Phaff machines
 

Hi, I'm totally new on here. Was trying to find out anything, something on Phaff quilting machines. My sister, who is hurting for money right now, is wanting to sell me her Phaff 2044 quilting expression machine. It happens my wife is looking for a new machine and, in retirement, might start doing some quilting along with general sewing. I too have sewn a good deal although not much recently. I became a furniture maker. Anyone have one of these machines? Or just know something about them? Quality, service record, ease of use, shortcomings, anything like that you might want to comment on. I would like to hear from you.
I'd hate to try to do her a favor and end up with a headache. If you know what I mean.
thanks wayne

If you Google "Pfaff 2044 sewing machines" you will find lots of info online. I will link a few reviews for you and will also look for any "completed listings" on eBay for the machine to give you an idea of its current value.

Here is an old QB thread that mentions this machine (note that it is dated 2010!):
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...on-t65263.html

And here is another QB thread about the machine from 2013:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...e-t227865.html

Here is a machine that sold on eBay recently for $305 + 50 shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PFAFF-QUILT-...cAAOSwiLdV~ZvH

And here's another listing that sold for over $400:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PFAFF-Sewing...sAAOSw9N1VxpEI

Judging by my brief look at the comments and at how the machine has held value over the years, I would guess that this would be a very good machine for your wife.

Welcome to the board. First, it's spelled PFAFF, so you can do some google searches for other reviews etc. You can also look at sold listings on ebay to see what other folks are willing to pay to see what a fair price is. I believe this is an older machine.

I don't know anything about that particular machine, but I have a Pfaff Expression 2.0 that I love. I bought mine 5 years ago and have just finished my 100th quilt on it.

I think if I were you, I would sew on the machine and see what you thought. I'd also have your wife sew on it. I can tell you that the owner's manual on mine is very good. I can figure anything out that I need to.

There are many Pfaff owners here. I assume you will get more answers, probably from folks who have that actual machine.

Good luck with your decision.

Dina

I have two newer Pfaffs and they're great for sewing and quilting because they have the built in walking foot (the IDF). I never get wrinkles on the back of my projects, and seams are even.

Hay, thanks for the replys. A very active board. My post was on the second page in just the one evening. I knew the spelling was wrong but I had nothing in front of me at that moment. An interesting evening, the wife was trying to finish sewing a Japanese jacket for our newest grand son's 100th day pictures. A tradition I guess. Gale's Japanese from Maui. We were using our daughter in law's Brother without a manual. Kim couldn't find it. Wow, a very different machine than I had ever used. IT took a bit to figure out. Like looking under a new car hood, I don't even know what half that stuff is anymore. But we, mostly she, got it done. She was copying one that was a real nice bit of craftsmanship and she did real well. Her mother was a seamstress though, so it's not like she has no background. She hasn't sewn anything for years though. We haven't had a machine for a long time. I made clothes for a living for a short time myself. In one of my other lives, so to speak.
My sister is bringing it over tomorrow and we will play around with it for a while. She has a lot of the attachments too, I think.
thanks again.

I had a 2054 and I loved it and I regret selling it 5 years later for almost what I paid for it. I'm glad you'll get a chance to check it out. Post back and let us know how you like it.

I have friends who have them and are happy with them. A sewing machine is just like buying a car, you need to go out and test drive the machine. Make sure it is within your price range and has the options you need. Good Luck with your shopping and Welcome to the board.

Hi Texas and welcome to the Board. Also welcome back to the world of sewing. Seems like sewing machines change faster than cars anymore particularly the technology so if you have been away from machines for some time as you said, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to buy and how they work. There will probably be a learning curve but just plunge ahead and you both will figure it out, I am sure. I have an older Pfaff and if I could only have one machine (I do have a few but they are mostly old Singers) I would definitely keep the Pfaff. I especially love the IDT (built in walking foot). I hope you and your wife end up liking and getting this machine. And isn't sewing a bit like riding a bike or horse .... you never really forget how to do it just need to brush up a bit. Good luck!

have a pfaff 2048 and it's a lemon :(

My sister brought the machine over today but the book turned out to not be in her case, as she expected, so I still don't know how some thing work. How does the walking foot work? Nothing was moving except the lower teeth part( I don't know what to call that) IT seems to be a nice machine though. runs real smoothly and has a good feel about it. I have never used this nice of a machine before, except when I was working on a commercial machine for a short time. I think we will buy it from her. My wife thought it would be more machine than we needed, but we have owned two machines of much lower price and neither sewed well at all. Gale has an art quilting project in mind for the house and thought she could do the design work and pick the fabrics and I could cut and sew the piece. Sounds like fun, I thought. IT could play to both our strengths.

If that machine has the built in walking foot (IDT), you'll soon learn to LOVE it! Don't worry about not seeing it work; if it's engaged (down), it's working. I quilted on an older Pfaff that I bought second hand, and I'll never sew without a built in walking foot again! You won't regret buying a Pfaff. Go for it. Look at completed sales of identical machines on ebay to learn what's a fair price for it. If you don't know how to do that, use the "advanced" search and limit the results to completed sales.

I have an older 2040 triptonic with built in walking foot. I keep it down except for free motion. This was my second Pfaff and I love them. Keep it serviced and it will last your lifetime. Vi

I have the Pfaff 2044 & I love it. I bought it new 13 years ago & have sewn miles on it. The IDT (walking foot) is a little black lever behind the needle that you pull down & forward to lock into place when you want to engage it. The thing I love about their IDT system is you can use different feet with the walking foot. The throat space on the machine is not very large for machine quilting. I do have a second machine with a larger throat space for quilting bigger quilts, but my 2044 is my go to machine for all of my piecing & general sewing. Feel free to pm me with any questions.

I have the Pfaff 2042 and absolutely LOVE it. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another one. It's a great machine. Have had mine since 2002 with no troubles at all.

Just an FYI about the IDT: I don't know if this is true on all the Pfaffs or not but I have feet that work with the IDT engaged and some that don't. The ones that do have a little "cut out" space on the back of the foot which is where the IDT fits in when engaged. Just wanted to mention this in case you still don't have the book and try to engage the IDT but find it doesn't fit in. Might just be a wrong foot.

Sounds like you and your wife are going to have fun with the machine and the creating. So great that you got this and helped out your sister at the same time.

edited: Check out this youtube about the IDT. It might just help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijQzDYfHeEs

OMG! When we were playing with a bit yesterday the fabric was hanging up and not feeding. MJ, my sister, noticed that black arm in the down position and said" Oh, this thing is down, I can't remember what it is. We lifted it up for the rest of our test. It just wasn't properly engaged. After you guys comments and looking at that short video. This thing is amazing. I love the walking foot. such a cool design.I may have to take up sewing again.
I went to design school for a while, early seventy's, and used to make western shirts. I even made clothes for my wife early on. It impressed her mom no end that I could sew. She's a seamstress in Hawaii. Back when she started making clothes a Kress was the only department store on Maui. She ran a little shop out of what had been the garage, for years. she's 96 now.
Then I went into furniture design and building. I have a really nice shop in back of our house. Art quilting seems very appealing to me. Way too many things interest me though, and I have done a lot of them but there is only so much time. I just finished remodeling the whole house and we have a door to the attic on the new staircase wall, not in a great place but moving it was a lot of work. Gale wants to do a quilt to hang and hide that door. I like the idea too. We just bought a 1967 Silver Streak travel trailer I'm in the process of rebuilding the whole interior. Our oldest son is an architect, he is doing all the design work and I'm the builder. I was just thinking how a couple nice quilts would look wonderful on the beds. If I'm not working project, I'm pacing. I love a challenge.
anyway, I'm buying the Pfaff. thanks for the comments.

Good Luck.....know that you can download the instruction book if it is lost. Just google it.

It sounds like you have made a good decision. Enjoy!

Dina

And Lewayne, using that walking foot is so much easier than the ones you have to install when you want/need it. It's there for you all the time. You can engage it or disingage it in a second and carry on with you work. No having to stop and change out the foot when you realize that you need one for something you are sewing and forgot to put it on. It's there .... ready and willing to work right away. Plus you can see what you are working on so much easier than the added on ones. Yes, I am sure by now you can tell that I love this feature. Of course, other machines (Bernina I think) have them now too on the newer machines since Pfaff's patent on them has run its course.

If you don't have the manual, it would be helpful to print one out for the machine. I think this is a free one:
http://www.manualslib.com/products/P...4-2912355.html

Milli, having some trouble reading your yellow print; it's just a blur.

My pfaff is a LEMON, nuttin but trouble, it's less than ten years old, it's a 2048 quilter.