I purchased the Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0 on 8/12/08 and immediately started using it. I do all my piecing and binding on the machine (quilting on a Mega Quilter) and so far it has done 15 quilts and started piecing #16 (holy cow!). For reference sake, my previous machine was a Pfaff 2134. There was nothing wrong with the 2134 but since I was doing so much quilting, some of the features that the 4.0 had made it very appealing.
Pros
– Dual lights. Especially since I do so much of my sewing in the evenings.
– The presser foot can be controlled by the foot pedal.
– IDT (previous machine had it too but is definitely a plus if you’re coming from another brand)
– Needle down/foot up option. Great for chain piecing and appliqué.
– Large foot pedal. Never thought this would be a pro or con, but it’s actually really nice.
– I like the tie-off style of this machine better than the 2134.
– Low bobbin indicator. The 2134 had one but never worked properly.
– It cuts your threads for you!
– Dual tension plates for the needle thread and bobbin thread. If you’ve ever wound a bobbin without taking your needle thread out first, you’ll appreciate this!
Cons
– Sewing with the included 1/4″ foot is horrible.
Problems include:
– fabric is ‘eaten’ by the machine at the beginning of every seam
– fabric tends to veer off to the left (leaving you with 1/8″ or 1/16″ crooked seams)
– the machine has a hard time sewing over thick seams (think the middle of a kaleidoscope or while attaching binding strips when you have binding+backing+batting+top with seams). The IDT doesn’t help and you have to tug a bit by the back of the machine to get it over the hump.
– The top fabric tends to bunch and become unaligned with the bottom fabric (even with IDT).
– The bobbin is top loading. That alone isn’t really a problem but they designed the bobbin cover so that it could be removed without removing the free-arm part but in the process of that, they made a dip right before you reach the needle and it will flip all your seams that you have so neatly arranged (hopefully that all makes sense).
– Second thread spool holder is not nearly tall enough (that’s pretty minor but I usually sew with two spools of thread – one going to the needle and the second to wind bobbins so I don’t have to rethread every time.
Ok, so yes, those are some pretty significant cons.
The bobbin cover just downright annoys me. I’m hoping they’ll come out with a table that I could use instead (or perhaps a new free arm?). Honestly, I would have preferred to remove the free arm to change my bobbin than how they did it. When you have you seams set and then they go through this hump/dip they flip. Every time. This is however a deal-withable problem.
The stitching problems are just downright ridiculous BUT THERE IS AN EASY FIX!
Basically, you need to buy a new 1/4″ foot. I’m not sure if the style I bought 2 years ago for the 2134 are still made but I certainly hope so. Sean and I both examined the feet and cannot see anything that would make the foot that comes with the machine stitch so badly. But it does. I pulled the old 1/4″ foot off of my 2134 and all of these problems disappeared. Put the new foot back on and all the problems reappeared.
Some pictures (please pardon my linty cutting mat). You can click on them for larger versions.
The bobbin dip.
The styles are different but none of these changes seem like it would cause these problems.
I oversharpened the next image to make sure the stitches were visible (I should have used black thread!). In the fabric on the left the machine initially ‘ate’ the fabric and then tried to recover and the fabric veered to the left. I never could hold and guide the fabric to prevent this. The fabric on the right when straight in and has even stitches. Both of these were fed in in the needle down/foot up scenario since that’s how I feed almost all of my fabrics for chain piecing.
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So that’s that. Why does the foot cause so many problems? Really, I have no idea. I think it’s rather silly to have to buy an additional 1/4″ quilting foot for a quilting machine to stitch properly. But at least it’s fixable right?
Hopefully I got all my pros and cons in. I’m sure there are more so feel free to ask questions if you have any.
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UPDATE! January 2009
I’m still having a horrible time with this machine. Fabric is still being eaten, though not as often since I switched feet. It still doesn’t sew straight. Whenever I go over a thick set of seams (not huge, but quilts get like that sometimes, ya know?) it doesn’t go over them and the stitch length regularity is horrible. The thread cutter is horrible. It keeps telling me there are jams when there are no jams at all. I’ve disassembled everything when it does this and there is never actually a jam. You just have to sit there and press the middle button over and over until it finally lets you sew. So frustrated. I wonder who I could sell it to? I truly have buyer’s remorse at this point. I figured it just had some quirks and I would get used to them but this is totally unacceptable for a Pfaff at this price.
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I belong to a quilt guild that makes numerous community quilts for local charities. Today, we were instructed to bring our machines and a walking foot to quilt the three layers. Since my Pfaff QE4 supposedly has the equivalant with it’s IDT, I assumed that it would work just fine.
Our instructions were to use a serpentine stitch along all of the seams of the quilt sandwich. To my surprise, my top layer eased forward as though I didn’t even have the IDT engaged. I tried lowering my presser foot tension, increasing my presser foot tension, lowering my regular tension, and about everything else that my cohorts suggested, to no avail.
Does anyone know what I am doing wrong? I just can’t find the right combination of adjustments to make this simple stitch work on two layers of good quality material with fairly thin batting in the middle.
Janet
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Janet, you mention you have not engaged your idt function. There is the problem. The walking foot and idt are designed to duplicate the action of the feeddogs on top of the quilt to feed the layers through as one. Without idt or walking foot the presser foot will push the top layer along ahead of the bottom. This happens with all machines to more or less an extent but loosening the presser foot pressure does not solve the problem. Neither will tension adjustments because that’s just controlling the way the top and bottom thread interact. You really just need to engage idt or use a walking foot, and pinning here and there is a good idea too.
Cheers,
Stephanie -
Janet, forgive my blindness, I misread you message not once but twice! I see you mention you had the effect of not having your idt engaged despite having it engaged. I wonder if it was fully engaged? Does it work well on other things? If it is not right under the presserfoot at the back then its not completely engaged.
If the batting was especially slippery that can make things harder and if you haven’t pinned at all that will make it difficult too.
Cheers,
Stephanie -
Great reading all your comments. I too bought a EQ 4.0 I have had a few problems but just returned from my local Pfaff dealer. The problem was both me and the machine. I found my main problem was the thread coming off of the last uptake on the top. My dealer repair guy (He is great) put a small shrink wrap tube on this uptake and now the thread stays put… I also had a problem with the thread cutter and he replaced the blade… he said some of the blades are a little short?? I don’t know why there is a difference in sizes but that’s what he said… he also said he sometimes has added a little bead..filler behind the blade to push it out a little further so it cuts better. On my part of the problem… I have to slow down and hear the click of the thread going into the bobbin tension and remember the extra upwards loop and also make sure the thread is fully in the uptake lever… Hope this makes sense to all. I too was told to get a single hole throat plate to make piecing better. Iris
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awe
I’m hoping your having better luck with your machine! I stumbled across your blog through your patterns on etsy, I’m buying one right now but had to post on this! I just upgraded my Pfaff in October, this was before I quilted, I went from a basic Pfaff to the Pfaff Performance 2058. Holyyyy smokes. I wanted to love this machine but I just HATED it. It was sewing crooked and no matter what, the bobbin tension was off. I brought it to a local dealer before Christmas and just got it back…last week. Yup. How crazy is that! They said that Pfaff isn’t doing so hot on the business front, everything is backordered and outsource, it took that long just to get a new bobbin housing I can totally relate to machine problems but now that its back, I’m becoming happier with it! It won’t take the place of my work machine, but I’m liking it for quilting! I was thisclose to trying to trade it in for the 4.0! sheesh. I’m sorry for leaving you a whole paragraph 
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Thanks for this blog. I am tempted by the big throat to buy me a QE 4.0. I started quilting three years ago and use a Pfaff 947 a friend gave. It works great, but I would like to have more features – first of all IDT.
I live in Germany not far from the Pfaff location. November 2008 I was at a fair and saw the new Expression line. The dealer reffered the model expression 2.0 model to me, even though I was looking at the QE4.0????
This dealer is located right next to the Pfaff company and as far as I can tell is very linked to it. In fact they do all the warranty service on Pfaff machines. I will go to this dealer in the next few days and look at the expression line machines. Maybe he has some infos/solutions on your complaints – he better has, because if I buy, he can sell four machines at the same time. I am looking forward to this meeting, since I would love to have the QE4.0 – but I am not willing to throw away my money.
Irene -
I have news about fMQ using thicker threads on the Pfaff QE4.0. Use a thread stand, a Jeans number 90 and the decorative bobbin case, not the one supplied with the machine and the optional spring freemotion foot. You can adjust the tension spring in the decorative bobbin case to adjust for different thicknesses of threads, quite easily with the little screwdriver that comes with it. I’ve been using King Tut 40 and Mettler 40 weight machine quilting cotton in it and it was fine except for a couple of skipped stitches using a Quilting number 90 needle. I’ve not had skipped stitches until this quilt, different batting though. Turns out to be the Quilting needle, its eye is too narrow for some 40 weight threads bug not others! I switched to a Jeans 90 and the problem I’d had seemed resolved. So I am tending to think it is a combination of the needle used and having that little bit of extra space for the thread to move in the bobbin case without being a tight squeeze that makes the difference.
Talked to my dealership people and their advice is definitely use a needle with a more slotted eye than the quilting needle such as Jeans and Topstitch and even look into teflon coated needles which work better if you have slightly furrier thread, such as the Mettler. And they also said to be very, very pedantic in following the threading guide down to the way the spool is loaded on the spool pin, as with thicker threads the QE4 is fussy about this. A thread stand ( they are cheaply available) eliminates this problem and will let you use the larger more economical cones of quilting thread too.
Thought there might be people out there interested to know. Incidentally I’ve not had any issues FMQ with finer threads and the regular bobbin case. -
It seems to me that thread is a Pfaff problem. I FMQ a few big quilts on my friends Grand Quilter from Pfaff. When I used Star thread #50 it worked fine, but every time I used King Tut #40 the thread broke. Lowering the bobbin tension several times and switching to a Denim needle finally solved the problem.
My 947 also had problems with the cotton thread, since a friend gave it to me last year – I had it serviced and took the cotton thread along to the mechanic. He adjusted the machine to the thread now it is perfect.
A friend of mine bought the coverlock 4874 last year and has a hard time with it, because the machine will always skip stitches in two certain programs. The mechanic who fixed my machine told her, that the Pfaff company adjust their machines to Gütermann threads in the production line. Using a lower or different quality thread can cause malfunctions in some programs. Thank you for all your infos, Stephanie. -
Hello, I’m new at this, but here goes. I just bought a 4.0 on Friday and asked the Pfaff lady about some of the complaints I read here earlier. Well, being that I was aware of a few problems listed here, I was ready for anything once I got home with mine. I was soooooo frustrated on Sat. that I felt like I had made a mistake buying this machine. I too had a problem with the feed dogs not picking up the fabric, (especially if you chain piece) and it seemed to pucker up the fabric and vere off to the left leaving a smaller seam to the right at the end of the seam with my piecing. It was like the IDT wasn’t working properly unless I put would butte up my fabric to needle before sewing and I had to really hold on to the fabric until it fed through. Well………I worked with it until I finished my block I was piecing. I called the Pfaff lady at the quilt shop and she talked me through some things to do and it took care of the problem!!!…I am happy dancing now! If anyone is still having these problems I wanted to share what she told me, which is: Use your 0A foot, change the needle position to red line to the right on the foot, which is a quarter inch….it may be on that line or close to it. Just test it (measure your seam too) and find your right neeled position. Problem solved and my fabric is picked up nicely with the feed dogs now! The other 1/4″ feet are too narrow to reach the feed dogs and won’t pick up the fabric. HTH’s someone out there! BTW……my FMQ with the Sensormatic works wonderful!
Debbie -
Hello, how I wished I discovered this blog and other comments on Pfaff machine before I took the plunge on buying the Performance 2058. I totally dislike this machine the moment I took it home. Imagine that this TOL and costly machine can’t even sew straight stitches with proper tension at all. I threaded the upper tension and bobbin thread with contrasting colour and discovered the bobbin tension is overly tight. I am very new in adjusting bobbin tension and learnt it from other websites on adjusting it. It is slightly better now but some top thread can still be seen on the underside of fabric. Besides all these, the bobbin case is quite sensitve if it is not inserted properly and this is also done properly and extra care. Lastly, the bobbin winder is a total disaster. I don’t remember how many times I have to wind the thread to the bobbin and hold on to the thread and stepping on the foot pedal does not move the bobbin at all!!!!! And finally, when it moves, it took ages to get it filled!! I totally and strongly discourage anyone from buying this machine as it’s like throwing your good and hard earned money away.
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I’ve had my new Pfaff QE4.0 for a couple of weeks now, and am so disappointed and frustrated. I expected to love it. I can live with little quirks, but it doesn’t FMQ, and for an expensive Pfaff, sold chiefly for that purpose, that’s not good enough. I happily FMQed on my Pfaff 6270 for years, but wanted more space. But whenever I try FMQing on this, the needle manages to hit the shuttle that spins around the bobbin – even though it shouldn’t reach it. Each time, it instantly bluntems the needle, and then of course skips stitches. I’ve had it at the dealer twice. Yesterday they had a good look, agreed it was hitting, checked the timing and told me it was fine. OK then, so why is it hitting? They say it’s because I’m FMQing too slowly. Now, I had been going a little slower than my usual flat-out, getting famimiar with the new machine, but really, that’s not good enough. Sometimes I need to go slowly. I notice no-one else has mentioned the needle hitting something – am I the only one?
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Such useful comments. Thanks all. The QE4 is a great machine and I love it. Just a tip that you might find useful.
I too was having the thread (particularly fine like YLI silk and monofilament) ‘jump’ out of the top take up lever when I used the auto cutter. I got sick of re-threading the machine time and time again. I deduced that the cutting motion released the tension, and – bingo – out it jumped. I solved the problem by taking off the tiny plastic tube from the arm of an old pair of specs, and slotting it over the top take-up tension lever (cutting off surplus) thus causing a barrier to stop the thread jumping out. All is now well with any thickness of thread. I hope this makes sense, and anyone with the same problem finds it useful. -
Emma,
it is possible you could be actually pulling and bending the needle onto the plastic bobbin case if you are running the machine fast and trying to FMQ.
Check also that you have the bobbin case properly seated in its required position. I’ve never had a problem with my Qe4 but did see a student once bend a needle and hit her own bobbin case on another machine by sewing way too slow and moving her hands fast-she bend the needle so far it touched the edge of the bobbin case and broke the top off the needle!
If you have burred the needle and know you have hit the plastic bobbin case then you should change the needle right away, as a burred needle can also cause skipped stitches.
Hope that is helpful. -
Hi Emma,
Comes of me posting late at night, tired brain and eyes, but first sentence above should read “….if you are NOT running the machine fast and trying to FMQ” Whoops! Slow speed and fast hands can lead to needles bending into all sorts of unnatural places.
Some people try to fmq very slowly and yet move their hands at the relatively faster speed they see others do (when they are running their machines faster). If you run the machine very slowly your hands should be creeping along…to match the speed of the motor, does that make sense?
Did you demonstrate your quilting technique in front of the store mechanic, they may have suggestions to make that could help. -
Greetings from Canada Eh?
I purchased the Pfaff QE 4 on March 3, 2009 after reading this blog and discussing the problems with my local Pfaff dealer. I collect sewing machines and have been using the same dealer for 23 years. He told me if I had any problems at all that he would make it right even if that meant refunding my money and taking the machine back.I have been sewing with my Husqvarna 500 since 1997. I love this Husqvarna so much I kept it and still use it, but have always wanted the IDT unique to Pfaff.
My Pfaff QE4 was made in China much to the surprise of the dealer as it was his understanding they were manufactured in Sweden. I took a demo home and tried it for one weekend in Feb. Not a single thing wrong with it.
I bought a new QE4 in a box that worked beautifully about 20 hours. I made half a dozen cafe curtains which involved about 90 button holes to put the rings through. The QE4 worked beautifully for the button-holes every one was perfect. I love the auto tie-off and thread cutter. The bartack stitch was perfect. After I finished a queen-size quilt I was fmq with my small Husqvarna, the balance was thrown off for the specialty stitches.
I took this machine back three times for the dealer to reset balance and the third time, he swapped me for the demo machine and put in a call to Pfaff. I have had the demo machine home now for over two weeks sewn one queen size quilt, a dog bed, quilted a wall hanging, quilted some words and did some fancy stitches for a baby’s quilt. The demo machine (also made in China) appears to work flawlessly (knock wood).
I just bought a used Pfaff 7510 from the same dealer last week. My other machines are a 1909 Bernard Stoeway treadle called “The Phoenix” made in Germany, a 127 Singer treadle, an Imperial Husqvarna straight stitch electric machine with the long rod bobbin, a 1940s Domestic Automatic made by White with disks to make fancy stitches, a 1970s Piedmont zigzag machine made for Hudson’s Bay Company and a White Superlock serger.
Most of the time, when my machines don’t make stitches correctly it is operator error. I run a weekly “Stitch n Bitch” in my craft emporium, where we get together to make rag baby quilts, nylon shopping bags, tea-towels, table cloths, dinner napkins, halloween costumes, grad dresses, pjs. clothes and to drink tea. I sew everything from sheer drapes to sheep-skin covers for motor-cycle seats. I put a zipper in my daughter’s motorcycle jacket with a treadle machine because my QE4 would only sew about three stitches before giving me the “motor overload error, please wait one minute”. There was no motor to overload in my treadle.
Emily, do you still have your QE4? Perhaps you got a lemon machine and your dealer should be replacing it or refunding your money.
I am sorry you are having grief with your new toy. It is such a disappointment.
I love you blog and your quilts are fantastic.
Tammy
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Mine is currently at the dealers. Nothing back from them yet.
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Hi Everyone, Well I am considering purchasing the QE 4.0 but am concerned about all the problems you guys are having. i also have a couple questions. First, what size quilt can you quilt (meaning all 3 layers)?
Second, I am currently just doing internet research for a machine as most dealers are over an hour away and if you wouldn’t mind could you tell me what you paid for the machine?
Does the built in walking foot work good?
Has all of you solved your problems with the machine, i.e. skipped stitches, etc.?
I appreciate all your help and info. Thank you in advance for all you help and happy quilting.
Pam -
Pam,
My experience with this QE 4 is to look elsewhere for a machine. I do free motion applique and the thread constantly breaks no matter it’s brand or
the foot I use. It’s never worked correctly. Dealer said he and the repair man went over the machine and it works fine now. He sits down to show me with the spring foot on and all
he gets is broken, shredding thread. It’s still at the shop. He was also working on another one for another lady at the same time. Too much money to spend for a machine that has this many problems. I have a 2058 Pfaff that
just chugs along with hardly a problem. I’m very sorry I bought this Pfaff QE 4. -
Hi Pam,
I just completed a queen size quilt with room to spare on my QE 4 (aka Big Bertha) machine. The extra space is very nice. I also love the duel lights, thread cutter and tie-off features.I have used two different QE 4s. The first one I owned had problems when sewing the fancy stitches (the balance was off). After three attempts to adjust the balance, my Pfaff dealer took that machine back and gave me the demo machine I used before I bought. The demo machine works very well, with no problems at all. (knock wood). I am not sorry I bought the QE 4, even though my new toy did not work properly right out of the box.
There are so many machines to choose from, I also considered the Husqvarna Saffire and the Janome 6600p. I bought the QE 4 for the larger stitches (9mm versus 7mm) and IDT. Test them out first and see what fits best for you.
Have fun sewing machine shopping.
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Emily, Did you ever get your QE4 back? My dealer is giving me a new one
because he can’t fix the other one. Apparently there are new updates for that
machine now to solve some of the problems. Was that your first Pfaff?
My others have been great. -
No, it’s still at the shop. It’s been over a month now. I have a 2134 as well which works so much better but it’s starting to have some problems. It would really benefit from a cleaning but that would mean giving up the machine for a couple weeks which I just can’t do. I wish they had a better scheduling system for maintenance because I can’t just leave it there indefinitely.
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Ahh, I’m going to report my QE4.0 is skipping stitches occasionally even with a decorative bobbin case , topstitch or jeans needle and 40 weight Signature and 40 weight Superior King Tut thread and also the 40 weight Mettler machine quilting threads, whilst my other machine will fmq happily with these except not Signature. The QE4.0 has been fine up until recently. Nothing else different in quilting style, or materials to before. Just like its decided to stamp its little foot and throw a tantrum.
It will fmq fine with thinner threads, lovely stitches, just not the thicker stuff. It does sew straight lines with the feed dogs up with heavy thread ok. Mind you that is slower for me than when I fmq, and I am beginning to wonder if the thread is jumping out of the takeup lever whilst I sew-because that would certainly cause skipping stitches or jams. Everything else about the machine is fine and working to perfection.
I am just a little annoyed to put it mildly. So now I simply don’t ask it to play with heavy threads, it is not worth the grief and the time spent unpicking. But otherwise I still like my machine.
My mechanic has told me there is an update to some part or other -he thinks in the takeup lever department- so when that comes through I’ll have it done and see if it helps. Lucky for me it is not the machine I specifically bought to do FMQ or I’d be very, very upset.My back-up machine for fmq and for stitch regulated fmq , will be my Bernina 440QE which is on layby now and almost paid off. That baby sewed beautifully with anything I put in it, and I know of many others who are completely and totally in love with their Auroras. it may not have dual feed, but it sews so beautifully and I can’t wait to bring it home.
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Hi everyone !
Just got back from buying the Pfaff Q4… I am scared to death to open the box. Should I take it back to the dealer before getting it out…
I have a Janome 6500 but I wanted the Bernina BSR440 but when I went to a dealer I did nt really like it. The stiches did nt look as even as I tought they would so I had decided to keep the 6500 and went to the Janome dealer to get a second free motin foot but she showed me the Pfaff Q4 with the IDT so I left with this machine wich was heavier than the free motion foot for the 6500 wich she bought from me. I am suppose to bring the Janome 6500 to her in the morning but I really wonder if I should nt bring her the Pfaff Q4 instead…Thanks so much for your comments. I read everything about the Bernina before but i read nothing about the Paff… I am so addicted…
Lynda
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Lynda,
Did your Janome 6500 work good? I assume you’re trading it in. I was going to trade my Pfaff 2058 for the QE4 but changed my mind when I saw
what a disappointment that machine was. I’d for sure try out that QE4 before I let the other machine go. The dealer is getting me another QE4
but I’m afraid it’s not going to be any better than the other one was.
If Pfaff has to update this machine so soon, you know there’s a problem with it. I’ve learned to appreciate my old machines through this experience.
Good Luck to you. -
Thanks for each of your comments. I am looking to purchase the QE 4.0 from the PFAFF UK website. PAYPAL is not offered.
They are a little over 1,000.00 plus shipping which is approx. $69.00. In the U.S they are @ $2,000.00
What are your comments?Willie
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I’ve had my QE4 for several months now. I’m interested to see the solutions to the thread jumping off the uptake bar as I am thoroughly fed up with this. I’ll try to adapt my machine to fix the problem.
I actually love my machine and spend a lot of time on it. I have made a few small quilts and found the IDT worked very well. I have bought a new foot plate to avoid losing pieces down the wide hole of the one which comes with the machine. I love the tying off option, which takes all the threads through to the back of the work. I love the option to have the needle down when I stop.
I did try some FMQ but as a learner I found the machine frustrating as the thread broke at every inch.
Some very useful comments on this thread thank you every one. Incidentally my machine cost £970 from a website which just happened to be my local Pfaff dealer!
Happy quilting.
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So I got my machine back on Friday (after a month or so). The 2134 was having some problems and I was hoping the QE 4.0 would be all fixed and sewing perfectly so I could use that. Well, in reality, the QE 4.0 is still sewing horribly. Totally unacceptable. I tried my best for 1.5 quilts but it’s now in the closet. I have no idea what to do with it.
The dealer isn’t much help as they think the machine is fine and were shocked to hear I was having problems with it (and quite defensive too… and were also upset that I wrote this blog post in the first place). So I have two machines and neither of them works well — especially for how much they cost — and no money to go get something that does work and I have a LOT of sewing to do. The dealer also mentioned to Sean that I was using the machines too much and they weren’t made for this much sewing (nevermind the fact that the QE 4.0 didn’t work straight out of the box) and tried to sell him a new machine that could handle the number of hours I put on them. Right. -
You and I are having the same kind of time with our QE4. I go to pick up the
new replacement machine. The lady is sewing with it to make sure it’s okey.
She has it in free motion and the thread is jamming and breaking. Some pretty good bird’s nests on the back too. Talk about a run around. I’m getting one too. Never, ever feel bad about this blog. I think ladies should
know how bad this machine is so they don’t end up stuck with it like we are.
I’m going to demand my money back. I did put it on a credit card. I hope this helps. I’ve owned this machine for a month
and half, tried to sew on it for 10 minutes and it’s been down at the shop most of the
time. Pfaff dealers are now having to defend a product they know has major
problems. My Pfaff 2020 and 2058 have done hours and hours of sewing
with few if any problems. I get this sick feeling in my stomach knowing
I’ve spent this much money on a bad product.
I bought your Rocker quilt pattern on Etsy. -
Emily I’m so sorry yours has turned out to be such a nasty machine.
Its rubbish for the dealership to say a machine is not cut out to do as much sewing as you do…I uses domestic machines in a commercial business quilting for others, piece truckloads of tops, make the odd garment, or home dec item and have never had my dealer berate me for sewing too much with any of the machines I’ve bought from them. And not one has blown up or failed from overuse either.
It might be different if you were using the machine in a sweat shop with around the clock use, at high speed, with little maintenance. But honestly how can they say that even one or two quilts a week is too much sewing?
If you were doing 5 tops a day, King sized, every day of the year, it might be different, but I don’t know anyone who does that much sewing!Maybe it would be worth trying to sell the machine locally or trade it against something else even if you have to travel some distance and go to another dealership to avoid the people who are giving you a hard time?
If your other Pfaff truly is giving you grief maybe you could trade both machines on a more reliable machine.
Alternatively you could contact Pfaff directly and go over the head of the dealership you bought from…let them know how unhappy you are, and ask nicely for their help in resolving the issues you have. Let them know you are not finding the dealership in your local area of help and you might be surprised at their response. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know if they could be helpful.
Alternatively sell the machine that annoys you the most, keep the one you like best as a back-up, and if you are cash strapped consider a good second hand Pfaff or Husqvarna, Bernina or Singer (some of the vintage Singer ones such as the 200, 300 and even earlier models are real workhorses and aren’t at all expensive-except maybe the Berninas on ebay- to pick up and have serviced). If you are piecing a quilt, even a big one, you really don’t need a large harp. You could try the local charity shops, craigslist, ebay, second hand section of another dealership, newspaper or local quilting groups that might have a sale section in their newsletters, to find a good used machine.
I have a second hand Singer 319k which is a workhorse and does beautiful straight stitching and it sews so smoothly and fast. I also picked up second hand a Singer 201 and whilst it doesn’t sew as fast, its stitching is beautiful too. I know others who are very happy with 185, 99, 66, and some of the 400 range too. Anything basically without nylon gears.Keep your Mega Quilter for fmq with on your frame and if you get truly desperate, pull it off the frame to piece with it (although I have to say mine does have a tendency to push the top layer forwards quite aggressively, I could probably fix it by adjusting the pressure on the foot but haven’t bothered much as I have another machines to piece with).
Let us know what you end up doing-and hats off to you for writing this blog where these issues can be uncovered and hopefully some of them resolved.
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Been keeping a keen eye on this blog … very helpful for everyone. Thank you Emily for starting it and keeping it. We are all very grateful. Emily, we have the protection of the Consumer Guarantee Act here in New Zealand. You may have something similar? It states that a product should perform to its specifications for a reasonable length of time or the consumer has the right to demand a replacement or refund. This protection lasts longer than the Warranty offered by the manufacturer, and a dispute tribunal will consider the complaint you file. You may find that there might be something similar operating in the States.
As for those who have trouble with free motion quilting, have you ever consider taking the bobbin holder out and adjusting the tension. Adjusting the bobbin tension on a top loading machine is no different than adjusting the little screw on an old Bernina bobbin case. Assuming you’ve done all the top tension adjustments you can do, then this might help.. If you tend to get birds nest at the bottom, then the bobbin tension is too loose for free motion (tighten it by turning clockwise, little by little). If your thread breaks a lot, then the bobbin tension is too tight (anticlockwise to loosen). I would mark the screw position before doing that so you can always get back to where you started. Depending on the bobbin thread, I find that I need to adjust the bobbin tension from time to time. And I need to be patient.
Hope this helps.
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I have been thinking about purchasing a Pfaff expression machine for some time now as I would like a machine with more room to manoeuvre. I do a lot of free machining on dissolvable film and some FMQ and dressmaking using an Elna 6003.
Whilst in the Chesterfield area yesterday I had the opportunity to have a play on the Pfaff expression. A couple of times the motor overload message appeared and it kept skipping stitches on both straight stitch and the embroidery stitch I selected. However the sales lady cleaned the bobbin case out and rethreaded the machine and put some stabiliser behind the fabric and it seemed to work OK.
She was offering this machine for £445 which seemed cheap, as the online sites I have looked at are offering it nearer the £1,000 mark and I’m wondering if she has made a mistake, or it’s a different machine or if Pfaff are offloading it quickly before bringing out a new model, particularly after reading all the comments here about the problems with it. I am so glad I came upon this site, (whilst checking out internet prices for this machine) and I think I shall go to the Quilt Festival at the NEC later this month and look at other similar brands, now armed with lots of information to interrogate the sales people with.
I was a little bothered that the machine played up a bit but put that down to me not being used to is, although the ladyseemed to have problems, getting the bobbin case back in properly. I was delighted at the price, but thought I would come home and think about it first. She said she can send the machine to me, although she doesn’t have one in stock it’s on order but I live a 2 hour drive away and I don’t want the hassel of driving from Mid-Wales to Chesterfield if there is a problem with it. I do wonder if all the wonderful features that it has will give future problems/play up as they start to wear out.
I have also considered a megaquilter as I don’t actually use embroidery patterns a great deal, and wonder if a faster straight stitch machine would be better?
I’m very glad I stumbled across this site and thank you to everyone for all your comments.
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I forgot to mention that I often have problems with my Elna 6003 skipping stitches, gobbling the fabric at the beginning of stitching and having a birds nests on the back of the work. This is one of the reasons I thought maybe it’s time I bought a different machine, and was impressed with Pfaff’s claim to it being a family run business etc etc, rather than having being bought out by another company making several brands in China.
I shall by trying some of the tips and hints suggested in some of the posts to rectify the problems I have with the Elna. Maybe I shall just stick with my Elna and get an older second hand work horse that stitches beautifully and hums along!
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Hello everybody,
A couple of weeks ago I bought the pfaff QE4.0.
The first model I brought home was totally screwed up, it didn’t do any of the stitches the way it was supposed to do, some computer problem I suppose.
I brought it back to the dealer and they gave me a new one. That one worked fine luckily. But…
The only thing that I don’t like is that when you sew a little faster than average the machine vibrates way too much. I was wondering does anyone also have this problem?Tanks,
Vivian -
Jane,
The Mega Quilter does wonderful fmq and straight stitches. Way better than those on the Pfaff Qe4.0.
I don’t like to piece with it really-I found it pushed the top layer forwards but maybe just didn’t adjust the pressure on the presser foot enough to compensate enough. Many machines push the top layer of fabric forward when sewing. And it is really just tasked to FMQ in my studio anyway.
But if it is Quilting you are after then I can’t recommend the Mega Quilter enough…its very solid. I use it on a frame but also pull it off and do alot of free hand work by moving the quilt under the needle. It comes with a big extension table but it also fits into the larger Horn cabinets, just!
Its size is wonderful, once you get used to end loading bobbin-which is abit awkward at first-maybe just for me as I have short fingers though- it is very simple to use and very reliable. -
I wish I had found this blog before purchasing my QE4.0. I have all the problems listed here and am totally frustrated. I specifically told the dealer that I wanted a machine to FMQ with and this is what they sold me. At the moment it won’t even straight sew and I am tired of trying to figure out why, so I guess I’ll have to take it in. I think it’s disgusting that we purchase a machine this expensive and then need to buy extra accessories and fiddle with it so much to make it work right.
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Janet I am with you on this one.
Right now I am stitching out a bunch of samples using topstitch 80, and 90 needles, and Jeans 90 needles, on cotton, wool and poly battings with the same weight patchwork fabrics, both plain and pieced.
I’m stitching out different quilting thread brands and making notes of when it skips stitches or breaks threads and what tension settings I have it on and what pivot height with the sensormatic foot the machine is adjusted to for specific battings.
I’m doing it for the spring foot first as that is what i use most, and will be doing it for the sensormatic foot too…and I’ve found that was problematic right from the start even though the demo model worked perfectly.
and if it is still mucking about when I’ve tested all the variables and documented them all I will be taking it to the shop for assessment.
I want to see if there is a specific needle type and brand that it won’t work consistently which would mean a product failure only if those same brands won’t work with my other machines. OR that the Pfaff QE4.0 is extremely fussy and will have specific demands OR that it is faulty.
I will be getting to the bottom of it and if its not right they can fix it under warranty or give me a new machine, for the money this thing has cost it simply has to deliver. I am not going to put up with a sub-parr machine in my studio.
Right now I’m finding inconsistent performance with the machine really only when it is free motion quilting. What it would not do a fortnight ago with the same brand of thread and type of needle it is doing quite happily tonight at some tension settings but not others. Its the inconsistency I find difficult to fathom. My quilting style hasn’t changed significantly in years except to improve technique wise, and I have a pile of ribbons for machine quilting excellence, so I know its not a case of a learning curve or operator error here.At least, by doing these samples I can show the mechanic and shop staff all the samples stitched with the threads they sell and battings they sell and recommend, and give myself the best chance of getting a good outcome whilst its covered under warranty.
Mine has luckily always sewed nice quality stitches for regular sewing but at some of the slow speeds has become abit more jerky than it was when new. I’ve had it since maybe February this year and am less than impressed with the problems its throwing me with fmq. Its foot pedal is also beginning so squeak but the mechanic said it can be tweaked when next in for attention.
The other thing by doing so many detailed samples at different tension settings is I will scientifically be able to determine exactly what makes a difference to the results and quality of stitching so I can re-create the best conditions to suit this extremely temperamental machine. Perhaps its diet is far fussier than other machines from other brands, that will happily deal with the brands I am testing and I just need to find different brands of thread. I’ve just got a truckload of Aurifil 40 and 50 weight which I am also going to try as it is such beautiful thread and has worked well for me in other machines in the past.
If it turns out it will not sew reliably in either fmq set up with every thread that is good quality then at least I’ll have really great ammunition to insist something be done about it at the shop.
And I will add I’m pretty sure this will be the last Pfaff I will ever own unless this problem can be sorted out completely to my satisfaction.
At least it sews straight lines well, does beautiful embroidery and quite nice buttonholes, but its an awful lot of money to pay simply for that considering I bought it for quilting.I pick up my new Bernina Aurora 440QE on Friday if all goes to plan and will look forward to consistent perfect stitches. Once I have it then even if the Pfaff is being assessed for months, it won’t impair my ability to work and I can leave it to the techies to get to the bottom of this,
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I disputed the QE4 purchase on my credit card and the card company removed the charges from my bill. Sent a detailed letter to them listing
dates, conversations, how long I’d waited for the dealer to give me a machine
that actually worked. The dealer told me the problem was I free motion
slowly around small pieces. The truth is that machine won’t free motion
at any speed. My old Pfaffs have been great but I will not be buying another.
Somewhere along the line they fiddled with a good product and lost.
Very disappointing.Stephanie, I hope you’ll let us know how the Aurora 440QE works. That would be the machine I’d try next.
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Pfaff – what an apt name …too much time pfaffing around with the machine, wasting thread and energy ! I own the Quilt Expressions 4 and regret the day I purchased it.
The Owners Manual is not comprehensive enough – you are expected to know how everything works ! – ok, we all know how to sew but each machine is different in one way or another.
First the needle refused to dis-engage when the bobbin was filling ! Techician had to oil something or other – crazy for a brand new machine !
Annoying that the bobbin when full doesnt click back – 9/10 the bobbin continues threading down into the shank ! – grrrrrrr!
Its terribly difficult to thread the machine, but once done (there is an art to it so says my DH) the thread catches on the threader arm, so you have to be careful in releasing it or you’ll run the risk of unthreading the needle.
While threading the machine, the last clip (next to the threader) is difficult to get at.
When sewing it veers off to the left.
When in reverse mode, why on earth does it tend to stitch one forward and then go back and vis versa – one back and then forward !
It doesnt appear to take too much thickness – keeps going into ‘motor overload – wait a minute’ !
God help me when I start to experiment with everything else this ‘fancy machine’ offers ! – So far all, I’ve done is straight sew and zig zag !
For an expensive machine I give the machine a thumbs down ….. sickening thing is that I cant return it and get a refund !
Liz (UK)
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Well I’ve had a full 24 hours with the Bernina 440QE and am madly, deeply and passionately in love! It feels great right from the start for me. It is very solid and precise. When you touch a button the effect of the action is immediate. No extra coasting on for an extra stitch before reverse engages. No pfaffing around with main motor overload message or shaky stitches at slow speeds. It sews stitch after stitch beautifully. I wouldn’t want a finger near that needle either, I know someone who sewed straight through finger and some bone-ouch-but the neelde went straight through that before it broke. The machine happily sewed through all that finger bulk- gross I know- but proves it has good needle penetration.
So far I’ve pieced and applied binding to double thick layer of batting and quitling fabric, no walking foot on and not a single pucker. Also sewn out a few of the decorative stitches. Not a single stitch out of alignment-but then my Pfaff has always managed to sew the decorative stitches beautifully. I am probably lucky in this respect to some of the poor other unfortunates who are gathering here.
The lighting on the Bernina is simply stunning. I was sewing late last night with only a ceiling light and the light from the Aurora 440. Amazing!The instructional manual is good and there is a helpful cd rom training disc with free project ideas and instructions as well as the training component.
Far more extensively written than the Pfaff manual for the QE4 I might add.So far, I couldn’t be happier. It even tells me when it needs oiling (although I have heard not to rely on the timing of the icon as it will probably need more frequent oiling than the 180. 000 stitch intervals it is set to remind the user to oil at. It also tells me if it needs service by the mechanic. No other machine has ever done this for me before!
The quality of the machine is very high, each part is beautifully made. The bobbin case is a piece of art and beautifully finished. I can remove the hook for thorough cleaning. And replace it again without needing a degree in mechanic repair work. Yes people do say you don’t get much bang for your buck, with Bernina, but I will say that you get extremely high quality for the Aurora and that in my mind is worth trading off absolutely all the bells and whistles that could possibly be installed. They are worth the money. 5 minutes of stitching convinced me of that. All the essentials and more are included as standard. And there are loads of specialty feet available.
Impressed muchly, I am with this! Couldn’t be happier so far.
I am going to do some quilting tomorrow with BSR and with the walking foot. And try some buttonholes.If you want more information check out the user reviews at Pattern Review for the Aurora 440QE. They appear to have excellent reviews and from what I can tell they’re well warranted. Totally different machine to the Pfaff even when it is behaving well.
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Excellent review on the Aurora, Stephanie. Bernina should hire you to
tell people the qualities of this machine. Now I will have to go to the Bernina
dealer and see this machine. I feel so fortunate to not have to pay for that
Pfaff. We have 60 days to dispute and I made it just in time. One thing in my favor was neither the first or second machine worked so I didn’t have
possession of them except for a brief 6 days at the beginning.I bought a HandiQuilter 16 sit down model at our quilt show. I really like this machine. No feed dogs, only a walking foot, just a straight stitch and I move the quilt by hand
under the needle. Nice big table with plenty of room to handle a quilt. It can be hooked up to a frame but I didn’t want that.
So glad the Aurora is working for you!! -
Hi I just came across your web page. I have been a pfaff owner for over 30+ years. My mom also only owned pfaffs. I wanted to buy a new pfaff and didn’t know which model to buy. I want to get into more quilting and embroidery. I am glad that I stumbled onto your sight. HOwever I am even more confused as to what I should do. I was going to go and purchase the 40. Should I check out the Bernina?????? any comments would be great. I was headed out today to buy. mabey not????
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Stephanie, after 2+ weeks with the Bernina aurora 440QE are you still, “madly, deeply and passionately in love!” with it? A friend recently showed me how the BSR works on her new 440QE, and I am Really impressed.
I currently have a Viking Designer 1 and a Pfaff 2042. As a casual hobbyist, I don’t need another machine, but I’d love to do some fmq with the Bernina BSR. I don’t want to give up either the embroidery (D-1) or the IDT features of my current machines, but could the BSR alone be worth the price for the machine? Or, could the Bernina 440QE be a reasonable replacement for one of them?
Your comments and thoughts will be appreciated.
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Hi Sue,
Its still a case of besotted love between Nina and I. She has exceeded by expectations and I just keep finding out new things she can do and am really impressed with it. Its just really nicely designed from one end to the other. I do think the BSR is brilliant. I’ve heard some people weren’t happy because they thought they would instantly have brilliant stitching and as you still have to work with the machine they were disappointed that their jerky, pointy curves were not smooth and graceful. BSR is not a silver bullet. It will speed up the learning curve for new quilters though. And it makes my life easier as I can now level the playing field and enter international quilt shows where many others are also using the same technology. With the BSR there is still skill involved in using it but for me it takes some of the brain strain out of the equation, and if you sew within the parameters of speed required (and you can set an alarm to beep of you go too fast for it), you should get even stitches so long as the hands are smooth and not jerkily dragging the quilt around.
I think the machine itself is very solid and precise. Responsive. Oozes quality of manufacturing and performance. And yes I think that whilst the BSR is not inexpensive it is worth it, even if you quilt for a living as I do. I think of BSR as extra insurance against human error when FMQ.
And whilst it is possible to get by without it-and to win prizes in shows without it, there is the less exy 430 which is mostly the same machine but different number of stitches, an extra presser foot and generally focussed on embroidery more from what I can tell, than quilting, I’ve also heard it is possible at least in the U.S. to have the BSR retrofitted-but that it ends up costing quite abit anyway to do this-you would need to make enquiries and see which is the better deal, you might be better off going into the 440 where the BSR is included than purchasing the foot and paying to have the machine tweaked to accept the foot later on.
Can I also just say that I thought the Pfaff’s idt was really nice until a couple of months in, at which time I began to suspect it hasn’t been functioning to perfection- Ive had lots of puckers that I don[t normally get at all with working stitch in the ditch or straight line quilting. I thought it would be nice not to have to put a walking foot on-part of the attraction of idt- but the walking foot is easy to put on the Bernina and actually feeds the fabric far better than my Pfaff qe4 EVER did. I don’t think the idt it is all it is cracked up to be. The Bernina walking foot also has a handy 1/4″ marking so its good for sewing narrow bindings or matching long seams such as borders etc.
As to your other questions…
You know, your Designer 1 feeds fabric really well for patchwork and is a swanky machine…I have one too and whilst mine is about 10 years old I’ll be replacing my motherboard if it ever blows. Its just amazing. I’d be thinking if you wanted the BSR and all the other lovely convenient Bernina features that maybe the Pfaff 2042 might be the one to sell or trade.
After all dual feed isn’t essential to good patchworking-accurate cutting, piecing and pressing is possible on just about any quality machine that does a good straight stitch. And you have the walking foot included when you buy an Aurora which is nice and you can use it whenever you need more control of layers, even when piecing.
The other factor to my mind that would also make me suggest you consider dumping the pfaff is that the harp size of your Designer 1 and the Bernina are both larger than the 2042. This is an issue if you want to make large quilts.
And any of the Aurora series machines have larger harps than your Pfaff.
Maybe the issue is whether you really want BSR? You will need to go and sew on the machines at a dealership you trust on the fabrics, battings and using threads you like to sew with. See if you like it. I have had to really slow down when fmq with BSR but its not a problem-I have more time to think carefully about my designs that I did at the speed of light and am doing more intricate work as a result. Once you have used the BSR and also fmq without it using the darning foot-you will know if you like the feel, sound and operation ease of the Bernina or not. Just make sure the dealership have recently cleaned out and oiled their machine-as some months before I bought the Pfaff Qe4, I’d tried the Aurora and hadn’t liked it much-it was clacky and noisy and jerky. All it needed was a good clean and oil , and a sharp new needle- and I’d have saved myself alot of grief by not buying the Qe4.
My advice to you is go and check it out. If it were me, I’d be dumping the pfaff unless you can find a way into the Aurora without selling or trading your Pfaff and even then only if it is precious to you.
Hope thats helpful? -
Stephanie,
You’ve been very helpful and given me much to think about. THANK YOU! And, you’re right…the next step in my education is to get some hands-on time at a dealership. However, before I talk to a dealer I like to have some good background education and you and this blog have helped tremendously! -
Thanks to Emily and all the ladies for the comments. They were really helpful in choosing a new Pfaff. (I went with the Expression 3.0.) I tried out the QE 4.0 at my dealer and she pointed out something that explains why it eats the fabric. Some Pfaff machines (I think only those with a front-loading bobbin) have a tiny extra feed dog that grabs the fabric before it’s even under the presser foot so it will never get eaten by the machine.
After reading about so many issues with Pfaff, Janome, and Viking machines with automatic tension, I’m very wary of it! I chose the 3.0 for the manual tension setting.
Also, I agree that the Bernina Aurora is lovely! Unfortunately, it was out of my price range.
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The 2134 has that tiny feed dog. I realized it a while ago when I switched back to using it and figured that was helping it not eat the fabric. Thanks for the opinions on the Bernina. That is one I’ve looked at along with one of the new ones (I’m blanking on the name). Anywho, it’s like $7000 or so. Not quite in the budget this month
but it has so many of the features that I was looking for when I got the QE4 (which is sitting in the closet. Hrumph.)Emily
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Pingback from Sophia Aster · Choosing a New Sewing Machine on September 8, 2009 at 3:59 pm
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Hey Emily I am glad you are looking at your options too.
And how was Quilt Market? Hope all went really well.Cannot you have the machine returned to Pfaff- if you are still under warranty? I bet your cupboard space could be better occupied with other items rather than a dodgy machine. OR see if they’ll take it as a trade in or store credit-perhaps better than taking up space on a shelf for a machine you can’t use. Maybe you could use a store credit for buying thread or needles for a long time, if you don’t want to buy another machine from them.
I’m having mine looked at shortly. Odd really, it started out basically great intitially but not wonderful on sensormatic mode for fmq. Recently all quilting with feed dogs down, has gone pear shaped though. Samples stitched so far on 3 batts with any setting on tension or pivot height that allowed the quilt to move under the foot, and 4 different types and weights of needles , with sensormatic foot, show nothing but skipped stitches, messy stitches and broken threads- with a brand of thread sold at and recommended at the dealership. I saw many times thread pop out of the take-up lever. Shredding thread in the take-up lever area. Also false empty bobbin alarms frequently when the bobbin still has quite abit of thread on it. I’m documenting everything for the dealership and the company so there is no doubt as to how the samples were constructed. It will also rule out any brand specific issues of thread , needle or batting. I’m sure its a lemon or an entire range that is poorly designed.
Today I do the whole thing again, with another brand of thread-which is also sold at the dealership. And after that the whole lot again, with yet another brand of thread. I’m stitching on commercially available patchwork fabrics-4 inch pieced squares- in soft cotton, homespun, batik, gingham and broadcloths and the shredding and skipping stitches happens not on the seamlines but well into the centre of the squares-contrary to what I was told would probably happen! Alll the samples are made of the same fabrics, all that changes is batting and needles. I will be replicating the setting of the machine across different threads.
They’ll be so overwhelmed by the stack of samples and documentation, showing the nastiness of the stitches for just the sensormatic mode for fmq, that I”ll have enough to make a warranty claim-since the sensormatic foot is the one supplied as standard by the company and they claim it is suitable for quilting with. Our Trade Practices Act clause about Fitness for purpose is also behind me. If it turns out my machine is off warranty-as I can’t recall exactly when it expires- but think I’m still covered- then I hope my dealership may do something to help bail me out, even if it means taking a huge financial loss on the machine. They may take is as trade in or store credit. They’re very nice people. At least mine actually works for piecing and embroidery stitching so could be sold to a home dec or dressmaking person and work fine.
I will also stitch samples using the spring motion foot and expect similar results to those obtained yesterday given its performance recently on quilts of different batting and fabrics.
Worth the time if it means the company can’t argue I just need to learn to quilt, change the needle or try different batting or thread.The more I think about things, the more I regret ever buying this machine-and the more tempted I am by well established brands and models. Even purely mechanical ones where not much can fail.
You mention a 7K machine- is it the Bernina 820 with the 12 inch arm?
I couldn’t afford to shell out for that but did lust for it nonetheless. But I couldn’t be happier with my Aurora 440QE.
It will be interesting to see what response I get from all of this. -
Hi
I bought my QE4 in July and so far have been pleased with its performance. I debated between it and a Husqvarna Saphire as I have had Husqvarna machines all along. I have Designer SE that I love. I chose te Pfaff because there is a dealer where I live so there is support and there is no HV dealer for 300 miles. Also I wanted the IDT. The machine does not like invisible thread but then neither do I so it works out. I did free motion quilting with rayon thread in the top and all went well. I have had no problems with the quarter in foot since I always use a feeder fabric before I start . Since I an a HV gal I did not find the veering off a problem since those machine do that and you have to compensate for that. I am saddened to read all the negative comments but I am sure that similar comments can be found for all machines. Yes every now and then there are lemons. The same os true of any product. Most things are now made in china so perhaps the quality control is less exact. Perhaps there is a language problem betweem the german engineering spec and the workers. I think for the price the machine is a keeper . -
Just an FYI, I’m not ignoring the comments over here. This machine just pisses me off so much that I try to avoid thinking about the machine too much because it’s just infuriating at this point. The dealer is absolutely no help in the situation. I’m not the only person who thinks such things about them too. I got the name of the (supposedly) best Pfaff repairman in the country. I might ship the machine out to him once life settles down. But I’m not sure it’s worth the cost of shipping (sad isn’t it?) I really need the 2134 serviced because the spool of thread image blinks at me constantly (even though nothing is wrong) and it’s quite annoying but I don’t have enough trust in the dealer to actually fix the problem and I have to be willing to give up the machine for a month which I can’t do and the QE 4.0 isn’t a suitable replacement to use in the meantime.
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Hi! I’m Emily Cier and this is my blog.
emily (at) CarolinaPatchworks (dot) com
Patterns… In The Wild
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