I got the impression she wasn't happy with me on the phone. However, she had recovered by the time I got to the store. Didn't even have to remind her that she lost the last sale when I got the Grandquilter because she refused to negotiate.

Congrats on the new machine. Let me know if you like and if you think it was worth the dollars. I have a brother and like it pretty good but if I continue quilting I may invest in a higher end machine.

Congrats Martina! I've just looked at the features and it looks wonderful! I love the patchwork feature where it remembers the seam length! The only thing I can't find is how big it's throat is? I want to upgrade when we've got the cash and was thinking of the Janome 6600 but I like the idea of a Pfaff - good solid German engineering! Let me know how you like it, OK?

ouch. i hope its fixable.

It's got a "regular" throat which is fine for me. I did look at the Pfaff Expressions series which is their new line. It has a 10" throat BUT the reviews were pretty bad. It has a drop in bobbin and the transition from the table to the bobbin is bumpy and flips the seams. Also, the foot pulls the fabric crooked and it easily eats the fabric. Too much trouble for my taste. I stick with what I know.

As far as the "German Engineering" goes: the machines are made in China, which dampens my enthusiasm a little bit. Heard great things about the Janome, but I believe it doesn't have the built-in walking foot and that is still a must for me.

Congrats on your new machine! :lol:

I guess throat isn't really an issue unless you do a lot of big quilts. The Janome has a walking foot attachment - how is that different from built in? i really like the seam length feature on the Pfaff though - I guess I have to decide which features are the most important for me. If I win the lotto, I can get one of each, but not likely since I don't DO the lotto! :lol:

Those WERE the days. Nope - Pfaff is off-shoring these days.

The add-on foot is loud and clunky (in my opinion) whereas the built in just hooks under the sewing foot and you don't even know it's there. (I immediately know when it is not engaged though.) I also have a GrandQuilter with a 9" throat. (didn't win the Lotto - just saved A LOT. (No kids - need I say more?) DH had the nerve to say: Well honey - some people collect baseball cards, you collect sewing machines. :twisted:

Already had my first disaster last night: apparently the thread wasn't secured well in tension slot B and slipped out without me realizing. Suddenly, the machine sucked my sample swatch into the throat plate with the needle firmly engaged. It didn't move up - didn't move down, I freaked. So I calmed down and dismantled the throat plate (great way to get intimate). Took a while to dislodge all the threads. BUT I am back in business. I didn't realize that it has a mirroring feature. Now that's nice!

I have the Janome 660 and it does have the built in walking foot. There is a piece that you can flip under the presser foot which is attached to the machine and makes it the dual feed as in a Pfaff. It also has the quarter inch foot that has the same feature. I love mine because of the larger throat space.

I meant to say I have the Janome 6600

Yes, that's the Acufeed system, isn't it?

Didn't know that.

Yes, it is called the Acufeed system. I love the way it works. They also have a SITD foot that uses that system and I just tried it. It worked beautifully! I have the the open walking foot, closed walking foot (came with the machine) and the quarter inch foot that all use that system. I now need to get that SITD foot.

My understanding is that the higher end Pfaff are made in Sweden, but still German engineered, and the regular line (still darn expensive) have been outsourced to China.

Still German design though, I would hope?

That's my understanding...I believe Pfaff sold out to Viking, or some other Swedish outfit...I could be wrong. I spent some time on a Pfaff board much like this (only geared to Pfaff users!) and that was the talk.

But are there any machines that AREN'T made in the far east these days? And is that a BAD thing? I've got a machine from a UK supplier - not any particular brand - and it's made in Asia and it's built to last! Like a Land Rover! Solid as a rock.

Wow!!!