Brother DZ3000 is an excellent sewing machine. Still you need to compare it with other Designio machines to find the one that suits your budget and feature requirements.
Brother DZ3400 Computerized Sewing Machine Main Features
- 270 built-in stitches
- Accessory package worth $130
- Speed control slider
- Automatic needle threader
- Needle position key
Brother DZ3400 Review
Sewing Machine Reviews Recommendation Level : HIGH
DZ3400 belongs to the Designio series of sewing machines rolled out by Brother. Designio series primarily targets designers who are always on the lookout for that perfect finish. A total of 6 sewing machines belong to Designio category and 4 of them are regular computerized sewing machines. Apart from the DZ3400, other 3 machines look very similar from the outside (DZ3400 has different color). The difference is in the number of specialty feet that comes with it and also in the number of built-in lettering fonts. If you are considering any one of the 4 Designio machines, you must cross compare all of them and their prices because you are the one who knows what works the best for you. Even then DZ3400 is a step ahead of the other machines in terms of built-in sewing stitches.
Now let us have a closer look at Brother DZ3400. The machine comes with a total of 270 built-in stitches which include 160 sewing stitches and 110 alphanumeric stitches. It has 2 lettering fonts for monogramming. This might be a very important feature for some. It also comes with 8 fully automatic 1-step buttonholes that will automatically fit your buttons. DZ3400 has a larger LCD display when compared to DZ2400, which makes stitch selection and adjustments very easy.
DZ3400 comes with start/stop button and speed control slider. This feature lets you sew without the foot pedal, you can control the sewing speed with the speed control slider. You can go really slow at snail speed if you want to. The motor is powerful enough to go really fast as well. It can deliver a maximum of 850 stitches/min, this is the maximum speed you will get on sewing machines that cost under $1000(pretty impressive). The bobbin is top drop-in type, so you don’t need to remove the storage compartment to load bobbin. You will also get a clear view of the bobbin thread supply, thanks to the clear cover.
The sewing space measures 5.7″ x 3.8″. The large sewing space is one of the main highlights of Designio series machines. To add to that, you will also get an extension table to accommodate large projects like quilts. Space wise, DZ3400 is more than enough for a designer. The work area is well lit by stay bright LED. The automatic needle threader adds to the ease of use. It also features programmable needle up/down which is vital for quilters. An easy reverse sewing button is also provided.
The maximum stitch width that can be set is 7mm and stitch length is 5mm. Another highlight of Brother DZ3400 is the accessory package that comes with it. Brother says that the whole package is worth $130 (not sure about that). But it includes a lot of useful accessories like 14 sewing feet which also includes a circular sewing attachment with which you can make precise circles. The 7 point feed dogs ensure consistent fabric movement. You can also do free-motion quilting on this machine.
Even though Brother DZ3400 is loaded with features, it is one of the lightest machines around. It just weighs 9.9lbs. The machine comes with 25 year limited warranty cover as well.
Usability
You can’t really complain about the quality of DZ3400. One thing I have noticed is that, all Designio machines have excellent stitch quality irrespective of the type of fabric used. It is even more apparent while using thick fabrics like denim. Throw 5 or 6 layers of denim at the this machine and it will sew through beautifully. There is no stalling or slowing down, the motor is powerful enough to handle multiple layers of fabric without any difficulty.
Is It Worth Buying ?
It will be a toss up between Brother DZ3000 and this one. The only difference between this one and the DZ3000 is the number of sewing stitches. This machine has an additional 30 sewing stitches, which might be important for some. But for just 30 stitches, you are paying a lot of extra money. So if the additional 30 stitches doesn’t really matter to you, then probably DZ3000 would be a better option (cost wise). You will get the accessory package with DZ3000 as well.