stitches and techniques. These accessories are valued around $12-$20 each if purchased separately.
- Tweezers and brush – Helpful for threading and keeping the serger lint-free.
- Thread nets – Keep thread tidy.
- Spool caps – For use with different types of thread spools.
- 2 sets of starter thread – One poly and one rayon to begin serging right away.
- Extra needles – Have spares on hand for quick changes between fabrics.
- Manuals – Printed and DVD versions to help you learn.
- Dust cover – Protects the machine when not in use.
Having everything you need in one box makes getting set up and sewing so much more convenient.
Some handy accessories included with the Brother DZ1234.
Uses Standard Sewing Needles
While some high-end sergers require expensive specialty needles, the DZ1234 uses readily available standard needles.
You can use any home sewing machine needles in sizes 70/10 through 90/14. This includes:
- Universal – For most fabric types
- Ballpoint – For knits and stretch wovens
- Denim/jeans – Sturdy needles for heavy fabrics
- Microtex / sharp – For tightly woven material
- Wing – Prevents skipped stitches in sleek/synthetic fabrics
- Leather – Features a wedge point for leather and vinyl
Having the flexibility to use common needle types you likely already have on hand saves money. And if you ever do need specialty needles like coverstitch or triple stretch, these are inexpensive and easy to find.
LED Lighting for Excellent Visibility
The DZ1234 is designed with an LED sewing light. This provides brilliant illumination of the needle area and stitching line without generating heat.
Good lighting is always important when precision sewing. But it’s especially essential when operating a serger at high speeds. Quality lighting allows you to clearly see the stitch formation and thread path.
The cool running LED bulb gives excellent visibility without risk of burns from an accidental touch. Plus, LEDs last for thousands of hours so you likely won’t need a replacement during the life of the machine.
Ease of Use
While sergers appear more complex than a standard sewing machine at first glance, the Brother DZ1234 is designed to be user-friendly. Here are some factors that make it approachable for beginners.
Straightforward Setup with Color Coding
As mentioned previously, the color-coded threading and markings on the DZ1234 make it less intimidating to set up. Everything is clearly labeled in an easy step-by-step process.
You don’t need to hunt through the manual to figure out the threading order. Just follow the numbered diagram right on the machine.
Of course, threading the loopers does involve some very dexterous movements accessing tight spaces. So it will take some patience and practice to master.
But the intuitive visual aids drastically lower the learning curve. With a few sessions of hands-on practice, most users can comfortably thread the machine in just a few minutes.
Approachable for Beginners But With Advanced Features
While specially designed for novices, this serger still has features advanced sewers will appreciate.
The adjustable stitch width, specialty feet, and strong motor able to handle heavy projects mean this versatile machine will grow with you. You won’t outgrow it after just learning the basics.
Features like the free arm, lighting, thread cutters, and storage area add convenience for all users. Everything is arranged thoughtfully to maximize ease of operation.
Even if you’re purchasing your first serger, the DZ1234 won’t limit you. As your skills progress, you’ll be able to create advanced stitches and tackle intricate projects.
May Require Some Practice When First Learning
Of course, there is a learning curve when using a serger for the first time. Plan on spending an hour or two with scrap fabric dialing in the settings and getting comfortable with the threading process.
Trying to rush into a project before you know the basics can lead to frustration. Be patient with yourself and don’t get discouraged.
Once you understand how to operate the machine, troubleshoot tension, switch between stitches, and handle different fabrics, everything will come together. Don’t give up before giving yourself time to practice!
Practice with scrap fabric when learning to use your serger.
The most important thing is simply getting experience actually using the machine. The manual and tutorials will make much more sense after seeing the serger in action.
Stitch Quality and Performance
Now let’s discuss the sewing experience and how the DZ1234 handles different fabrics and applications.
Professional, High-End Finishes
This budget-priced serger produces finishing results on par with more expensive models.
The precise stitch formation and quality construction prevent skipped stitches, looping, or distorted seams.
You can expertly assemble garments, crafts, linens, and other items with neat enclosed seams and flawless rolled hems. The finishing takes projects to the next level.
Here are a few examples of professional results you can achieve:
- Seamless inside seams on garments that look factory produced
- Tablecloths and napkins with even, consistent hems
- Perfect narrow coverstitched hems on ruffles and trims
- Secure seaming on swimwear, outdoor gear, and other heavy use items
- Pucker-free seams on delicate silks and chiffon with the adjustable differential feed
Overall, this machine gives your projects a refined, couture look.
Handles Lightweight Sheers up to Heavy Sweaters
The optimized settings provide excellent performance across a wide spectrum of fabric weights and types.
You can easily adjust the differential feed, pressure, and stitch width/length for optimal results on any material:
Lightweight
- Chiffon
- Georgette
- Lawn
- Batiste/voile
- Crepe
Medium weight
- Quilting cotton
- Linen
- Broadcloth
- Twill/denim
- Corduroy
- Flannel
Heavyweight
- Sweater knits
- Fleece
- Wool coating
- Canvas
- Faux Leather
Stretch/knits
- Jersey
- Spandex
- Double knit
- Sweatshirt fleece
- Interlock
- Scuba
The ability to fine tune the settings for any fabric is essential. You don’t want a serger that can only handle a limited range. The DZ1234 performs admirably on light gossamers all the way up to thick wool coats.
Sergers Excel with Knits and Stretch Fabrics
While a standard sewing machine can handle most wovens reasonably well, sewing knits and super stretchy fabrics presents challenges.
The main issues are:
- Seams limiting stretch
- Visible holes between stitches when the fabric stretches
- Wavy seams from differential feed
- Seams popping from poor elasticity
Sergers overcome these problems by using multiple threads, encasing the seam allowance inside the stitches, and allowing the stitches to stretch.
The 2-thread overlock stitch sews an ultra stretchy seam perfect for super spandexy activewear or bathing suits. You can stretch and pull the seam without popping stitches.
For heavy sweater knits, the 4-thread overlock makes a durable connection that won’t strain even after repeated wears and washes.
So if you enjoy sewing with knits, spandex, swimwear fabrics, or performance athletic fabrics, a serger is essential. The DZ1234 handles them like a pro.
Sergers excel at sewing stretchy knit fabrics.
brother Designio Series DZ1234 alternatives
While this Brother serger provides excellent value, there are a few other models shoppers may want to consider:
Brother 1034DX Serger
- Very similar to the DZ1234 but with drop-in threading for easier setup
- $50-100 more expensive but a good choice for those intimidated by manual threading
Singer ProFinish 14CG754 Serger
- 2/3/4 thread capability like the Brother
- Automatic needle threading is handy
- Better for lightweight fabrics than heavy materials
Juki MO654DE Portable Serger
- Excellent for sewing thick or heavy fabrics
- Industrial level performance
- Higher price but advanced features
Conclusion
To summarize, the brother Designio Series DZ1234 review reveals an advanced serger packed with utility at a reasonable price point.
It includes features typically reserved for more expensive machines like adjustable differential feed, stitch width, specialty presser feet, and a powerful motor. This makes it a great machine for beginners, yet provides room to grow skills.
The intuitive color coded threading, multiple stitch options, and ability to sew all fabric types add to the versatility. Seam finishes have a professional appearance.
In terms of value for money, it’s tough to beat what this Brother serger offers. If you’re seeking an affordable but capable serger, the DZ1234 deserves a spot at the top of your list. It will handle any serging task with ease.