Singer 14CG754 Profinish Serger Review: Everything You Need To Know
The Singer 14CG754 Profinish serger is an excellent option for anyone looking to take their sewing skills to the next level. This versatile machine can handle a wide variety of fabrics and produces professional-looking, durable seams in a fraction of the time it takes to sew them on a regular sewing machine.
In this comprehensive Singer 14CG754 Profinish serger review, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the features, performance, ease of use, and pros and cons of this popular model. Whether you’re a beginner venturing into serging for the first time or a seasoned sewist looking for an affordable workhorse, read on to find out if the Singer 14CG754 is the right fit for your needs.
Singer 14CG754 Profinish Serger Review
A serger, also known as an overlock machine, is designed to finish seam edges, prevent fraying, and sew decoration on fabric. Unlike a conventional sewing machine, a serger trims the fabric edge as it sews, encasing the raw edges inside the overlock stitch. This not only prevents unraveling but also saves tons of time spent trimming seam allowances.
Sergers are ideal for sewing knits and stretch fabrics because the stitch has some give to handle the flexing and stretching of the material. The finished seams also lie flat and have a professional appearance. Some other advantages of serging include:
- Much faster seam finishing compared to a sewing machine
- Prevents fraying and unraveling along fabric edges
- Creates durable, stretchy seams for knits and swimwear
- Attaches embellishments like ribbon or lace as it sews
- Easily achieves a rolled edge finish
With so many great benefits, it’s easy to see why the Singer 14CG754 Profinish is such a popular choice for home sewists. This machine comes packed with user-friendly features, versatile stitch options, and excellent performance at an affordable price point.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll take an in-depth look at everything the Singer Profinish serger has to offer. Let’s start with an overview of the main features that make this model stand out.
Main Features of the Singer 14CG754 Profinish Serger
Here are some of the key features and capabilities that enable the Singer Profinish serger to produce professional finishes with ease:
Speed
With a maximum sewing speed of 1300 stitches per minute, this machine is extremely fast. You can finish projects in a fraction of the time it would take on a regular sewing machine. The speed control foot pedal allows you to slow it down as needed. But the high velocity means you’ll zip through tasks like serging quilt borders or finishing garment seams in a flash.
Adjustable Stitch Length and Width
The stitch length can be adjusted from 2mm to 4mm using the clearly labeled dial on the side of the machine. This allows you to customize the stitch size to suit your project – longer stitches for sturdy seams on denim or shorter ones for delicates.
Similarly, the stitch width can be adjusted between 3mm and 7mm by turning a dial inside the looper cover. Wider stitches are great for durable seams on heavy fabrics while narrower ones are perfect for rolled hems and lightweight fabrics. This adjustability gives you more control over the final finish.
Differential Feed
A game-changing feature on most sergers is the differential feed. This allows you to adjust the relative speed that the front feed dogs and rear feed dogs are moving. Setting a differential feed ratio other than 1:1 prevents stretching or puckering of knit fabrics as you serge.
You can also take advantage of differential feed to intentionally stretch fabrics for ruffles or lettuce edging. The Singer Profinish makes it easy to achieve optimal feeding on any fabric type.
Color Coded Threading
Trying to remember which thread goes where when threading a serger can be confusing, especially for beginners. The Singer Profinish eliminates this issue with its intuitive color-coded threading system.
Each spool pin and thread guide is marked with a matching color – blue, green, red, and yellow. All you need to do is match up the thread colors as you thread the upper looper, lower looper, left needle, and right needle. This foolproof system takes the frustration out of setup.
Stitch Options
With the standard 2-3-4 thread capability, you can take advantage of various stitch functions on the Singer Profinish:
- 4-thread overlock – creates a wide, stretchy seam ideal for knits and swimwear
- 3-thread overlock – sews a wide seam and trims fabric simultaneously
- 2-thread overlock – forms a narrow overlock stitch using one needle and lower looper
- Rolled hem – folds the edge of the fabric over as it sews to encase the raw edge
- Flatlock – sews two pieces together with decorative ladder stitches on the exterior
- Blind hem – invisible hemming stitch for pants, skirts, etc
Having a range of stitches expands the possibilities of what you can create and tailor the construction to your specific needs.
Free Arm
Image of free arm capability
The free arm on the Singer Profinish provides more flexibility when maneuvering sleeves, cuffs, pant legs, and other hard-to-access areas. Simply slide off the flat work surface to reveal the free arm. This makes tasks like hemming jeans much easier.
Retractable Cutting Knife
The built-in fabric trimming knife can be retracted when you don’t need it. This allows you to serge rolled hems without cutting into the fabric. Simply slide the cutting assembly to the left and rotate the knife out of the way.
Thread Tension Control
Balancing thread tension is key to getting a balanced stitch with tidy locking on both sides. The Singer Profinish lets you manually adjust tension using the clearly marked dials on the front. This gives you more control compared to sergers with auto-tension settings.
LED Lighting
The built-in LED lighting provides excellent visibility as you work. Unlike incandescent bulbs which burn out, the long-lasting LED light means you won’t have to deal with replacing bulbs.
Onboard Storage
The machine comes with a range of accessories including needles, tweezers, thread spreader, screwdriver, and more. Instead of having supplies scattered around, a built-in storage compartment keeps everything conveniently to hand.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Threads | 2-3-4 |
| Sewing Speed | 1300 SPM |
| Stitch Length | 2 – 4mm |
| Stitch Width | 3 – 7mm |
| Differential Feed Ratio | 0.7 – 2 |
| Presser Foot Lift | 7mm |
| Lighting | LED |
| Weight | 13.5 lbs |
| Dimensions | W 14″ x H 11″ x D 11.5″ |
With an overview of its main features covered, let’s move on to exploring how easy or difficult it is to use the Singer 14CG754 Profinish serger in real world conditions.
Ease of Use
For most sewers, the learning curve when first transitioning from a regular sewing machine to a serger can be steep. However, certain features of the Singer Profinish help to flatten that initial curve somewhat for beginners.
Threading System
The lay-in style color coded threading system provides a foolproof guide to threading the machine correctly. Each thread guide and spool pin is marked with a colored dot that matches a thread – blue, green, yellow, or red. By following the colored path as you thread, it’s nearly impossible to put a thread in the wrong place.
The machine comes pre-threaded so you can test it out of the box before attempting it yourself. It may take a few tries to get the hang of it, but the color coding definitely helps simplify the process compared to sergers without this feature.
Video showing lay-in threading system
Once threaded initially, changing threads is easy by knotting the new color to the existing thread still in that path and pulling it through rather than re-threading every time you want to switch spools.
Manual and DVD Instructions
The Singer Profinish comes with a detailed instruction manual that provides guidance on topics like:
- Step-by-step threading diagrams
- Adjusting stitch settings
- Changing needles
- Using the specialty feet
- Basic machine maintenance
Additionally, it includes a DVD that walks you through the setup and features in video format – an invaluable resource for visual learners. Having both textual and video instructions makes getting up to speed with this serger much easier.
Intuitive Controls
The key operation controls on the Singer Profinish are conveniently placed and clearly labeled. Stitch length, differential feed, and tension dials are all adjusted via simple turn knobs. Retracting the cutting blade and switching to a rolled hem is also accomplished via easy-to-identify levers.
The stitch selection dial gives you direct access to picking stitch types like overlock, rolled hem, and blind hem. For the most part, you can intuitively identify what each adjustment knob or switch does just by looking at the machine.
Presser Foot Pressure Adjustment
A presser foot pressure dial makes it easy to adjust the amount of pressure exerted on the fabric by the presser foot. Increase pressure for heavyweight fabrics and reduce pressure when sewing delicates to avoid snagging or damaging the fabric. This amount of presser foot flexibility is not commonly found on sergers in this price range.
User-Friendly for Beginners
While advanced sergers may come with an overwhelming array of options, the Singer Profinish has a manageable set of features that beginners can learn to use effectively. With basic step-by-step instructions provided for threading, changing needles, and adjusting settings, it’s simple enough for someone who has never used a serger before to get started.
More experienced sewers will appreciate the flexibility provided by the stitch options, adjustable length/width, and presser foot pressure customization. But true beginners won’t be intimidated by overly complex controls and capabilities.
Now that we’ve covered the user-friendly design, let’s look at how the Singer Profinish 14CG754 performs when actually sewing a range of fabric types.
Performance on Various Fabrics
A key consideration when buying a serger is how well it can handle different fabrics and weights. The Singer 14CG754 Profinish performs admirably on most common materials:
Lightweight Fabrics
The 2-thread overlock is perfect for serging lightweight woven fabrics like cottons, silks, and chiffon. The narrow stitch won’t overpower the delicate fabric. Switching to the rolled hem function allows you to securely enclose edges on silks and satins without weighing down the material.
Medium Weight Fabrics
On medium weight woven fabrics like quilting cottons and brocade, a 3-thread or 4-thread overlock provides a professional edge finish that lies flat. Adjust the stitch length and width to suit the fabric thickness and density. The built-in cutter can trim seam allowances as it sews.
Heavy Fabrics
The powerful motor and 4-thread overlock stitch can sew through multiple layers of heavy fabrics like denim, canvas, and outerwear materials with ease. Use a longer stitch length and wider width for a more secure seam. The high presser foot lift accommodates thicker fabrics.
Knits and Stretch Fabrics
Knits and stretch wovens like jersey benefit from the Singer Profinish’s adjustable differential feed, which prevents rippling seams. The 4-thread overlock seam stretches along with the fabric for maximum durability. When sewing super-stretch fabrics like swimwear lycra, reduce the presser foot pressure.
Thick/Heavyweight Fabrics
Though great with denim, the Singer Profinish may struggle with sewing very thick fabrics such as leather, vinyl, or multiple layers of heavy canvas or quilt batting. The needle may not penetrate cleanly or the blades may have difficulty cutting through.
For the most part, the Singer Profinish can handle any common apparel and home decor sewing project you throw at it. The combination of power, adjustable feed, and presser foot flexibility allows it to adapt to different material needs. Just be mindful of any limitations with extremely thick or heavy fabrics.
Now that we’ve covered the key functions and fabric handling capabilities of this serger, let’s summarize the main pros and cons.
Pros and Cons of the Singer Profinish Serger
Pros
- Extremely affordable pricing for the features provided
- Color coded lay-in threading simplifies set up
- Good selection of stitch options for functionality
- Up to 1300 SPM sewing speed makes quick work of projects
- Adjustable stitch length, width, and differential feed allows customization
- Can sew through multiple layers of medium weight fabrics
- LED lighting for visibility
- Built-in fabric trimming knife
- Presser foot pressure adjustment is not common in this class
- Compact and lightweight making it portable
- Ideal for beginners learning to use a serger
Cons
- Lower looper threading can be tricky until you get the hang of it
- Can be noisy when running at full speed
- Not well suited to sewing very thick/heavy materials
- Short warranty period of just 90 days for parts/labor
- Limited decorative stitch options compared to higher end sergers
Considering its excellent value for money, the Singer 14CG754 ProFinish punches above its weight class when it comes to features, stitch quality, and performance. For sewists seeking an affordable, versatile serger, the pros easily outweigh the cons.
Conclusion
Our comprehensive Singer 14CG754 Profinish serger review explored all aspects of this best-selling machine. Here are some key takeaways:
- It’s an outstanding choice for beginners, offering easy threading, simple controls, and instructional tools to get started
- Provides an excellent range of stitch options for both decorative and utility serging tasks
- The fast speed of 1300 SPM makes quick work of projects with professional results
- Adjustable settings allow the machine to adapt to different fabrics
- Performs well on most common apparel and home decor materials
- Best suited to light, medium, and moderately heavy fabrics rather than extremely thick materials
- Extremely budget friendly considering the build quality, features, and performance
With versatile utility stitches, easy operation, and excellent construction, the Singer ProFinish punches above its weight given its affordable price tag. Both novice and advanced sewists will find it to be a workhorse addition to their creative arsenal.