As some of you may recall, I recently acquired a pre-owned Pfaff 7570. The Germans may make a wonderful machine but they make a lousy instruction book.
Simple sewing and piecing is going just ma-va-lous but I tried to
FMQ yesterday (and continued today) without success. I attached an open-toed darning foot...not easy, the manual doesn't actually show it being attached, just shows it attached.
Threaded it up. Placed my practice 12"x12" piece under the foot. Took a single stitch to pull up the bobbin thread. Lowered the foot. It won't move. Well, more precisely, I can't move the practice piece. It's like there's too much pressure from the foot. I am sure it's how I've attached the darning foot. But I can't see any other way to do it.
Can anybody help?

does it have an arm that goes over the needle bar?, did you lower your feed dogs/or cover them? you won't actually move the piece until you start stitching, the foot should go up and down just like the needle, that allows your fabric to be moved

Disengage IDT? Feed dogs? Any chnce of a pic re the foot?

I have a Pfaff 1471 so imagine it's very similar.

Wow, that was quick! Yes, feed dogs are lowered. There is a clear plastic finger that points up that sits firmly against the back of the needle bar. It has a slight curve in it that leans over the needle bar but it doesn't really have a hook...at least not in the same sense my Bernina darning foot has.

Feed dogs disengaged - check. IDT - I've tried it both ways, didn't seem to make a difference. I will take a picture and try to get DS to post for me this afternoon.

I have an older Pfaff (6250) and the lever that raises and lowers the presser foot has a setting kind-of half way for free motion quilting.

I have an old Pfaff so don't know if yours works the same but on mine your can lower the foot one stop part way and then lower again all the way down. Only lower to the first stop so it is not touching your fabric. HTH

Thank you bailey and quilterchibb, I will try that next.

There are 2 spots for the pressure foot to be lowered to. When doing FMQ you need to hit the first spot. To do this you put pressure on the pressure foot towards the back as you lower it. You an also see the 'lip' the pressure foot lever sits on if you look at your machine from the back from the 'wheel' end of the machine. Also, disengage the IDT and it is your preference if you want feed dogs up or down. I have done both on my machine. Also, make sure the bar that is on the 'darning' foot is on top of the screw that holds you needle in place. This is what makes the foot 'hop'. If you are having any other problems and would like pictures I'll try and take some and post for you. I hope I am not repeating what somebody else posted, I just read a few of the comments.

Okay, I have made some progress. Figured out how to lower the presser foot to half mast and I can now move my quilt sandwich. Yippee-ki-ay-ki-oh!
Now, I have to work on the tension. I have birds' nest on the underneathe side. Just loops and more loops.
You guys rock!

Check the threading--usually the reason for bird's nests.

If you go to page 110 of your instruction manual it explains how to use the darning foot which is the same for FMQ. It shows you a picture of how the foot is to be used and how to put the pressure foot lever so you are able to accomplish this task.

As to the loopies on the back of your fabric your top tension needs adjustment....try setting it higher. Loopies on the top of your fabric would be the tension on your bobbin case. Also go back to the threading guide in your book and make sure you are threading it properly. There are always simple "oh duh" moments but the instruction manual while not the best does give detail on how the machine operates to its maximum. Just take the time to familarize yourself with how it works. Start in the table of contents to find what you are looking for...

You also do not use the IDT for FMQ. Lowering the feeddogs or keeping them up is a personal thing. Personally I like mine lowered as I feel I get more of a smoother flow.

The 7570 was the last hurrah of the German Made Pfaffs and they did a fabulous job with this machine....most people who have them such as myself would never ever part with them.

Sorry but I had to laugh, I have practically worn out page 110.
The picture was no help at all and the written instructions were awful. Surprised me too because the first few pages of the instruction manual were soooo detailed. It reminded me of complicated quilt patterns that end with "quilt as desired"!
Spent so much time on this today I just gave up but I will try the tension suggestion. Glad to hear from you 'cause my instincts told me to lower the tension. So much for my instincts!

Had to chuckle. This is my experience with the manual I got with my pre-owned 7510, which I LOVE, but am struggling to figure out. That foot with the clear plactic finger really puzzles me... I'll be watching this thread.

Maia - I remember when you were in the process of getting this machine. Seems to me you had an offer rescinded while you were researching the machine. Wish you lived nearby, maybe we could figure it out together...you know, two heads being better than one.

WOW Ladies, I am usually the one that has major problems understanding manuals and I found this manual to be very helpful to me.

I am sorry you're having trouble with it but I totally empathize with you. Maybe we just all read, see and understand in different ways.

Maia B, the foot with the clear plastic finger is the darning foot used for FMQ and of course darning. It should have a pin on the right side which you push into the hole on the ankle of the needle bar. Then the plastic piece which is actually called the guide fork should be placed behind the pressure bar. The pressure bar has a fixing screw and that's how you know it's the pressure bar. The fixing screw is what you loosen to change your needles.

Clear as mud....if not come back and ask questions and I try my best to help you and Dixiechunk as best as I can. :-D

Dixiechunk, you remember correctly. I was going to buy a 7570 complete with embroidery module, but the owner ended up selling it back to her mother, which I totally understood. The non-embroidery models are fine for me. I got the 7510 from eBay fro Brubakers in PA with a one year warranty. I might've liked a 7530 or 7550, but was pleased to get the one year warranty from a reputable dealer. A 7550 just went for $880 on eBay. Great machine, but these motherboards are getting old. I figured, for what I paid, if it lasted the year, I'd be okay with that, since these were the machines I drooled over in the 1990's. Dunno if I'll ever FMQ on it, just enjoying the IDT and great stitches for now.

Are you making sure that your pressure foot is UP when you thread the machine? Make sure the thread is between the tension discs, not sitting on top......

Be sure you bring your bobbin thread through to the top of the quilt. Make your knot, then cut both thread on top of the sandwich. This should eliminate the birds nests.