Sergers · review
Brother's 3/4-thread overlocker with stepless differential feed and a retractable knife. One reference across five European markets; absent from amazon.com.
The bottom line A well-specified first overlocker, let down only by not being sold in the United States.
Hands-on testing pending. Everything below is either a manufacturer specification, cited as such, or something we verified ourselves.
What we verified. The reference B06WD4LCNT designates this machine on
amazon.de, .fr, .it, .es and .co.uk, confirmed on EAN in each case. We searched
amazon.com and did not find it: the American results returned the Brother 1034D
and ST4031HD instead. Those are different machines, and we have not published
their references here.
What Brother states. Cutting, sewing and edge-finishing in one pass with three or four threads. Steplessly adjustable differential feed, which Brother positions against waving and stretching on elastic and fine fabrics. Rolled hemming without changing the presser foot or the needle plate. Adjustable presser foot pressure. Colour-coded internal thread guides, a threading aid for the lower looper, and the machine supplied already threaded. Free arm or flat bed. A knife that folds away so you can finish an edge without trimming it. Listed weight 6.6 kg, three-year manufacturer warranty.
Why “supplied already threaded” is not a throwaway line. An overlocker that arrives threaded can be re-threaded by tying the new cones to the old tails and pulling them through, which is far easier than threading from scratch. It is the difference between a machine used weekly and one used twice.
Where we would look before buying. Maximum speed and the presser foot lift, neither of which Brother publishes on this listing.
| Type | Overlocker, 3 or 4 thread (manufacturer) |
|---|---|
| Differential feed | Steplessly adjustable (manufacturer) |
| Rolled hem | Without changing foot or needle plate (manufacturer) |
| Knife | Retractable — finishes without trimming (manufacturer) |
| Threading | Colour-coded internal guides, lower looper threading aid |
| Bed | Free arm or flat bed |
| Weight | 6.6 kg |
| Warranty | 3 years (manufacturer) |
It lets you overlock an edge without trimming it. Most of the time you want the knife — it is what makes an overlocked seam neat. But on a piece already cut to size, or where you are finishing a raw edge you cannot afford to narrow, a fixed knife forces you to feed the fabric off-line to dodge it. Being able to fold it away turns a two-person balancing act into a normal seam.
It is the single specification that matters most on an overlocker. It drives the front and rear feed dogs at different rates, so it can stop jersey stretching into a wave as it passes under the foot, or deliberately gather a lightweight fabric. Stepless adjustment, as here, means you can dial it rather than pick from three settings.
Overlocker · 2/3/4 thread · three references
Bernette's 2/3/4-thread overlocker with differential feed. Available on all six markets — under three different Amazon references, which is the thing to know before you follow a link.
Best for: Someone who wants the Bernina service network at overlocker money
≈ $700 / £450 / 650 €
3/4 thread · extension table · 3 extra feet
A 3- and 4-thread overlocker sold with an extension table and three additional feet included. One reference across all five European markets, absent from the US.
Best for: A first overlocker for knit garments, where the included table and feet remove the usual follow-up purchases
≈ £350 / 515 €
Overlocker · 4 thread · 1,300 spm
A four-thread overlocker with automatic lower looper threading and a stated 1,300 stitches per minute. Proven on four markets under three different references; absent from Italy and Spain.
Best for: Someone who has been put off overlockers by threading, and sews enough to want the speed
≈ $750 / £840 / 650 €
