SINGER Professional 14T968DC: Serger Overlock: Full Review

The SINGER 14T968DC is a heavy duty serger sewing machine designed for advanced sewing and garment construction. This professional-grade serger includes versatile stitch options, a fast sewing speed, and user-friendly features.

SINGER is a leading brand in sewing machines, known for high-quality products. The 14T968DC model maintains the brand's reputation, providing industrial strength stitching in a home sewing machine. It's built with a metal interior frame and die-cast aluminum body for stability and durability during extended sewing sessions.

With its advanced capabilities, this serger allows sewers to create durable seams, decorative edge finishes, and professional-looking hems. It's an ideal machine for sewing stretch fabrics, formalwear, home decor items, and craft projects requiring an overlock stitch. The 14T968DC can handle thick fabrics with ease, making it suitable for denim, canvas, and other heavy materials.

This review will examine the key features and performance of the SINGER Professional 14T968DC serger. We'll look at the stitch options, sewing speed, ease of use, build quality, accessories, and other details that make this serger stand out.

Stitch Capabilities

The Singer Professional 14T968DC serger is capable of 2, 3, 4 and 5 stitch overlock, giving you tremendous versatility for all types of projects. With 2 stitches, you get a basic overlock stitch. 3 stitches adds a second overlock needle for extra reinforcement. The 4 stitch capability includes a third needle and lower looper, allowing a 4 thread overlock stitch along with a narrow hem stitch. Finally, the 5 stitch option engages all 4 loopers for a wide overlock stitch and the maximum number of threads for reinforcing seams.

Having multiple stitch options in a single machine is extremely useful. You can stick to basic 2 or 3 thread overlock for most seams, and utilize the 4 or 5 thread stitches on specific seams or hems where you really want to reinforce the fabric edge. The ability to switch between different stitch counts gives sewers flexibility within a single project, rather than needing a dedicated coverstitch machine or separate serger just for narrow hemming. Overall, the stitch capabilities make this an incredibly versatile machine.

In addition to the serger, the SINGER Scholastic 5523: Heavy Duty Sewing Machine is another excellent option for sewists looking for durability and performance. This machine features a robust metal frame and a strong motor, enabling it to handle thick fabrics and multiple layers with ease. It's designed for various sewing projects, from simple alterations to more complex crafts. The SINGER Scholastic 5523 also offers a variety of stitch options, ensuring you can find the right stitch for your specific needs, whether it be for hems, seams, or decorative purposes. Its reliability makes it a favorite among both beginners and seasoned sewers.

Stitch Speed

The SINGER 14T968DC serger has an impressive maximum stitching speed of 1300 stitches per minute. This speed allows the serger to quickly finish edges and seams when sewing garments or home decor projects. The ability to sew at 1300 spm makes the 14T968DC well-suited for sewing projects requiring efficient construction.

When working on lightweight fabrics, the serger can achieve its max speed for rapid sewing. On heavier materials, the speed may need to be reduced, but the serger is still capable of working at a fast pace. The powerful motor allows the high speed to be maintained even when sewing multiple layers of fabric.

For those seeking a serger that can stitch quickly to save time, the Singer 14T968DC is an excellent choice. Its high stitching speed of 1300 stitches per minute makes it one of the fastest home sergers available. The fast stitching ability increases productivity for sewing projects.

In addition to the 14T968DC, the SINGER Brilliance 6180: Portable Sewing Machine offers versatility and convenience for sewing enthusiasts. This portable model features a user-friendly design, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced sewers. With multiple built-in stitches and a lightweight frame, the Brilliance 6180 is perfect for taking on the go, whether for classes or travel. Its compact size doesn’t compromise on functionality, ensuring you can tackle various projects easily, from simple repairs to creative crafts.

Ease of Use

The Singer 14T968DC serger is designed with the home sewer in mind, focused on user-friendliness and ease of operation. The machine has an intuitive layout, with clearly marked threading paths printed right on the machine to guide users. There are also threading diagrams conveniently located inside the top cover to refer to. The color-coded thread guides make the threading process straightforward.

Overall, the learning curve on this serger is not steep, especially for those who have used a sewing machine before. The machine comes with an instructional DVD that provides useful visual demonstrations on how to thread and operate the serger. The printed manual also includes step-by-step instructions and diagrams. While there may be a bit of a learning curve for new sewers to get used to the process of threading multiple cones of thread, the well-labeled machine and included instructional materials make mastering the Singer 14T968DC manageable even for beginners. Its thoughtful design allows most users to get up and running smoothly.

Built Quality

The Singer 14T968DC is built to last with its heavy duty metal interior frame and stainless steel bedplate. The machine feels very sturdy and stable while sewing at high speeds thanks to this solid internal construction.

The exterior is made of a durable plastic housing that protects the working mechanisms. Owners mention this serger running smoothly even after years of regular use without any issues.

The metal threading components are high quality and allow effortless threading and consistent stitch formation. The machine itself is manufactured in China but meets Singer's quality control standards.

Overall, the 14T968DC's construction is geared towards handling frequent serging workloads and providing many years of reliable service. This is not a flimsy lightweight machine but a workhorse built with longevity in mind.

Noise Level

The SINGER Professional 14T968DC serger machine operates at a reasonable noise level. While sergers tend to be louder than standard sewing machines due to their faster speeds and cutting blades, the 14T968DC is not excessively noisy.

When running at full speed, users report that the serger produces a noticeable hum. However, it is not loud enough to be disruptive or prevent conversation. The noise level allows you to serge for hours without fatigue or annoyance from the sound.

Some sergers, especially lower-end models, can be quite loud. This is often due to lower quality internal components that vibrate and create noise. The 14T968DC has sturdy interior mechanics that minimize vibrations, keeping the noise level manageable.

The serger's sound production is smooth, without any irritating high-pitched whining. Owners describe the tone as more of a "white noise" that fades into the background. It will not overpower your TV or music if serging in proximity to those activities.

Overall, while the SINGER 14T968DC generates an audible hum during operation, the noise level is not excessive or distracting. The quality internal components help dampen noise for extended serging sessions without fatigue. This represents a major advantage over competing sergers with distracting noise levels.

Included Accessories

The Singer 14T968DC serger comes with a variety of handy accessories right out of the box. This includes 4 different presser feet to handle various stitch types and fabric weights.

The all purpose foot is suitable for most standard overlocking stitches. The blind hem foot allows you to sew nearly invisible blind hems. The gathering foot is useful for adding ruffles or gathers as you sew. Finally, the elastic foot helps guide elastic through as you apply it to garments or other projects.

Additional accessories include a package of needles, tweezers, a lint brush, scissors, thread nets, spool caps, and more. The included tools help you get set up and sewing quickly without needing to purchase anything extra. Everything is neatly packed and labeled for easy identification.

Having all these handy accessories included is a major perk of choosing this Singer serger. You get an assortment of helpful tools and supplies right away, rather than needing to buy various add-ons later. This makes the 14T968DC a great value straight out of the box.

Warranty

The SINGER Professional 14T968DC serger comes with an impressive 25-year limited warranty. This covers the sewing machine head, including the parts and electronic components, for defects in materials or workmanship.

The warranty is extensive, covering more than most competitors, though it does exclude wearable parts and accessories. Owners do need to register the warranty by filling out a form and mailing it back to SINGER.

Overall, the 25-year warranty provides great peace of mind. SINGER stands behind their serger with this industry-leading coverage in case any manufacturing issues arise. Knowing the machine is built to last for decades takes the worry out of the investment.

Pros and Cons

The SINGER 14T968DC serger has many positives but also some negatives to consider.

Pros

• Offers 2-3-4-5 stitch capability, providing versatility for different types of seams and finishes
• Fast stitching speed of 1300 stitches per minute saves time
• Self-threading system makes it easy to get started sewing quickly
• Heavy-duty metal interior frame provides durability
• 5-year limited warranty provides peace of mind

Cons

• Can be noisy when running at full speed
• Smaller throat space may limit ability to serge large or bulky fabrics
• Manual threading can be tricky until you get the hang of it
• Limited number of built-in stitches compared to computerized sergers
• Presser foot pressure not adjustable

The SINGER 14T968DC serger provides many useful features for handling a variety of sewing tasks, though the noise and manual threading may frustrate some users. For those seeking an affordable, heavy-duty serger with versatile stitch options, the positives seem to outweigh the negatives. Taking time to learn threading and adjusting speed as needed can help overcome some of the cons.

Conclusion

The SINGER Professional 14T968DC Serger is a versatile and powerful overlock machine that can handle a wide variety of sewing projects. With the ability to sew 2-3-4-5 stitches and a fast stitching speed of 1300 stitches per minute, this machine can help you finish edges quickly with professional results.

The machine is easy to thread and the color-coded threading guides make the process straightforward, even for beginners. It comes with a variety of included accessories like an assortment of needles, tweezers, cone holders, and more to help you get set up. The machine feels sturdy and well-built, and operates smoothly and quietly.

Overall, the 14T968DC offers excellent value with its robust features, smooth performance, and approachable usability. For sewists looking for an efficient, high-quality serger for handling both lightweight and heavy-duty fabrics, the SINGER Professional 14T968DC is an excellent choice worth considering. It can handle an extensive range of projects while delivering professional finishes.