I got a new sewing machine
If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram this is old news, but I got a sewing machine! I actually got it a while back, in late December. I held off on posting here about it because I wanted to actually use it before sharing my likes and dislikes.
What I like about my Pfaff Expression 3.0
- The stitches. With my old Brother machine I was constantly fighting with the tension to get the perfect stitch (and it rarely happened).
- The needle placement can be adjusted to the left or right. It's been useful when installing zippers!
- There is an option to leave the needle down or up when you stop sewing. If it's in the needle down mode and you want the needle temporarily up a quick pedal press brings the needle back up.
- Tons of decorative stitches for future quilts. One of my goals is to quit stitching in the ditch and use the pretty options available.
- Storage compartments built into the machine for storing bobbins and presser feet.
- I never realized how much I needed a built in walking foot, but it makes a huge difference. Do you ever come to the end of a seam and see that one piece of fabric is slightly longer than the other? The lady that showed me the machine explained that with a walking foot this was less likely to happen. She was right.
- There is a three step zig zag stitch that I love.
- The space is amazing. The arm is long which was so helpful when I was working on my last quilt.
What I don't like about the machine
- The manual that came with it doesn't give a lot of info on how to use all features. Maybe this is common, but I was hoping that for the money I spent on the machine that it would come with a thorough booklet. I know that I can take a class to learn it all, but the classes are offered on weekday afternoons and that doesn't work for me.
- If I cut the thread and don't leave a long enough tail it slips through the needle really easily and I have to rethread. I can't just stick the thread through the needle though, I have to completely rethread everything.
Some of the features listed above may be old news to you guys, but they were new to me! Granted, my last machine was pretty basic, so almost anything is an upgrade :) I'm not currently using it to it's full potential, I still have a LOT to learn. So far I'm in love.
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What a beauty! Doesn't it make such a huge difference when you don't have to adjust the tension constantly. That's one of my biggest pet peeves.
ReplyDeleteShe's gorgeous! I hope you continue to have lots of fun together. :-D
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you finally posted about your new machine! I've heard good things about Pfaffs. Also, my machine will also do the thread-slips-through-the-needle thing, but I solved it by always leaving my needle in the heading down position (that's definitely not the technical term!) when I'm moving between seams. That way the machine doesn't need to pull the tail up as its getting ready to start. I'm surprised your needle up position doesn't take that into account. My machine is not fancy enough to have any presets like that, so I wouldn't know! Anyway, enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I have the Pfaff a couple steps below this one, and I don't have trouble with it coming unthreaded, but I always hold my thread tails at the beginning of a seam because that was how I was taught. You might try that?
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, the manual for these machines pretty much sucks--the "accessories catalog" for mine was the same thickness as the one that was supposed to tell me how to operate the machine.
You'll have to let me know how you like the buttonholes on actual garments (as opposed to samples). Mine are pretty terrible, but you do have the more expensive model, so it should theoretically work better.
Congrats on your new machine! Smooth sewing makes such a difference! Too bad about the unthreading needle.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the manual! But I pretty much love everything else about mine :)
ReplyDeleteI hate that long thread tail thing! My machine does that too! I even try to hold it and it just weasels right through my fingers! grrrrr!
ReplyDeleteSimply amazingly gorgeus... you are going to rock with it!!! I am so happy for you!!!
ReplyDeleteYay, new machine! Glad you're loving it!
ReplyDeleteOoooh new machine!! Thanks for the thoughts - it's always great to hear what others think of their machines, ya know, for future purchases.... ;)
ReplyDeleteI have the same problems with my machine as you do yours. Every time I have to re-thread, I am pretty sure bad things spill out of my mouth. I am currently struggling with my "automatic" button holer, and the instruction booklet sucks.
ReplyDeleteI aspire to a Pfaff but I recently bought a computerized Kenmore off Kijiji and I find the manual isn't that informative either. My 1970s Kenmore came with an amazing manual....Maybe they figure we can get the info elsewhere but it is an odd oversight by the manufacturer
ReplyDeleteI looked up some videos on YouTube, but I'm a print gal, I love books, manuals, etc. It bums me out that there aren't instructions included :(
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry Carlee :(
ReplyDeleteAre you in the market for one?
ReplyDeleteIn love! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carla. It was my biggest sewing purchase to date, but a good one!
ReplyDeleteAww man. I feel you!
ReplyDeleteThe whole reason I looked into Pfaff was because you loved yours so much!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, smooth sewing makes SUCH a difference!
ReplyDeletehaahah I know exactly what you mean about the accessories manual!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've done one buttonhole so far and it came out ok, granted I am far from being an expert, buttonholes are new to me. Do you have the foot attachment that plugs into your machine? That tripped me out!
I'm going to have to try leaving the needle down, thats a good idea and hopefully an easy fix. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle. I think we are on our way to becoming BFFs :)
ReplyDeleteOh, it's such an amazing difference. The tension on my last machine was so bad that it was embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteNope, the plug-in thing didn't come with my machine, I just got the old school slider foot and a thin sheet of metal that slides in the back of the free arm...hard to describe. But I think I've seen something similar to what you describe on a Bernina I test drove, and it IS kind of trippy.
ReplyDelete