Pfaff Sewing Machines
 

I posted a thread previously to find out about Pfaff 4.0 and 3.2 Sewing machines. After hearing comments and doing a little research, I am finding out I do not need that much machine. ( I already have a Bernina 430 QE and a APQS long arm machien). I am looking for a simpler machine for mostly straight stitching for piecing. I have always been a Bernina lover but I DO have to pin in order for my layers to be even at the end of a seam after sewing the seam. The IDT Feed really interests me on the Pfaff--but I do not want to spend alot of money just to have the machine for mostly straight stitching. I do, however, want it to be computerized. I do have a Pfaff Dealer that is 1 1/2 hours from me and one that is 2 hours from me. I am going to one of them tomorrow and one of them on July 23 but I would like feedback from all of you before I start my serious search. Any suggestions?

I LOVE my Pfaffs up to the 7570 which was the last of the German made Pfaffs in the late 1990s. I owned new 1220E, 1473 without the embroidery unit, 7570 used with embroidery unit and I now have a 2022. I also own a Quilters Baby Lock which does have the onboard IDT, but it does NOT work as well as any of my Pfaffs. There is just something about the smoothness of the way the fabric feeds through on the Pfaff vs the BabyLoc, that when I am getting ready to go to a 4 day retreat, I will always take my 2022, its lighter in weight and sews flawlessly. IF you could find a good used 1473 to 1475, I would HIGHLY recommend them. I am so sorry I sold my 1473 for the 7570, mistakenly thinking I was going to get into machine embroidery. The 7570 was a good machine, but no need to keep since I wasnt fully utilizing it. I dont know about your dealer, but you can occasionally find a 1473/75 on the online auction site or on some of the Yahoo sewing sites where you can buy/sell your quilting/sewing things. With all of my machines, I never had any issues with any of them and would just because I felt guilty for neglecting them take them in occasionally (say 2x in 12 years) for a tune up. The most I had to do was replace a light bulb.
Good luck in your search and please let us know what you end up with and how you like it.

I too, knew I didn't need a top of the line machine, so I went with the Pfaff Ambition Essential. I love the IDT for piecing and binding. It has some great decorative stitches too. I've been very happy with it!

what about the new passport. It is supposed to be lightweight for travel

I, too, love my Pfaff 7570. I've heard great things about the new Pfaff Passport 2.0. It is lightweight for taking to class and has the IDT and more. I haven't seen one yet because my LQS can't keep them in stock! If I was in the market for a smaller machine I'd look seriously at the Pfaff Passport.

I have two - both of which have the IDT (2170, 2054). The IDT was why I purchased them - I love it.

I recently dragged out my older machines to take them for a spin. My Pfaff 7570, inherited, kept chewing up the leading edge of my fabric while trying to sew little squares on a 45 degree angle. My Bernina 1120 had absolutely no problem with this. I finished up the day with a renewed love for my Bernina, but puzzled about the 7570. Both of these weigh a ton, maybe a ton and a half for the Bernina.

Can't tell you what's currently on the market, but I still regularly use my Hobbymatic that I got in '91. Only got a newer Pfaff a couple years ago for the needle threader.

The IDT on the Pfaffs is the best feature ever made on a machine. I still use my Pfaff 1473, bought in 1986, and have the IDT engaged on everything I sew.

I bought an older Pfaff 2222 I think is the number. I bought it for the IDT too and it works great. I bought a year ago a Janome 6600P and the accufeed on it is just wonderful and it is my main machine and I love the way it feeds the fabric, they are big heavy machines.

Sounds like the Pfaff may need a trip to the sewing machine doctor. I occasionally had problems like that, not often, but if I did I just used leader squares to get things rolling, then when the chain got going it did fine.

I use leaders and enders to prevent this problem. I am another one who would not buy a machine without IDT. I love my Pfaff.

I have the Quilt Expresions 2046 and love it. In fact I still use it more than my Creative Vision because it travels so well when friends and I get together to sew.

I have the quilting/sewing religion that says as part of its commandments: when on a project quilt/sew with only one machine and, likewise, use the same rulers throughout a project ... all for consistency sake.

Try a BabyLock Jane. It has the pin feed & you probably won't need the IDT. plus, it's super fast. Great piecing machine

I am going to the nearest Pfaff Dealer (2 hours away) today to try the Pfaff machines. I see Pfaff has the Ambition Essential machine on sale in July for $599. I fell like that is a good price as I do not really want to spend more than that on a machine just to get it for the IDT feed for piecing, and the Ambition Essential will serve that purpose as I am not looking for other features. (I am a Bernina fan so am used to the spendy" prices of Bernina). I have 2 Delers--each about 2 hours away from me, and I am going to call them both this morning to make sure they have the machine in stock before I drive there. I am hoping I like it and hope to be a Pfaff ownner tonight. I haven't broke the news to my husband yet as I have 2 Bernina machines (430QE that I use all the time and a 230 for travel) and he will think it is completely unnecessary to get another machine---But us Quilters have our priorities!! I'll keep you posted.