Well, the Pfaff Creative Sensation has made it grand debut. Has anyone had an opportunity to see it yet. The one thing I would be interested in the stitch on stitch function. Sounds really nice. Also, being able to change thread color on a line of decorative stitching.

My dealer doesn't have one in the shop yet. A floor model will be delivered tomorrow and the sales staff will try to hurry and get up to speed on it so they can sell it. I have an appointment to see play with it on Thursday. Hubby is coming with me. His idea. :lol: My birthday is Saturday. :lol:

I'm interested in the "three modes of free motion quilting": Floating, spring action, and IDT. I was hoping it would have a free motion stitch regulator, but it does not. The Pfaff dealer said that's a Bernina hyped up feature. Pfaff machines don't need a stitch regulator. Ummm, if you are as uncoordinated as me, you'd understand why I am interested in a stitch regulator.

Thoughts on Bernina 830 vs Pfaff Creative Expression or Sensation are welcome. I'm sitting on a fence between Bernina and Pfaff. I know this topic has been done before, but I don't mind reading fresh thoughts!

My hubby just bought me a Pfaff 4.0 Creative Expression for my birthday in June and I LOVE IT!! I've had Pfaff's for 30 years and wouldn't get another machine as you just can't compete with Pfaff's IDT. I also love the auto pressure foot lift feature, makes turning curves so easy and doing machine applique. So many wonderful features: easy threading, easy bobbin winding, great auto thread tension; 10 inch inside arm.

I did look at a few other machines including the Bernina--it was 3+ times more expensive and the biggest drawback (besides the huge ticket price) is the fact that the Bernina computer takes almost 10 minutes to warm up and turn on to actually use. That wait would drive me crazy.

I was very excited when the 830 came out. The features sounded great and I've had VERY good experience with Bernina machines, albeit that was 15 years ago. Plus I have a very fine dealer just minutes away.

Went and tried the 830. Lots of nice features but was singularly unimpressed with the stitch quality: sewing, embroidering, or decorative stitches. Tried a variety of different threads, fabrics, stabilzers, etc. I had the (very helpful) salesperson thread the machine a couple of times just to be sure it wasn't user error, but the stitch formation was still never quite right not matter what I did.

The 830 is also very finicky. Likes some threads and not others. Has a very specific way to thread and if you deviate, it chokes. If the thread is not just so on the thread stand, it tangles.

Since stitch quality is, for me, the primary measure of a machine, I opted not to get the 830.

As far as the Creative Sensation, it sounds very interesting. I have the Creative Vision 5.0, with which I have a somewhat tense relationship. Sometimes it cooperates, sometimes it doesn't.

Many of the issues with my 5.0 were fixed with the 5.5, and many of the features on the CS have been on the Viking Designer Diamond Deluxe for over a year now, so it's not an entirely untested platform.

The Active Thread Technology (?) is particularly enticing, if it lives up to the hype. So I'll try out the CS and see if it becomes the replacement for my 5.0.

You've probably heard it before, but the key to deciding on a machine is to test, test, and test some more. Take samples of all of the different kinds of fabric you sew on, don't just use the samples in the shop. Make up some quilt squares complete with batting and fabric and do a LOT of free motion at the speed you're used to. Cut some triangles and piece a 1/4 inch seam. Do the feed dogs grab right away, or do you get a little knot of fabric and thread at the beginning?

Take some heavy denim and see how the feed system handles a folded hem over a flat felled seam. Sew 18 inches of a decorative stitch, then sew another row of the same stitch right next to it. Do they line up? Does the fabric pucker badly? Try all the button holes on a variety of fabrics. Embroider a couple of small samples on different types of fabric. Does the fabric pucker? Are there skipped stitches? Do the outline stitches run along the edges of the filled areas correctly?

Make notes as you go, then go home and look them over. If you spend less than 2-3 hours in the store, you're not doing it right. Think about the experience. Go back another day and retest as needed before you make your decision. If the sales people get unhappy, it's probably best to find another store.

In short, put the machine through the ringer. It's a lot of money to spend and your sewing time should be spent enjoying what you're making, not fighting with your machine.

R

Good advice.