I am thinking of buying a Pfaff sewing machine with IDT. I do not want an embroidery machine, just a regular machine. If you have a Pfaff, what model do you have or which one(s) do you suggest?

I got a real steal on the Pfaff Creative Vision 5.0
This was my first Pfaff. I wish someone would have told me it was like a Husky/Viking!
It is an awesome machine despite what alot of people have said about it.
I mainly got it because it can do Machine Embroidery in a large area but also has the IDT and I use it for quilting and piecing mainly.
I will tell you that my piecing has improved by a ton, I have started to get good at FMQ, it is such a joy to have two great machines (the other is a Duetta by Brother)that I can piece on one and emb on another.
I love both machines, don't know which one I would keep if I had to only keep one...
Kirsten

I own a pfaff tiptronic 2020 and a bernina. I love the bernina for quilting because of the stitch regulator but I do my best piecing on the pfaff!

I'd been quilting for a few years when I bought the bernina. I couldn't understand why my blocks weren't turning out as nice as usual until I realized I was used to the IDT on the pfaff. I immediately went back to the pfaff and had no more difficulties with corners matching! The IDT certainly pays for itself, as far as I'm concerned!

My sister just bought a basic pfaff and she loves it. I'm not sure if you can go wrong with any of the pfaffs.

Best advice is to go try them out and look at the bells and whistles and stop looking when they start to get out of your price range.

I don't have one, but hope you find one you like.

Thank you to everyone. I have heard nothing but good about the stitching results with the Pfaff machines. I currently have an Elna 6005 which I love and have had it for about 10 years. I also have a Babylock Ellageo ESG3 Embroidery machine and I have not been happy with it. I have had it in the shop several times and I am so unhappy with it that I do not even bother to use the embroidery part of the machine. I will definitely be looking for a Pfaff with the IDT system in it this year.

I bought a Pfaff 2030 tiptronic ten years ago. I've had it cleaned once. It's been a serious work horse and the IDT does help your piecing be more accurate. It really, really helps with things like putting on borders and binding.

I bought a Pfaff Performance 2058 last year and love it! This is my second Pfaff machine and I would not go for any other Brands. Service annually and you will have no problems with it! Easy to learn, work horse, IDT such a gem to have for piecing and accurately. I have quilted on it too.

FYI, I was told by my dealer that they aren't making the Pfaff machines anymore in Germany. Pfaff sold to a company VSM Group. They own Singer, Viking, Husqvarna and Pfaff. So Pfaff machines are now being made in Sweden. Tho they say German Engineered but that doesn't mean it is made in Germany. Products out of Germany are very well made. I don't know much about Sweden products and how good of a quality they make their products. I would go for the older Pfaff machines made in Germany. Older machines are just a good if not better than the newer ones that are being designed today.

Sorry for being such a long email but I thought you would like to know. :)

Thank you...good information. I am 1/2 Swede and 1/2 German, maybe they make a Pfaff like that too :lol: I have used a Pfaff 1475 and just fell in love with it. Obviously everyone likes them because they are hard to find. I want to trade in my Babylock Ellageo Embroidery machine and would be more than happy with a used Pfaff standard machine with IDT. I will be watching for one. Again, thanks for the most helpful info.

I have 3 Pfaffs - not meaning to sound braggy. :oops:

My main machine is the 2058. I got it for a super price - supposedly, it's a closeout model, although Pfaff still has it on their site:
http://www.pfaffusa.com/126_240.html

I like the way it does the fancy stitches.
It tends to pull the starting corner into the feed dogs and when the bobbin runs low, it is a little annoying that it only moves at a snail's pace. My favorite part is that the machine can be set to lift the presser foot to various hights. It puts it back down when the foot control is pressed.

My backup machine is an older model. I think it's called the Quilt and Craft.

Then I have the 1200 GrandQuilter. It is a little louder than I expected and requires a lot of oil. I'm still waiting to set it up on the frame and need to withhold judgment.

Someone on this board gave an excellent comparison between the Pfaff and the Janome. I wish I could find it quickly. If I had to do it again, I would give the Janomes a look too.

ALso, check out the reviews on the Pfaff Expression line. Happy shopping.

Thank you, I will continue to check them out.

I will never, ever, ever piece another quilt without a Pfaff machine with IDT. The results were mindblowing! No more getting to the end of a seam and finding the lower edges don't meet!

I can't remember the model number of my first one, which I traded up a year later for the embroidery model No. 2134.

I have the 2056, which the 2058 replaced. And I have the Grand Quilter. I retired my 24 year old Janome Memory Craft 7000, gave it to my daughter and it's still sewing like a dream.

The one feature that pushed me to buy the 2056 was the IDT feature, now having used it I will never go back to not having it. It's great for accurately piecing as well as quilting. :)

Thank you again. I so respect the thoughts, ideas, experience and expertise of everyone on this board. I have learned so much here even after 20 years of quilting. When I started we did not have templates, rotary cutters and all the bells and whistles so I have to learn as I go just like everyone else. I am so thankful for all of you and your willingness to share with all of us.

IDT?

We have 3 Pfaffs - 2038, 1475, and a 1200 Grand Quilter. My wife started with an inexpensive Euro Pro; even an amateur can benefit from the IDT. Her piecing improved immediately when she started using the Pfaff machine. I just started sewing and I have never sewed on anything but her 2038 and my (15 yo used) 1475. I would second watching for a used machine. Mine was an upgrade trade-in that our shop sold originally and they did all the service. I got an excellent deal on it. I doubt if we'll ever buy another machine, but if we do, we'll look for a used Pfaff.

Darren

I have a Pfaff 7550 and 2144 models. Both have IDT and it is great. I also have a Pfaff serger. I have a wonderful dealer who always has great ideas and the newest things that Pfaff puts out. The only thing I have ever done to my machines is regular maintenance. My dealer also has Pfaff club. We go once a month and it is a great time to meet other seamstresses and quilters. They really speak my language. I got my first Pfaff 15 years ago and it has been the best machine I have ever had.

I have had three pfaffs and have loved them all. Gave oldest one to daughter to begin sewing on. she loves it also.
Qmil

That is what is referred to as Integrated Dual Feed and acts much like a quilting foot but is a part of the machine.

It stands for integrated dual feed (I don't know where they get the "T" from).

If you have ever heard of a walking foot attachment, it's the same idea, but it's permanently fixed to the machine, although you can disengage it if you need to. It feeds the two layers of fabric evenly whereas without it, the feed dogs feed the fabric through faster than the top layer feeds through (or is it the other way around?).

I have the Margaret Islander sewing tapes and she demonstrates by sewing together two pieces of fabric, each 45" long. She begins with them even at the top, sews a regular seam, and when she gets to the bottom of the strip, the bottom piece extends by about an inch beyond the top piece. She then demonstrates it again, this time holding the strips up at an angle so that the bottom piece isn't being pushed along by the feed dogs, and at the end they are even! (i.e. she "eases" them in togethe)r.

Still, you can't do this with a couple of 2" squares you are trying to sew together.

I had a machine before the Pfaff for which I purchased a "walking foot" but it didn't work nearly as well and it was also very noisy!

I love my IDT!

I have an Expression 3 and I love it. If I would have had a little more money I'd have gone for the 4, but I am very happy. I love the IDT and it has nearly 10 inches of throat space.

I have a fabulous dealer who also has a Pfaff club, actually 2 clubs: 1 for the embroidery and now one for the non-embroidery machines.

I just got a Pfaff Creative Vision in September for my 35th wedding anniversary and love it! I wanted one that would do the embroidery since my Janome didn't. I had used the CV in classes I took with Betty Cotton and loved the way it sewed. I know you said you did not want any embroidery but I would get the most machine I could afford. I have wished for a long time that I had the option on the Janome. Best of luck.
Wendy

what does IDT stand for?

what does IDT stand for?

I love my Pfaff. It is a Quilt Expression 2044. I recieved it from my husband a few years ago as a birthday present.

Lots2do, The IDT stands for Integrated Dual Feed. The fabric is fed from top and bottom at the same time so it is very precise. It keeps all the layers when quilting aligned.

Integrated Dual Transfer (at least I'm pretty sure T stands for transfer)

The walking foot is built in and it carries the top fabric and the bottom fabric at the same speed so there is no (or very little) distortion. Makes it easy to match seams and patterns.

Thank you again. I was not sure what the T stood for. You would think they would have used IDF but then, I guess they had their reasons.

I have a Pfaff Select with IDT and I love it. It doesn't have too many decorative stitches, but I don't need them !
It is my first sewing machine and the only machine I use for piecing and IDT is wonderful for this.
Of course, it is wonderful for free motion quilting, too!

I love my Pfaff. It's an embroidery and regular sewing machine. I can't believe the difference. It sews so much nicer than my old machine.

Does the Pfaff have it's version of the BSR to regulate stiches in FMQ
 

Does the Pfaff have a version of the BSR to regulate stitches when FMQ?

I have a Pfaff Tiptronic 2040 with IDT and love it. I used to have an earlier Pfaff Tiptronic, but a friend took it when I bought my Babylock Serenade (which also has upper feed dogs). I wanted the knee lift for the presser foot (both hands free, yay!) and thread cutter of the Serenade, so now my Pfaff Tiptronic is my backup machine. You can't beat having upper and lower feed dogs. I don't ever plan to sew with only lower feed dogs again, if I can help it. Not all Pfaff machines have upper feed dogs---some of the really early machines don't have them, and I don't think the "Hobby" has them, so be aware of that when shopping for a used machine.

There don't seem to be many older used Pfaff sewing machines available.

Is it because not that many were around to start with?
Or is it because people keep them for a long time?

No - and as far as I'm aware, they have no plans to introduce it. I have however, tried the BSR on the Bernina and actually preferred to FMQ without it. I fund it very sluggish and 'draggy'. Apparently a lot of people who have it, don't use it.

I didn't fall in love with my Pfaff (Quilt Expression 4) when I first got it. Couldn't get it to FMQ - I could FMQ in metallic thread on my Janome. I returned it to the dealer a few weeks after purchase and after two months I got it back. Luckily, I asked the dealer to try it before I took it home - didn't work and Pfaff replaced it with a new machine.

I've had it for a few months now and have grown to like it. I absolutely love the auto-pivot (where the presser foot lifts itself a little when you stop) as I do a lot of appliqué and the IDT is better than a walking foot - more 'agility' if you know what I mean? The QE4 has been replaced with the QE 4.2 now and the new portable - the Passport - has had very good reviews here.

Happy sewing.:)

Pfaff does have a version of BSR if you buy the fabric mover. It does work. Viking has a demo of it.
Pfaff ignored it, and there is a far cheaper generic version available. I have that one, but bought the 1500s.

I'm certainly the odd man out here. I have a Pfaff 2027, and regret buying it. I think I got a machine built on a Monday by the guy who partied all weekend. Unfortunately, when I got it I was working lots of hours, and didn't have much time to play with the machine. By the time I realized how many problems I was having it was really too late to try to return it.

I keep mine, well most of them, a sister talked me out of my 1229, which was a real work horse, still wish I had it.
5 of my Pfaff's have the IDT, the 4, 7570s (my dream machine) and my 2056 . My hobbymatic 947 (?) does not have the IDT, but fills bobbins great. and my serger is a coverlock Pfaff. I learned how to sew on a Pfaff Daddy got for mother back in the mid 50's, have been a Paffie ever sence.

I found a Pfaff 2046 locally for sale by owner (her grandmother's) I really need some help in the FMQ department, I would really like to know how the fabric mover or generic works and if it liked by quilter? I am sold on the IDS on the PFaff, I have an old singer and my FMQ is a disaster even after months of practice. I have wasted so much fabric!!!

I have been looking for a Pfaff with the IDT, and presser foot pressure adjustment and the 20XX series does not have it, nor do the older Select models. I want a used one. How is it that you can piece accurately without being able to lighten the pressure??

I just bought a 1540 on ebay and it just never occurred to me that Pfaff would make a machine without that adjustment so I didn't even check the online manual. Four reviews said that it has this adjustment, but all were wrong. So now I feel I have wasted my $$$. How does the machine piece? I have several other machines including a new Bernina with the built in dual feed, but that does not work well....gets hung up on any little thickness.

QUOTE=Scissor Queen;705802]I bought a Pfaff 2030 tiptronic ten years ago. I've had it cleaned once. It's been a serious work horse and the IDT does help your piecing be more accurate. It really, really helps with things like putting on borders and binding.[/QUOTE]

I have a Pfaff 7510 from the 90's. I find it great for piecing. You may want to get a straight-stitch plate for you Pfaff.

Love, love, love my Pfaff. I have the 7570, I don't use the embroidery unit very much, but love the machine for quilting. In fact, I bought a second 7570 and a third Pfaff, a 7550 (like the 7570 only without the embroidery unit. they are all workhorses and I love, love, love them. I am not a dealer, but have sold about six Pfaffs to friends (by talking about mine, they went and bought their own---newer models, but Pfaffs. I got my first Pfaff about 15 years ago and found the other two on ebay. No regrets.

I have two Pfaffs - started with the Pfaff Ambition 1.0. The Ambition line are great beginner/intermediate machines giving you lots of bang for your buck. It is now my class and travel machine - I refused to trade it in when I upgraded to the Pfaff Performance 5.0. Oh my - am I in love with the P5.0! I had planned on upgrading to the Quilt Expression 4.2, but the Performance 5.0 was on sale (only $250 more than the QE4.2) plus I got the 48 months interest free financing - I think now they're offering 60 months.

Funny story - I actually started out with a Brother combo sewing/embroidery machine. After buying the machine my first class was a sew-as-you-go quilting class. I was soon in tears because I could not get the Brother to stitch evenly through the multi layers - even with a walking foot (which with that attachment I wasn't able to get an accurate 1/4" seam allowance.) The instructor was so sweet - she talked the shop owner into lending me the Pfaff Ambition and oh, what a difference! Just a touch of a lever to engage the IDT (sorta like a built in walking foot with dual feed). PLUS I could still use the 1/4" Presser Foot with Guide at the same time. I soon caught up to everyone else in class and was having so much fun. The Pfaff out-performed the Brother in so many (every) ways. I traded/exchanged it for the Pfaff Ambition that very day! I will never sew/quilt with anything other than Pfaff.

I encourage you to go to a dealer and try out their various machines. You'll see what we all mean about how easy the Pfaff IDT works and how enjoyable it is to use!