I Sew

I think just about everyone knows about the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog...right? They do a great job with their monthly themes and this month is Sewing Machine Month. Cool! I've got 3 sewing machines so I'm all over it. Anyway, they've got a little meme going on and I thought I might join in on the fun. I love to gush about my PFAFF (no one in my house wants to hear about it, haha).

The Sewing Machine meme

What brand and model do you have? My main workhorse sewing machine is a PFAFF Creative 2144 (it's no longer available, but I think it's most like this one.)

How long have you had it? I've had it just about 3 years now.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)? Ouch, I hate to say it, but I paid around $4,000 for it + another $2k for the software. (Keep in mind, there was a real estate sale involved in the purchase of this machine.)

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)? I sew pretty much everything. Most of the time I'm making quilts, handbags, zipper pouches & that sort of stuff. I used this machine to make my wedding dress and I've also used it for curtains, pillows & such. This machine is also a full embroidery model, but I haven't spent a lot of time on that.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? I sew quite a lot, it's my full time gig. I don't use it every single day right now, but I definitely have in the past.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name? I really love this machine. When I first got it, I was about 3 months away from moving to England. I quickly took every class I could to get myself up to speed, and then left the country with my machine safely crated and on a ship to join me. I had a few problems with it at first because it had been a demo. Once I got it serviced, it ran like a dream. No name, sorry.

What features does your machine have that work well for you? I love, love, love the needle up/down feature, it's by far my favorite thing. I use it constantly. This machine can also tie off and cut the thread when I stop sewing, that's a real help. The built-in walking foot works great too, PFAFF calls it IDT. My wedding dress would have been a bear without that. There are so many great features, I could go on all day...adjustable needle positions, the touch screen, being able to raise and lower the feed dogs, an alert when the bobbin is getting low. Like most nice machines, there are way too many stitches ( I think I use about 3 regularly), but what's cool about this machine is that I can program them myself. I can combine decorative stitches, create my own or add stitches to existing ones. The possibilities are awesome.

Another great feature is that I can upgrade. When PFAFF makes an update to the operating system, I just sync my machine with my computer and I've got new stitches or features. That's a big benefit.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? When I turn it on, the machine goes through a little startup routine and puts the foot down. I know it's not a huge thing, but it does bug me to have to lift it back up every time (am I spoiled?).

The other not-so-good thing is the software that works with the embroidery part of the machine. I'm reasonably competent on a computer and have found this software to be very counter-intuitive and difficult to use. I've spent a lot of time working with it and for the most part have avoided using it. I'd always wanted an embroidery machine, so it's a little disappointing. The embroidery is great, the software is not.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it! My great story relates more to my other machine, a PFAFF Tiptronic 6270. When I got this machine it was a major upgrade for me. I had been sewing on an $89 Brother from Costco for many years before I picked up this machine. The features blew me away and I wanted to put a sticker on my car that said, "Ich liebe mein PFAFF" (I love my PFAFF). I was beside myself. What made that machine even more special though was that my grandpa lent me the money to buy it (about $1,500). My grandpa passed away not long after I got it, so it means a lot to me. I don't think I'll ever part with it. Thanks, Grandpa!

Behold, PFAFF #1

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? I would if they wanted to spend a lot of money and were planning on using it a lot. It's a lot of sewing machine. I'd definitely recommend PFAFF, though I don't really think any of the higher end brands are any better than another. I just happen to have PFAFFs.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine? Price, reputation, features, how easy it is to thread and change/wind a bobbin. I think it depends on what the machine will be used for and how often.

Do you have a dream machine? I believe that I currently own my dream machine, but I used to dream of getting an overlock/serger.

Then I became the proud owner of this Huskylock 905 from Husqvarna Viking (they're actually the same company as PFAFF now, I think). This machine is such a time-saver, I love it. It was an incredibly generous gift.

So, that's it for my sewing machine collection. I hope I haven't talked too much about my babies. hehe