SINGER Professional 5 14T968DC Heavy-Duty Metal Frame Serger Overlock and Accessory Kit with 2-3-4-5 Stitch Capability, Removeable Trim Trap, 1300 Stitches per minute, & Self Adjusting, White

UPDATE July 21,2021: I have now bought a second copy of this machine. Keeping one setup for coverstitch and the other for overlocking. For the Amazon price, around $450, this is a no brained setup. I whipped through making 10 tshirts in about an hour with not having to change between coverstitch and overlocking. The one machine would honestly have been fine, but at this price, really a no brained. Plus, with two identical machines, nothing new to learn and always have a backup for the other. Great machine. Tip: I see that some third party sellers are selling for $800. Definitely wait for Amazon to have back in stock or check the Singer website for their stock. The real going price for this right now is $450. —- UPDATE June 14, 2020: So after a few days of sewing, the knife stopped moving. I cracked open the cover to look under the hood and immediately saw the issue. The metal pin in the joint of the arm assembly for the moveable knife had fallen out along with the small set screw on the arm. Putting the pin back in and tightening up the set screw was relatively quick and easy except for removal of the plastic cover which was tighter and more of a pain than it should have been to remove and put back on. I recognize that this issue would likely have caused a return or a repair trip for the average sewer. It didn't look like the set screw had any threadlock on it and with how much overlockers vibrate with normal use, I imagine the screws could get loose and will need to be maintained. I fixed this because I am somewhat mechanically inclined, but buyers should be aware that with machines like this, some mechanical maintenance will probably be required similar to industrial machines. That said, they should have tightened down the set screw better when manufacturing so it didn't loosen up in the first week. Still a great machine when its screws aren't loose! —- ORIGINAL REVIEW: This machine has to be the best deal going for a serger that can also cover lock. On sale, it was around $449. For that money, you get beautiful overlock stitches, automatic tensioning, nice wide swing arm, up to 5 thread coverstitch, and excellent speed. There are machines that are literally 8x the price that don’t give you all of these features. Singer’s own other brands use the same internal mechanism for 3x the price. In my view, air threading saves very little time and isn’t worth the extra thousand or two for the literal one minute of time savings when changing configurations. I was confused by some of the lower ratings and read those reviews. It appears that there are a number of reviewers that were simply intimidated by the machine and the threading. Know this, this serger is an extremely simple machine. Much simpler than a computerized sewing machine. On this machine, you can thread up to three needles and two loopers. Depending on the stitch, you may only need a single needle and single looper, or two needles and single looper etc. So the most common configurations generally won’t require more than 3 spools and 2 of them will be needles (this is true of all sergers). All of the configurations possible are listed on a handy dandy quick reference page in the manual (worth copying that page and keeping it close to the machine). The needles are incredibly easy to thread, about 10 seconds each. The loopers have a specific pathway that is clearly marked with color coded dots. Once you know the pathway, each looper will take about 30 seconds to thread. So I can go from 3 thread overlock to 5 thread coverstich in about 3 minutes. If someone is spending hours, they’re doing it wrong! Changing thread for the same configuration is the same as any other machine, just tie off the old thread to the new thread and pull it through. Again, a 2 minute operation for 4 spools. This is a hidden gem of a machine, not just for the variety of stitches and speed, but the quality of the stitching compares to industrial machines. All for under $500. If you’re in the market, highly recommend this machine. You can take the thousands you’ve saved and either buy fabric or buy stock and retire earlier.

I'm not totally new to using sergers, but I've never threaded one, so I was expecting a challenge. A big one, considering that some reviewers had stated that shifting from coverstich to serging was a bit of a process. However, I was looking for a machine that could create both a coverstich and serge, and the price point had to be on the low end, so this was it. I am mechanically inclined, but even if I wasn't, I think I'd be able to operate this machine. The cd manual walks you through every adjustment for every stitch, one step at a time, and the auto tension combined with little levers that thread the hidden loopers for you make it so anyone who can follow directions with a steady hand can set up and operate this machine. As I'm still relatively new to sergers, I'm purchasing a book in addition to the machine to explain the uses of each stitch, but stitch set up and threading are completely covered in the manual. I only wish a printed copy of the information included on the cd had been provided, as I'll need to print it anyway since it will be a constant reference item. I can't speak to the longevity of the machine yet, as I've only had it for about a week, but so far I've had no issues. Every stitch has formed perfectly once set up according to directions. The only thing I felt was a bit illlusive was the upper and lower looper terminology. Personally, I'd have said front and back, because one is in front of the other, not really higher and lower. However, once I understood which was which, it was easy to proceed. It is a bit of work to rethread and change the clutch to shift from serge mode to coverstich mode. It takes me about 10 minutes three days into practicing. I'm sure it will be faster as I memorize the steps. If I were working long days constantly needing to shift back and forth, I'd get a separate machine. However, for the advanced hobbiest or beginning cottage industry, it is the perfect solution for the price.

I purchased this machine and it literally took me 2 weeks to finally decide between keeping it and returning it. The only thing I was only holding on to was the review of a buyer from Berlin Germany with high hopes that it'll all work out for me like it did for him. So I'm glad I did. First of all, I have to point out that this is a little difficult to thread. Well at least in the beginning. I messed up a couple of times and it helped me memorize the path of the thread until it got easier for me. If your eyes are not sharp like mine, make sure you have a lot of lighting for this. To be really successful with this machine, I cannot emphasize enough for you to READ THE MANUAL and get familiarized with the knobs and every parts of the machine. Don't get lazy by finding videos on Youtube, because there's not a lot of them and it would be more difficult to follow along, I am saying this because that's exactly what I did and I got extremely frustrated. Secondly, Print out the WORKBOOK that is on the CD that it came with.The manual can be a little confusing in the beginning that is why it is important to read it first, and follow instructions on the workbook. Once you learn how to thread it, every thing else is pretty easy. I am not planning to use this as a serger since I already have a Brother serger so I have not tried serging but the cover stitch that this machine does is wonderful and will give your finished garment a professional look. The machine is very sturdy and heavy, doesn't bounce off the table, however, it is not as quiet as I have anticipated, but it's not that loud either. I was trying to decided between this, Brother CV3550 (2x the price) and Brother 2340CV (almost same price) but I opted for this not because of the serger\cover stitch combo capability but because of the extra presser feet it came with. Brother 2340CV doesn't come with extra presser feet and if purchased separately it comes out to about another $200 (not kidding either). So if you are contemplating on purchasing this versus other brands, I say, buy this one instead. The pack of extra presser feet and the quality of stitches it produce, this is definitely worth it.

Oh my. Tried it. It came with leader threads (no spools) to do a triple cover stitch. I tied on my serger threads and pulled them through no problem, except when it came to the needle. Ugh! Took me 3 hours, glasses, magnifying glass and bent up serger threader to finally be able to thread the needles. It sewed really nice until at the end of the fabric I raised the foot (supposed to release the tension) and tried pulling the piece out of the machine backward. No tension release. Just before I started pulling, I noticed that one of the needle threads was broken. OK. After a HUGE tug of war, I finally got enough of a thread chain to cut off. Thread in the same needle kept breaking. OK. I put in a new needle that Singer supplied. Same thing. Also, they didn't show how to get the threads under the foot. I tried several different things, but nothing worked. The thread broke again. Same needle. Then when I opened the looper cover, I found that all of the needle threads had wound around a looper and tied themselves into a tight knot. What an ordeal. I spent all day, more than 5 hours trying to get the thing to stitch correctly. No luck. Threads kept breaking and tangling. I finally said enough is enough. I packed it up and am waiting for UPS to pick it up. I had previously tried the Brother CV3440 and that thing was junk. I have now ordered the Juki MCS-1500. If I can't make it work I will give up on a cover and chain stitch machine. The Juki is supposed to be so much better than these others, but I did not want to spend the money. Wish me GOOD luck with the Juki.

What a bargain! I read the scattergun ratings here and everywhere else and was a little leery of ordering, but, in the end, my bargain-hunting side won out, and I really wanted a five-thread serger. I also have an eight-thread serger, and it's mostly overkill. Plus, even after about ten years, I still miss being able to adjust the tensions to my liking. This machine is just great. The one thing I would highly recommend is that you print out the "cheat sheet" in the front of the instruction manual and keep it handy. It will save you much weeping and gnashing of teeth. I spent a good half hour threading (incorrectly) for a three-thread overlock. Once I referred to my cheat sheet, it took about five minutes to spot my error and be up and running. The thread paths are color-coded and easy to follow. I find I need to tweak the auto tension settings slightly, and I love that I can easily do so. The serger appears to be well-constructed and is very sturdy. It doesn't bounce or walk, and is reasonably quiet for a serger. I rarely run a serger at top speed, but I did try this one, and it continued to be rock solid. It has a mock safety stretch stitch that is just outstanding on stretchy knits. It has a notched lever that delivers the lower looper and chain looper thread to the correct thread path before threading into the loopers, and that is amazing. It works every time. I was completely skeptical of this feature, but you can't fool it. Bottom line, I'm a happy camper. The Singer Pro 5 came with six specialty feet included free. Granted, how often do you use them? Still, they're nice to have, you have to pay extra to get them with any other serger, and they actually work great. They're much easier to change out than some other sergers I've owned, too. I'm really happy with the needle thread paths, which keep the threads from tangling up with each other. It's a small but nice touch. You also get a very nice, complete workbook on CD which you can print out or just load onto your Kindle or iPad. If you're in the market for a mid-price serger with a lot of features for the money, I just don't see how you can lose. The coverstitch feature is an excellent value. I was surprised when it really worked, but it does. You have a choice of wide, narrow, or three-thread cover. It makes a beautiful hem on knitwear. I would buy this again in a heartbeat.

below is from my amazon canada review. this serger is so awesome, i wanted to share my feedback: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/customer-reviews/R3UUW5PUZ265DH/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B002PDZTT2 i've learnt basic sewing from my great grandma's treadle. the foot cranked singer sewing machine. i picked this serger because of its cover stitch feature and the automatic tension system. of course, the brand name and the price mattered. so, i just received this serger today. packaging was decent and contents seem new as expected. the whole package itself weighs a hefty lot, so i guess i have to assume that the heavy duty metal frame is as advertised. i was initially disappointed that there were no spools of thread as per the product images. i had to run to the mart to purchase a couple of serger spools. after which, i learned how to thread using the tie in method, pretty easy. as per documentation, the machine was setup by default to the triple cover stitch. i was pleased to see that a sewn on fabric was underneath the presser foot to serve as a sample. pretty neat! come serging time, i tried the sleeve of my shirt. it was a challenge because the clearance to insert the fabric below the presser foot is too small. i had such a hard time inserting my trimmed and folded sleeve. compounding this challenge was that this serger didn't have the free arm like in regular sewing machines. also, the bulb's light was emitting a dim yellow light like it came from the 80's. i have to find a bright white led bulb replacement asap! after all said and done, the triple cover stitch works as expected. wow! when storing this machine, there was some type of plastic cover that didn't really fit the shape of this serger. too bad. that's all for now. edit 2016-11-20: apparently, the product page says this comes with an "Extra-High Presser Foot Lifter". I have to figure out where that is. the foot pedal's cord seems too short for comfort. I had to position this machine at the edge of the table. not good. edit 2016-12-16 i've tried the following stitches : * Triple Cover Stitch * Wide Cover Stitch * Narrow Cover Stitch * Four-Thread Safety Stitch * Five-Thread Safety Stitch Wide * Five-Thread Safety Stitch Narrow * Three-Thread Ultra-Stretch Mock Safety Stitch * Four-Thread Ultra-Stretch Mock Safety Stitch * Three-Thread Overlock * Double Chain Stitch I haven't tried the Flat Lock Stitch but so far, i can say that the stitches come out as expected. i tried on denim / jeans, stretch, non-stretch fabrics, etc. threading was a challenge the first first few times. for now, i don't even need the manual. I just follow the sticker diagrams on the machine plus the one Handy Reference Chart on page 9 of the handbook. the Auto Tension system is the best time saver on this machine. turn a dial and that's it. in conclusion, what made me decide on the age old dilemma: "do I need a Serger?" to which I answer right now, yes with the Singer 14T968DC Professional! this Serger is so worth it! update 2016-12-31: uploaded pictures. did the 3 Thread Flatlock stitch. easy to thread, gorgeous results! WOW!

BEST COVERSTITCH ON THE MARKET-I just received my new Professional 5 on Wednesday the 7th and I had done some extensive research on a Coverstitch Machine including visiting name brand dealers and testing out machines. I am not new to Sergers because I do have my Singer Stylist 4/3/2 Serger which I love but I needed a Coverstitch Machine. After many hours of research and testing I decided that the Professional 5 was for me and I read every single review on this machine and watched many youtube videos as well. I have been sewing on this machine since Thursday the 8th and have sewn every single stitch, which there are 14 different stitches not including the additional specialty feet which come with the machine as well, this machine sews and purrs like a kitten, it is also quieter than my Singer Stylist 4/3/2. The instruction manual is fantastic and it also comes with 2 Workbooks on CD to use as additional reference, these are priceless. My next step is to work through the workbooks, which I printed out and are amazing in their instruction and photos. If you are new to a Serger/Coverstitch this is the machine you want, just remember it takes alot of patience to work with a Serger/Coverstitch mainly because of the threading sequence, just be patient take your time and read, read, read and you will fall in love with what this machine has to offer. I want to say Thank You to Singer for another great product, I am in love with my new friend. The stitch quality is excellent and also 1/4 of what the price is on other name brand machines, you can also go to the Singer site and checkout and download the user manual and workbooks and look over them before you decide to purchase, which is one of the things I did. I hope this clears up any questions anyone might have. Happy Coverstitching and Serging. Thanks Again Singer. I wanted to add to my review after I have spent well over a full week working on my new Singer Professional 5 everyday and working through the entire manual and both workbooks, I can now thread this machine in my sleep and so very easy to learn, all of my stitch samples have turned out great and next week will start working on some new shirts for myself. Great Machine and the Price was Amazing, Thank You Again Singer, if you were sitting on the fence trying to decide to buy this Coverstitch/Serger do yourself a favor BuyIt you will LOVE IT.

UPDATE: I upgraded from the Singer Pro 5 to a Babylock Evolution (which is about 8x the price of the Singer) and wanted to share the pros and cons of each machine now that I've had experience with both of them. The Singer is the hands-down winner in the value-for-price category, and it has several features that the Babylock doesn't have. If you're considering buying this serger and want all the capabilities of a high-end machine, I would not hesitate; buy the Singer. I mostly sew garments, so I primarily use the 3- and 4-thread overlock stitches, and the coverstitch to finish hems. During the course of a project I'll generally switch from the overlock to the coverstitch multiple times. I sew knits, fleece, lightweight wovens like rayon and silk, heavyweight wovens like denim, and technical fabrics like DWR nylon. The stitch quality on both machines is superb. I haven't had any problems with tension or loopy stitches, assuming the machine was threaded correctly. PROS of the Singer: Large work area: The Singer's sewing arm is longer. That means there's more space to the right of the needle to hold fabric, allowing you to sew decorative stitches down the center of the fabric without it all bunching up. Better presser feet: It comes with a clear presser foot by default. The Babylock comes with an opaque steel foot so you can't see your fabric as it's passing under the needle. The Singer also comes with an accessory pack of six additional presser feet (I haven't tried them yet). Babylock charges around $50 per additional foot, including a clear presser foot. Wide flatlock: on fleece, the wide flatlock creates a seam that lies flat and is still stretchy. The Babylock doesn't have this stitch, only a narrow flatlock. The Singer does this one beautifully. Trim bin: the Singer comes with a plastic bin that attaches to the front of the machine and catches the seams and threads as the knife trims them during sewing. The Babylock doesn't come with this bin; you can purchase one for extra cost, but it has to hang off the front of your workspace (which doesn't work for me). Seam guide with 1/8" markings: the Babylock doesn't have a way to measure a precise 5/8" seam allowance, just a sticker printed on the plate with tick marks. It's up to you to use a ruler to figure out which tick mark lines up with the desired seam allowance width. The Singer has this printed on the cover plate. CONS of the Singer: Jumpy motor: when you step on the pedal, the motor hums until you press down hard enough, and then it jumps forward suddenly. There's no "slow start" as with the Babylock; it feels like it's all or nothing. Threading takes longer: threading is actually quite easy with both machines. With practice, you can probably thread them both in the same amount of time, though the Babylock's Jet-Air threading system eliminates errors. I've had to rethread the Singer after making a mistake, which increases the average amount of time needed to rethread the machine (especially including the time to sew up a test swatch just to make sure you threaded it correctly). However Singer has done a great job at diagramming the thread paths and color-coding them. With frequent use, you should get the hang of it and make fewer mistakes. More dials to set: when switching from one stitch to another, there is a long checklist of dials and settings to adjust in order to set up the machine properly for the new stitch. In comparison, the Babylock has fewer; it's more automated. I still need to consult the instruction manual when setting up the Singer; with the Babylock I can pretty much figure it out without the reference guide. OVERALL, I still highly recommend the Singer. It's just as capable as the highly-priced machine at the cost of spending a little more time threading it when changing stitches. This is a fantastic value for a 5-thread machine that does both overlock and coverstitch. Singer's obviously put a lot of thought into the design of their sewing machines and sergers. If they ever figure out how to do automatic threading (which I'm fairly sure they will, eventually), then Babylock will lose its edge. -------------------------------- ORIGINAL REVIEW FOLLOWS: I love my Singer Quantum Stylist sewing machine, so I decided to take a chance on this as my first serger. Even with a technical background, I admit I was intimidated at first by the complexity of threading the loopers. However after printing the workbook and following the instructions carefully I figured out how it works. Threading is pretty straightforward, but definitely takes a bit of practice to become confident. Look for the colored dots on the metal loopers and follow the diagram printed on the faceplate. The foot pedal control is similar to a low end (non electronic) sewing machine. When you first start pushing the pedal, the machine hums for a while until it suddenly starts going full speed. Once it's going you can slow it down, but that initial burst of speed is very disconcerting. I thought the machine was broken at first. This is my first serger so I don't know if it's normal but I suspect it's common to all low end machines. So far I've tried the three thread overlock, the cover stitch, and the rolled hem. All came out great on the fabrics I've tried. I even serged a knit tunic in the first week of owning the machine. I love that the machine does both overlock and cover stitch, so I won't have to buy a separate machine. Pro tip: use your label maker to label the five different knobs on the sides so you know which one's which. Then you can just reference the chart at the beginning of each workbook chapter and set each dial to the correct setting. Note for beginners (I had to look this up): to remove fabric after you are finished sewing, rotate the handwheel until the needle is in the up position. Lift the presser foot. Use the little screwdriver to sweep under the presser foot, catching the looper threads, and pulling them forward away from the machine by a few inches. Snip these threads. You should then be able to pull the fabric towards the back of the machine until it comes clear, at which point you can snip the remaining thread to get it free. That was not at all obvious from reading the manual. Funny story: after showing my boyfriend the stitch samples I made, he started hunting for serged seams on all of his RTW and comparing them to my stitch samples. I think he might start using the machine too!