Pfaff Sewing Machine
 

Have a BabyLock Quilters Choice sewing machine or I hope I do. Am thinking of a new machine and wonder about Pfaff. I do a lot of quilting and sewing, not sure if this is a good choice, any thoughts if you have one? Thanks.

I have two older Pfaffs and I love them. I have a 2170 (Which does Embroidery) and a 2058 (por piecing and quilting). I love their IDT (dual feed feet). I do not know about the newer models however.

I also have a 2170 embroidery machine (5 yr old) and it works well for quilting. Don't know about the new machines, though

I have the Pfaff Ambition 1.5. I like it, but I can't say I love it. LOVE the IDT. The bobbin case is an absolute bear to get out and put back in when cleaning the machine. The presser-foot is VERY finicky, but I think that's more of a user problem - I want the machine to stop needle down so I press the needle down button so it stops that way. If you are doing just a few stitches so you kind of 'tap' the foot pedal, it stops with the needle up and remembers that position so it will keep stopping with the needle up. It drives me crazy! I haven't had tension issues with the machine at all, which I love.

I have been looking for a new machine myself and have been visiting several different sewing machine dealers etc. After much looking I noticed and then asked the question, does it seem like a lot of quilters are trading in their wonderful old machines for the new machines with the larger throat? The answer seems to be to true, although not all quilters- especially if they have a long arm or access to one. If you have the money and will be trying to FMQ on your sewing machine, I would suggest getting the largest throat area you can. Pfaff seems to have one of the largest throat areas. I went to a Bernina dealership yesterday and tried out the BSR FMQ attachment, I was not particularly impressed, my Singer 15-91 was more manageable and except it was really hard to keep the speed down, granted the lady showing me had no clue how to use the machine! Yes, I drove 30 miles to get a test drive on a Bernina and the sales professional was not in the store yesterday, taught me a lesson from now on I will call first. This dealer did not have Pfaff, so I tried a Janome, it was a bit easier to FMQ but still a bit fast, I even turned the speed down on the Bernina and the Janome ( I had to figure it out myself! and the Janome was a bit more user friendly. I decided to go back and try again when the knowledgeable person can help with try it out. I do have to say the new machines I tried have a feature that is new and would take time to master and that is that if you stop moving the machine stops. Today I am going to a Pfaff dealer today for some test drives I will keep you posted on my findings.

I have 2 Pfaffs and love them. I have arthritis in my hands and the IDT is what is keeping me sewing/quilting as much as I want. IDT is the dual feed feature. With it I don't have to manipulate the fabric as much when sewing. They both do beautiful fmq. As a plus, extra feet are easily affordable vs Bernina.

I like my Pfaff for the IDT, needle down, decorative stitches, and overall use-ability. It is a Tiptronic, but don't have the model number. It's an older machine, but does everything I need. It hasn't quilted a whole quilt yet, so I can 't comment on that. It quilts(goes through 2 fabric layers plus batting) small items just fine.

I have a Pfaff Ambition 1 that I love as well as an older Pfaff that also is lovely. Re: removing the bobbin case to clean: the first time or two it is tricky but becomes easier and now there is nothing to it! The IDT means the fabric goes through straight and true. Love my Pfaffs.

I tried out the Pfaff expressions 4.0 and 3.2, I thought the FMQ was easier with the Pfaff, I liked everything about it, but the stitch seemed lose on the backside, the salesman said it was okay, but I don't know.

I have had my Pfaff Expression 2. for three years, and I love it. I have always been a seamstress, but I have only been quilting for three years and I don't really know any of the other machines. I test drove Janome and something else, but I liked the "built in walking foot" and throat size of this machine. I was very new to the idea of an expensive machine, but I have had no regrets about my Pfaff. I love it.

I was determined to only buy locally so I could get service and have questions answered. Classes came with the machine, but I only went to the first six or so....there was one a month for as long as I wanted to go.

I would suggest you test drive all you can. The machine has to be one that really suits you. :) But I love my Pfaff.

Dina

I started with a Pfaff 1196 back in the late 70's. I now have a 20 some year old 1473, a QE 4.0, and Smarter 200C and a Passport 2.0. Needless to say, I am a Pfaffie and I love all of them. I wouldn't part with any of them except the 200C and my daughter is getting that one. I bought the Passport 2.0 to take to a 3 day Kay England retreat a week ago and it did exactly what I wanted it to--it's a smaller machine, only weighs about 14 pounds. The IDT is also one of my favorite things about these!

I have a Pfaff 1471 bought new in 1986 and still use it everyday. I have a newer fancy Brother (nothing wrong with it) but I love my Pfaff and would not trade it in for anything.

I am a Pfaffie, have 7 of them and would not part with them! Love the IDT, and how quite they are, do not need or want a thrashing machine sound in my studio! Love the nice even stitches, the needle up or down, love these machines, the older ones that is.

I forgot about how quiet a Pfaff is compared to other machines. Part of my requirement was that it be "quiet" enough to not bother my husband's amateur radio equipment in the room next to my sewing room. He actually built me a meter about the size of a remote control that I used to determine which machine was quietest. Pfaff won, hands down. All the sales ladies who helped me at the 3 stores I went to found my device amusing, declaring no one had ever come and "measured" which machine was quietest before. :)

Dina

I have a Pfaff Essential Ambition that I bought just this summer. Use it primarily for piecing quilts (I have a long arm). I love it. I was a Bernina lover and still hve a Bernina 430 that I use but it doesn't keep the fabrics together when piecing--so bought th Basic Pfaff just for the IDF feed to use for piecing. I think it is an excellent machine for the price and would highly recommend it. Plus it has a larger throat than my Bernina 430 does and my Bernina 430 cost 3 timeas as much. I also had the BSR witht eh Bernina for quilting and used it on 4 quilts before buying my long arm machien but I did not care for it. Could never get the tension quite right with the BSR. Good luck in your search.

Love my 3 Pfaffs, 7570, 2140 and Creative Sensation. Regular sewing or machine quilting I have not had any problems stitching thur several layers. Embroidery is wonderful on each machine. The Creative Sensation does have a larger work area. Would not even think of trading either Pfaff. Pfaff is a user friendly machine, and their online help is great.

I also have a BL Espire--are you having problems with yours, and that is why you are switching? I am not loving mine, just curious.

I am going to visit a Pfaff dealer and see these machines and with any luck will get a chance to try one out. It takes me so long to make a decision especially when it is an item that I will use so much. I have my machine back from shop, so have it to sew on and after a few weeks get familiar with again. Thanks for all of the information. One thing I have learned is some machines have very expensive feet if you choose to buy another foot. Hope I am right.

I got a Pfaff Performance 5 and love it.

I am a new Pfaff owner, the quilt expressions 4.0. It almost exactly similiar to my Viking 875Q, but alot quieter, handles all threads well. It uses the same bobbins as the viking. I am now convinced that Pfaff is a much better machine. I love the larger feet, love the IDT. I bought it on Ebay from a Pfaff dealer, and their customer service is awesome, I wonder about servicing though. The closest Pfaff dealer is about 150 miles or so away. I am selling my Viking 875Q, if I can part with it.

Answering for myself, I would like to add a second machine. I really like my BL quilters choice, but need a second machine for no other reason than to have a back up.

I love my Babylock Ellure. However, taking it to quilt with friends or to classes is heavy to carry. So, I just bought a Pfaff Passport 2.0. I'll be trying it out today! It's so lightweight, I think it'll be a convenience I'll appreciate. And, I won't have to pack up my Babylock to go every time I head out the door. It'll always be ready for me when I come home : )

Let us know how it worked, the BL Ellure would be a heavy machine to take to class.

Thank you, I understand completely!

I used the Passport and made a BOM that included small 1/2 sq. triangles. I also sewed some small triangles together from point to point. The fabrics moved through easily and didn't separate on the way through. Other than not bringing the manual and not figuring out how to thread the machine easily at first (LOL), once I did, it worked nicely. The machine runs quiet and smooth and has a powerful lamp, no problem with shadows or inadequate lighting. The machine has an 'auto' speed button (go/stop) that wasn't something I expected when I pressed the button. Not sure how likely I'll use it---it's fast! How do others use this feature?
The bobbin cover was difficult to get off and on, it may just be stiff for getting under the little tab till it's used more or I get used to it. The 'advanced needle threader' isn't comparable to being spoiled by the Babylock auto threader. Apparently most machines have this adv threader and people get used to it. I don't have depth perception, so it'll be my biggest challenge to use it as a convenience over trying to put the thread directly through the needle on my own.
I think 'operator limitations' are my only complaint. Other than that, I really like the machine!

I used to be a Pfaffi but when they came out with the new machines, I found the quality not to be up to my expectations. Customer service was also no longer on the forefront of the new company's mind. So I went from Pfaff to Baby Lock and I wouldn't want to trade my Espire for anything right now. I must admit that I do miss the ease of the IDT BUT it is also no big deal to attach the walking foot when needed. So I am a happy camper.

This is like recommendations of a car - one person's chariot is another person's clunker.