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Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Sheila Squires — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:02:26 GMT

Singer, Viking and Husquvarna are all the same company now. The german made machines are still in high demand and their prices reflect it. I have several Pfaffs, including the 2170 and they all do a good job. The 7570 is still the workhorse of them all though.

Having a pfaff dealer that is customer friendly and willing to work with you is a must. One that doesn't care where you bought your machine but is willing to do service is like platinum, rare and precious. I have to say that if I ever decide to get a new machine I will be switching brands for the want of someone to service. Right now I don't need that from a dealer, but to upgrade I would.

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Kris — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:40:41 GMT

Is,

Sashiko is a Japanese stitch traditionally done by hand. The Sashiko machine is used to make this stitch only. I think it's expensive for what it does. Not very versatile. I've also heard complaints about the appearance of the stitches on the back side of the work.

I live near a Babylock dealer and this has not been a popular machine.

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

ls2116 — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 05:23:47 GMT

Thanks for the heads up on these machines as I'm looking for a new addition to my sewing family. Has anyoone used a sashiko?

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Cindy — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:22:46 GMT

Well,

I decided I just could not tolerate the problems anymore and traded in my Pfaff 2.0 for a Bernina 750 with a stitch regulator. What a dream of a machine. I had started stitching in the ditch with the Pfaff prior to trading it in. Once I got the Bernina I was able to reduce the pressure foot pressure (which I could not do with the Pfaff 2.0) and with the built in walking foot on the Bernina was able to stitch in the ditch and not get those annoying puckers when crossing over another seam. also did lots of free motion quilting using the stitch regulator and loved it. The only time I had problems was right after winding a new full bobbin, the thread would get hung up on the bottom, but it was easily cleared. Since then I try to stop winding the bobbin before it gets completely full. Only time had thread break was when the spool was down very low and the thread got stuck on the spool! Even using the 'poor quality' thread (which the Pfaff repair man had told me was causing the problems with my Pfaff) I did not have any problems and no skipped stitches. Even my husband realized I was much happier and he did not hear any swearing coming from the sewing room!

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Kris — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:24:57 GMT

Annie:
I have 4.0 and have trouble only sometimes. I swear, I can't figure out a common denominator. My final conclusion: walk away and come back to it after a day.

Annie,

I get that with my Pfaffs and my Babylock (not computerised). Coming back another day usually works. Maybe they just need a rest every now and then.

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

L Kohl — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:08:29 GMT

I have 2 Pfaff machines I inhereted from my mother. 1 is a 130 - the old all mechanical parts metal head workhorse. It mends jeans without blinking. The other is a model 1170 - one of the last electronic models made by the original german company. I have drooled over the embroidery machines and had thought I would want a Pfaff. I was talking to owner/repair person at a local shop and he said the Pfaffs were a piece of junk. He used to be an authorized Pfaff repairman but he gave up his authentication. Since Viking bought Pfaff the quality was no longer there. His opinion Babylock is the best. Having the most bells and whistles does not make the most reliable.

As for the skipped stitches, broken needles,etc. According to everything I've read about FMQ some machines have more problems than others. In some cases certain brands can be fussy about the threads used and generally there can be problems when changing direction especially at speed. Changing from forward to backward is when the most problems can occur - broken needles and/or thread, tangles on the bottom. The recommendations I have read are to slow down when you change from forward to backward, and avoid making abrupt changes of direction.

I have only done one small piece and being my first experience I was rather nervous. But I only had a couple of days to get it done in. I had problems at first - broken thread, lots of thread tangles - but as I got the feel of it the problems went away. I think for me it was just a matter of getting over the learning curve. I was doing a lot changing direction - quilting star shapes and quilting around printed forms. In the end I think I did a pretty good job. The flaws didn't matter - the piece was for a toddler, who didn't know the difference and loved it for what it was.

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Annie — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:23:17 GMT

Cindy,

I have 4.0 and have trouble only sometimes. I swear, I can't figure out a common denominator. My final conclusion: walk away and come back to it after a day. I did that just this weekend and I went from breaking 5 needles, thread breaking ever few minutes to everything working perfectly and all I did was turn the darn thing off an leave it for a day. There may be something to turning it off and allowing it to restart with it's settings, kind of like rebooting your phone or computer.

I also thought that spray basting instead of using pins makes the needle a little gummy. But then all worked well the next day !! Then I thought I sprayed heavier in some areas and that caused the problem. Then I thought maybe leaving the quilt sandwich sit too long after spray basting could be a problem. So as you can figure by now, I have no idea why it works one day and not the next.

Hope you find out and then let me know :)

Thanks for letting me vent .

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

TxGal — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 05:15:26 GMT

Cindy,

I don't have the Expression, but I bought my LAST Pfaff (2027 model) in 2007. I wanted a simple machine to take to classes and for travel. I THOUGHT I was getting a great deal after the quilt show here but boy, was that machine a LEMON ! I never thought to check either, since I thought ALL Pfaffs were German-made. "German Engineering" ... BAH ! Turns out, mine was made in Czechoslovakia !! Pfaff was bought by the parent company of Viking and initially most were made in Sweden. Then they shipped manuf. to China. Since then, from most I've heard, the quality has truly gone downhill, and quickly. I have several friends who had their Expressions replaced or repaired numerous times and only 2 I know STILL have them. Both are still having problems with stitching quality and FMQ. Really, really sad ...

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Kris — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 08:28:08 GMT

Nancy P :

Thanks Kris,

I will ask the repair people tomorrow when I see them! Is 3-4 yrs ago part of the first batches? Appreciate the info...

You're welcome. Not sure how far back they go. When I bought mine they told me some parts were updated as customers complained.

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Kris — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 08:26:12 GMT

Cindy:

Kris, The 2.0 does not have a sensor on it. What other brand of machine do you have?

Cindy,

the machine doesn't have a sensor (than I can see anyway). The setting is just called "Sensormatic Free Motion)". Not sure how it works but the foot hovers when I go fast and sets down when I slow down.

My quilting machine is a Babylock QCP. I use it on a frame purchased together). I think this model is discontinued.

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Cindy — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 04:37:27 GMT

Kris, The 2.0 does not have a sensor on it. What other brand of machine do you have?

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Cindy — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 04:33:51 GMT

I purchased mine almost 3 years ago and so it could be the problem with poor quality; I called an independent repair shop and learned that Pfaff was having quality control problems are are now made in China vs Germany. I thought mine was a German made machine, on the front of the machine it states 'German Engineering" but on the bottom (which I just learned) it has a tag that says made in China ! Kind of like a bait and switch..... I feel as if it is just a problem with the free motion as I was using the same thread and needle to stitch in the ditch and do some gentle curve quilting on the same quilt top without any problems. Back to the repair shop I go in the morning.

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Nancy P — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 01:10:43 GMT

Thanks Kris,

I will ask the repair people tomorrow when I see them! Is 3-4 yrs ago part of the first batches? Appreciate the info...

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Kris — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 00:08:20 GMT

Nancy P,

I think there was something wrong in the first batches that were made. I know the take up lever was replaced because the thread would slip off it. Mine is OK but I love my Creative 2170 a whole lot better.

Re: Pfaff problems and free motion quilting

Nancy P — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 23:51:51 GMT

I have a Pfaff 4.0 Expressions that is now at the shop for the 2nd time in 3 months. I thought it was just me doing something stupid like not winding the bobbin right or threading it wrong, because it was skipping stitches. Now it doesn't even pick up the bobbin thread! And it doesn't sew straight either (thought that was me too!) You all have made me feel a little better about my stupidity level about sewing (I'm relatively new at it!). Is there really something wrong with some of these machines? Mine is about 3 yrs old....