Brother 1034D vs 1034DX: Which Is Better?

Fabric art has seen a dramatic shift in popularity during the recent pandemic. Men and women of all ages and backgrounds have found themselves intrigued by all the creative possibilities that a needle and thread can bring. Not only does a little knowledge of sewing provide a practical and useful skill, but it can also be a way to save money while acquiring a sustainable wardrobe. Who doesn’t want to help their wallet and the environment?

But before you can savor your newly created wardrobe, you’re going to need a really good sewing machine. Let’s look at two awesome machines Brother 1034D vs 1034DX produced by Brother Industries, a very well-known and respected sewing machine company.

Main Differences Between Brother 1034D vs Brother 1034DX

The main differences between Brother 1034D vs Brother 1034DX are:

  • The Brother 1034d has been designed with the dials that control both stitch length and stitch speed set on the left side of the machine, whereas the Brother 1034dx has these dials set on the right side of the machine.
  • The Brother 1034d has been designed with the stitch width dial set on the outside of the left-hand side of the machine, whereas the Brother 1034dx has this dial set next to the removable trim trap.
  • The Brother 1034d is designed to use a regular incandescent bulb, whereas the Brother 1034dx is designed to use an LED light bulb.
  • When purchased new, the Brother 1034d is significantly cheaper than the Brother 1034dx.
  • The Brother 1034d can be used to sew 1 to 2 mm narrow stitches, 1mm rolled stitches, and 2 to 4 mm overlock stitches, whereas the Brother 1034dx can only sew 2 to 4 mm overlock stitches.

Brother 1034d

Brother 1034d

This particular serger machine has been on the market since 2010 and has been highly valued by those who use it. It is known to be dependable, easy to use, and capable of doing a variety of tasks. The Brother 1034d is a versatile machine that any fabric artist or crafter will love to own.

Key Features

  • 3 or 4 thread serger
  • Sews up to 1,300 stitches a minute
  • Designed with a high-quality frame and interior made from metal
  • Includes 3 snap-on feet (standard foot, gathering foot, and blind foot)

Pros

  • With its multiple threads, it can handle several layers of heavy materials, including denim.
  • With its instruction manual and color-coded thread guide, it is a very easy machine to thread.
  • Users have commented on how easy this machine is to learn and to use.
  • Users have commented on how durable this machine has been.
  • Includes a 5-year limited warranty offer.

Cons

  • Users have commented that acquiring replacement parts for this machine is difficult.
  • Users have commented that since it is a lightweight machine, it vibrates a lot.

Is This Machine Worth Purchasing?

Yes, the Brother 1034d is a durable machine that provides plenty of stitch variety. For the quality, ease of use, and the great features that come with this machine, it is also a nicely priced option.

Brother 1034dx

Brother 1034dx

This particular machine was released in 2017 as an update to the 1034d machine. Since this machine is seven years newer it seems appropriate to assume that it has numerous updates and improvements, but this really isn’t the case. The 1034dx only has a few minor differences from the 1034d, which shows that both versions are excellent machines.

Key Features

  • 3 or 4 thread serger
  • Sews up to 1,300 stitches a minute
  • The foot pedal controls stitch speed
  • Designed with a high-quality frame made from metal
  • Includes 3 snap-on feet (standard foot, gathering foot, and blind foot)
  • Includes a soft cover to protect the machine

Pros

  • With its multiple threads, it can handle several layers of heavy materials, including denim.
  • With its instruction manual and color-coded thread guide and numbered thread loopers, it is a very easy machine to thread.
  • Users have commented on how easy this machine is to learn and to use.
  • Users have commented on how durable this machine has been.
  • Includes a 1-year limited warranty offer.

Cons

  • Users have commented that claiming the warranty on the machine is not easy to do.
  • Users have commented that the needles are difficult to change.

Is This Machine Worth Purchasing?

Yes, the Brother 1034dx is another excellent option. It comes with some great features and reviews from many users. The one downside to this machine is that it is more expensive than the Brother 1034d and doesn’t have a lot of updates or significantly better features. But it is still a durable machine that works on versatile projects.

Alternative Machines

Perhaps you are still a little unsure that one of these machines is the best fit for you, so, let’s look at a few similar machines that are great alternatives.

Brother SE400

Brother SE400

This is a computerized machine that offers users the ability to sew and embroider with ease. It is easy to learn how to use, works on versatile projects, and it can import designs and patterns from a computer. All these great features do make this a fantastic machine, but it also makes this a machine designed more for experienced users.

Pros

  • It offers a large workspace
  • It has an automatic threading feature
  • Its sewing speed is adjustable
  • It comes with a 25-year warranty

Cons

  • Its LCD screen is black and white
  • There is a cost to order more designs and patterns

Brother CS6000i

Brother CS6000i

This machine is designed with beginner users in mind. It provides the very basics to those who need a machine that is easy to learn and use while at the same time being cost-effective. With this type of machine and its highly detailed manual, anyone will be able to set it up and begin sewing in no time at all.

Pros

  • It is an inexpensive option, especially for those who are new to sewing and don’t want to spend a lot of money on a hobby they may not enjoy long term
  • It comes with 60 built-in stitches
  • It works with thick and thin fabrics

Cons

  • It has a sensitive foot pedal
  • It is difficult to thread the bobbin on this machine
  • It doesn’t work well on extremely thick fabrics such as leather

Brother XR3140

Brother XR3140

This is another great option for those who are new to sewing, but it is also full of wonderful features that intermediate users will appreciate. This is a machine that is easy to learn and perfect sewing skills on or experiment with new stitches and types of projects. Plus, it is reasonably priced.

Pros

  • It includes an automatic threading system
  • It is designed with a sewing speed control
  • It is designed with a drop-in top bobbin feature
  • It includes 9 different types of sewing feet
  • It includes a detachable wide table
  • It includes 140 built-in stitches
  • It includes an LCD display panel for reviewing selected settings
  • It includes 8 one-step auto-size buttonholers
  • It includes 55 alphanumeric characters for sewing letters or numbers onto projects

Cons

  • It does not sew thick fabrics or multiple layers of fabric very well
  • It is not designed for advanced users
  • It is not designed to work on advanced sewing or quilting projects

FAQs

Question: What Should You Look for When Purchasing a Sewing Machine?

Answer: Before heading out to your local craft store or an online shop for a rousing day of sewing machine shopping, take some time to answer these questions. This step will make your time shopping more productive and less frustrating.

Question: Who is going to use the machine?

Answer: Since there are so many types of sewing machines on the market, this is a very important question to ask and answer. If the machine will be used by a beginner, you will want something that is easy to learn and won’t have a lot of flashy extras.
If the machine will be used by an intermediate, you may want something that challenges their skills so they build off of what they already know to increase their skill level.
If, however, the machine will be used by someone who is advanced, you may want to select a machine that offers a lot of different stitches and complicated settings since they will know how to use all the fancy gadgetry to their fullest.

Question: Do you have a budget?

Answer: It is a good idea to set a budget so that you don’t get taken in by a machine’s fancy, but unnecessary gadgets. There are plenty of inexpensive machines on the market that will sew just about anything you need it to, so there’s no need to go into debt when purchasing one.

In Conclusion

Both the Brother 1034d and Brother 1034dx are great machines. When it comes to deciding which one to purchase, the best things to consider are the different prices and the different layouts of the machines. The updated Brother 1034dx is more expensive than its forerunner but doesn’t offer many more features. However, the layout of the controls on the Brother 1034dx is more agreeable to users who are right-handed.

When I look at these sewing machines side-by-side, I am more inclined to appreciate the Brother 1034d since it offers all that is needed for basic sewing projects at a reasonable price. The layout of the machine is not a huge problem since every machine has its unique design that will need to be learned through repetitive use.

Hopefully comparing and contrasting these two machines will help you with your decision as you search for the perfect sewing machine to work on all your creative projects.

For more sewing machine guides and top picks, check the links below:

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