Comments on: My thoughts on the Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0 after one month http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2008/09/17/thoughts-on-the-pfaff-quilt-expression-40-after-one-month/ Because the world is just better with patchwork. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:14:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: shan http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2008/09/17/thoughts-on-the-pfaff-quilt-expression-40-after-one-month/#comment-13263 shan Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:42:39 +0000 http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/?p=1171#comment-13263 Hi LynnD Would you mind sharing the picture of your modified foot? Thanks in advance! Hi LynnD
Would you mind sharing the picture of your modified foot? Thanks in advance!

]]> By: LynnD http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2008/09/17/thoughts-on-the-pfaff-quilt-expression-40-after-one-month/#comment-13247 LynnD Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:25:17 +0000 http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/?p=1171#comment-13247 One thing that's helped me in spotting problems asap is wearing a pair of reading glasses even though my vision is really good (wonderful Lasix ? surgery). The magnification of the area where I'm sewing shows instant bobbin pop-up threads or when the top spool is bound up (for some reason). It lets me correct the problem before there's a real problem. I've also had the thread kick out and not sure why. Good Pfaff (industrial machine) tech over the weekend suggested I try to tighten up the top tension and see if the 14 Topstitch needle still skipped stitches. Not tried it yet though. He explained the topstitch needle has larger hole and kicks out a large loop for the bobbin hook to catch which it's obviously missing. Higher tension would make smaller loop and maybe align it better with bobbin hook. The modified metal open toe free motion quilting/darning foot works once it's cut off at the top and the screw hole is drilled open down in the recessed part below the original screw hole. It's wonderful to see around and works well with the sensormatic setting. Pictures available for anyone who is interested, let me know. One thing though: the sensormatic setting makes an engine noise I find annoying that the spring motion foot setting doesn't make on half speed. I like the quiet sewing on the spring motion setting better. One thing that’s helped me in spotting problems asap is wearing a pair of reading glasses even though my vision is really good (wonderful Lasix ? surgery). The magnification of the area where I’m sewing shows instant bobbin pop-up threads or when the top spool is bound up (for some reason). It lets me correct the problem before there’s a real problem. I’ve also had the thread kick out and not sure why.

Good Pfaff (industrial machine) tech over the weekend suggested I try to tighten up the top tension and see if the 14 Topstitch needle still skipped stitches. Not tried it yet though. He explained the topstitch needle has larger hole and kicks out a large loop for the bobbin hook to catch which it’s obviously missing. Higher tension would make smaller loop and maybe align it better with bobbin hook.

The modified metal open toe free motion quilting/darning foot works once it’s cut off at the top and the screw hole is drilled open down in the recessed part below the original screw hole. It’s wonderful to see around and works well with the sensormatic setting. Pictures available for anyone who is interested, let me know.

One thing though: the sensormatic setting makes an engine noise I find annoying that the spring motion foot setting doesn’t make on half speed. I like the quiet sewing on the spring motion setting better.

]]> By: Lois http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2008/09/17/thoughts-on-the-pfaff-quilt-expression-40-after-one-month/#comment-13240 Lois Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:54:39 +0000 http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/?p=1171#comment-13240 I purchased the QE 4.0 about a month ago and have experienced many of the same complaints as you. At first, it would break the upper thread while FMQ. I took it back to the dealer and the tech "tweaked" the timing and that has helped so much. Occasionally it will "throw" the upper thread from the take up lever. The dealer acknowledged that problem with the Creative Vision also but didn't have a solution for it. I love the space, lights, thread cutter, pattern start so will continue to learn the machine and have more "tweaking" done if needed. My previous machine was a 2046. It just hummed along and never missed a beat but was limited in features. I purchased the QE 4.0 about a month ago and have experienced many of the same complaints as you. At first, it would break the upper thread while FMQ. I took it back to the dealer and the tech “tweaked” the timing and that has helped so much. Occasionally it will “throw” the upper thread from the take up lever. The dealer acknowledged that problem with the Creative Vision also but didn’t have a solution for it. I love the space, lights, thread cutter, pattern start so will continue to learn the machine and have more “tweaking” done if needed. My previous machine was a 2046. It just hummed along and never missed a beat but was limited in features.

]]> By: Janet http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2008/09/17/thoughts-on-the-pfaff-quilt-expression-40-after-one-month/#comment-13194 Janet Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:39:24 +0000 http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/?p=1171#comment-13194 Whoops, my bad! I have never posted on a blog before, and didn't know that you shouldn't use your last name. I still want to know if anyone has any opinions on the Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator for the QE4. Whoops, my bad! I have never posted on a blog before, and didn’t know that you shouldn’t use your last name.

I still want to know if anyone has any opinions on the Fab-U-Motion with Stitch Regulator for the QE4.

]]> By: LynnD http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2008/09/17/thoughts-on-the-pfaff-quilt-expression-40-after-one-month/#comment-13184 LynnD Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:04:41 +0000 http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/?p=1171#comment-13184 Hey All, I, too, just bought the 4.0 QE, again! Like many of you, I rejected the first machine (dealer is still miffed) because it didn't free motion quilt without skipping stitches. It quilted forward just fine but when I'd back down the spine of a feather or back down the line of feather plumes with an echo, it skipped stitches. Even after dealer gave it back "adjusted" it didn't work. The problem seemed to be just with thicker thread--fine thread (Bottom Line or YLI silk) worked fine with 8 & 10 (60 and 70? sorry, don't remember European #) Sharp needles. Also I can't see through or around the new sensormatic plastic foot. I can't tell if I'm meeting a line of stitching or if I can back over something I've already stitched. Oh how I wish Pfaff would make an offset-arm foot like the Bernina folks have. Even an open toe metal foot like the Viking has would be helpful. As it is, I plan to have my foot drilled out with bigger holes and I'll report difference and if successful, I'll include pictures. I've ordered a few extra feet in case I massacre them trying. After fretting over the machine I returned in frustration, I talked to the Flagstaff dealer, Odeggards (great guy!) about the 4.0 and he's not had complaints and sold many. I was shocked. I don't live there so didn't buy from him. I phoned my dealer and said I'd try the 4.0 again. He'd sold the one I returned and would set up a new one for me to come in and try. (Said he sold it to someone who was just learning to FMQ.) So, I tried his new one with 14 topstitch (80?) needle and 40 wt. Superior Thread cotton thread; it couldn't free motion quilt backwards either! I also tested 40 wt poly thread and it did better but not perfect. I switched to 16 needle and it worked ok. Thread mfg recommends 14 Topstitch needle with 40 wt. thread. Hmmmm. Tried other 14 & 16 needles (sharp, jeans denim, universal--all from dealer's supply) and worked ok. Very little skipped stitches but some just the same. Is needle the problem? This dealer decided if I bought this machine, it was mine for good. He'd not take it back. He took 5 min. to tell me this in no uncertain terms. I've not been back there. I went to dealer south of here and explained situation; tried their machine and same problem! Store owner is a quilter and she insisted timing was off. She sent it to her tech and when she got it back, it purrs. It purrs for me, too. But the 14 top stitch needle seems to not work well. 14 new gold embroidery needle is fine. Metallica needle is fine. I'll do more research on needles soon. Anyway, this machine is a dream. I use it for quilting and am working toward the Gaudynski/Schamber style of quilting--it must be precision perfect for me to be happy--and I am! Sorry, I've not tried 1/4" foot piecing. I'm coming from a 2056 which is an amazing, perfect machine. I kept it. I was looking at the new Bernina 820 coming out in a few days... but for many thousands of dollars less, I have every feature I wanted in a top machine and it's light weight enough that I can take it with me if I want to. (New Bernina about 50 pounds) Hopefully those of you who aren't happy can find a good tech to do your adjustments. In my opinion, this is an amazing machine and I hope I don't have to take those words back later. I did use it a lot over the last week and a half and I think it's a sound machine. Dealer assures me she'll stand behind machine and has my confidence. Hey All, I, too, just bought the 4.0 QE, again!
Like many of you, I rejected the first machine (dealer is still miffed) because it didn’t free motion quilt without skipping stitches. It quilted forward just fine but when I’d back down the spine of a feather or back down the line of feather plumes with an echo, it skipped stitches. Even after dealer gave it back “adjusted” it didn’t work. The problem seemed to be just with thicker thread–fine thread (Bottom Line or YLI silk) worked fine with 8 & 10 (60 and 70? sorry, don’t remember European #) Sharp needles.

Also I can’t see through or around the new sensormatic plastic foot. I can’t tell if I’m meeting a line of stitching or if I can back over something I’ve already stitched. Oh how I wish Pfaff would make an offset-arm foot like the Bernina folks have. Even an open toe metal foot like the Viking has would be helpful. As it is, I plan to have my foot drilled out with bigger holes and I’ll report difference and if successful, I’ll include pictures. I’ve ordered a few extra feet in case I massacre them trying.

After fretting over the machine I returned in frustration, I talked to the Flagstaff dealer, Odeggards (great guy!) about the 4.0 and he’s not had complaints and sold many. I was shocked. I don’t live there so didn’t buy from him. I phoned my dealer and said I’d try the 4.0 again. He’d sold the one I returned and would set up a new one for me to come in and try. (Said he sold it to someone who was just learning to FMQ.) So, I tried his new one with 14 topstitch (80?) needle and 40 wt. Superior Thread cotton thread; it couldn’t free motion quilt backwards either! I also tested 40 wt poly thread and it did better but not perfect. I switched to 16 needle and it worked ok. Thread mfg recommends 14 Topstitch needle with 40 wt. thread. Hmmmm. Tried other 14 & 16 needles (sharp, jeans denim, universal–all from dealer’s supply) and worked ok. Very little skipped stitches but some just the same. Is needle the problem?

This dealer decided if I bought this machine, it was mine for good. He’d not take it back. He took 5 min. to tell me this in no uncertain terms. I’ve not been back there.

I went to dealer south of here and explained situation; tried their machine and same problem! Store owner is a quilter and she insisted timing was off. She sent it to her tech and when she got it back, it purrs. It purrs for me, too. But the 14 top stitch needle seems to not work well. 14 new gold embroidery needle is fine. Metallica needle is fine. I’ll do more research on needles soon. Anyway, this machine is a dream. I use it for quilting and am working toward the Gaudynski/Schamber style of quilting–it must be precision perfect for me to be happy–and I am!

Sorry, I’ve not tried 1/4″ foot piecing. I’m coming from a 2056 which is an amazing, perfect machine. I kept it. I was looking at the new Bernina 820 coming out in a few days… but for many thousands of dollars less, I have every feature I wanted in a top machine and it’s light weight enough that I can take it with me if I want to. (New Bernina about 50 pounds)

Hopefully those of you who aren’t happy can find a good tech to do your adjustments. In my opinion, this is an amazing machine and I hope I don’t have to take those words back later. I did use it a lot over the last week and a half and I think it’s a sound machine. Dealer assures me she’ll stand behind machine and has my confidence.

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