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. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:46:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: CB http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2008/09/17/thoughts-on-the-pfaff-quilt-expression-40-after-one-month/#comment-77027 CB Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:46:27 +0000 http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/?p=1171#comment-77027 Oh, I forgot to say, I have cleaned the machine everywhere, even took the top off (being careful to not get anywhere near the computer parts, of course) and even put a straw on my vacuum cleaner to get under the bobbin case...there are no jams or pieces of lint clogging anything. Oh, I forgot to say, I have cleaned the machine everywhere, even took the top off (being careful to not get anywhere near the computer parts, of course) and even put a straw on my vacuum cleaner to get under the bobbin case…there are no jams or pieces of lint clogging anything.

]]> By: CB http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2008/09/17/thoughts-on-the-pfaff-quilt-expression-40-after-one-month/#comment-77025 CB Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:42:21 +0000 http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/?p=1171#comment-77025 My problem with the Pfaff QE4 id the stitch length. ever since Xmas the default stitch length of 2.5 has been giving me 17-18 stitches per inch instead of what should be 10-12...drives me nuts. I have changed it to 3.0 for paper piecing (which I would usually use 2.0) and I use 3.5 for regular piecing...this is ridiculous (but I'm stuck with NO warranty as I bought it ever so slightly used from a private seller)...I've always loved my Pfaff 7550, but it is getting old. I should never have bought this QE4 with a box that says made in Switzerland and the machine says made in CHINA!!! My problem with the Pfaff QE4 id the stitch length. ever since Xmas the default stitch length of 2.5 has been giving me 17-18 stitches per inch instead of what should be 10-12…drives me nuts. I have changed it to 3.0 for paper piecing (which I would usually use 2.0) and I use 3.5 for regular piecing…this is ridiculous (but I’m stuck with NO warranty as I bought it ever so slightly used from a private seller)…I’ve always loved my Pfaff 7550, but it is getting old. I should never have bought this QE4 with a box that says made in Switzerland and the machine says made in CHINA!!!

]]> By: corina http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2008/09/17/thoughts-on-the-pfaff-quilt-expression-40-after-one-month/#comment-76848 corina Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:10:56 +0000 http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/?p=1171#comment-76848 I got the new take up lever installed on my QE 4.0. There ae no more birds nests as long as I remember to adjust the pivot height to the proper level (usually -2 or -3). I was still having trouble with threads breaking out of the blue though. Discovered the thread was cutting a groove into the plastic. I filed the area down and had less thread trouble, but still the occasional breakage. Last week I discovered the thread had worn the plastic down right behind the little thread guide above the needle, to the point of metal showing. I smoothed the rough metal out with the extra fine polishing nail file and no longer have any trouble. Will keep you posted if that changes! I got the new take up lever installed on my QE 4.0. There ae no more birds nests as long as I remember to adjust the pivot height to the proper level (usually -2 or -3). I was still having trouble with threads breaking out of the blue though. Discovered the thread was cutting a groove into the plastic. I filed the area down and had less thread trouble, but still the occasional breakage. Last week I discovered the thread had worn the plastic down right behind the little thread guide above the needle, to the point of metal showing. I smoothed the rough metal out with the extra fine polishing nail file and no longer have any trouble. Will keep you posted if that changes!

]]> By: Sally http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2008/09/17/thoughts-on-the-pfaff-quilt-expression-40-after-one-month/#comment-75319 Sally Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:45:34 +0000 http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/?p=1171#comment-75319 Hello again! I posted on this thread nearly 3 years ago when I first got my Pfaff. Unfortunately, for me the problems were never resolved and it got to the stage where I never used the QE 4. A complete waste of money and of nearly 3 years of "sewing life", as I barely used a machine in all that time - hand sewing/quilting/piecing was easier and far less frustrating!!! At the beginning of the year I was discussing this with my husband, who sensibly commented that "life is short" and that although the waste of money is sad, the loss of 3 years happy sewing is worse!! Consequently we decided a new machine for me would be a good idea. I bought a Bernina 550 QE last weekend and haven't looked back!!! I've done so much sewing and quilting on it in the last week and it's a beauty - perfect stitches every time, no non-existent thread jams, no motor overload, it sews a wonderful straight seam and doesn't gobble up the fabric when piecing. It seems to me that the problem here is that the Pfaff machines are inconsistent in their quality, some being fine and some being real lemons. In retrospect, I should have really pushed to have the machine replaced with a new one, but I was so upset and frustrated with the whole experience that instead I just gave up on it. My advice to anyone having problems would be to print out this blog and REALLY push for a new machine ............... or buy a Bernina! :) Hello again!
I posted on this thread nearly 3 years ago when I first got my Pfaff.
Unfortunately, for me the problems were never resolved and it got to the stage where I never used the QE 4. A complete waste of money and of nearly 3 years of “sewing life”, as I barely used a machine in all that time – hand sewing/quilting/piecing was easier and far less frustrating!!!

At the beginning of the year I was discussing this with my husband, who sensibly commented that “life is short” and that although the waste of money is sad, the loss of 3 years happy sewing is worse!! Consequently we decided a new machine for me would be a good idea.

I bought a Bernina 550 QE last weekend and haven’t looked back!!! I’ve done so much sewing and quilting on it in the last week and it’s a beauty – perfect stitches every time, no non-existent thread jams, no motor overload, it sews a wonderful straight seam and doesn’t gobble up the fabric when piecing.

It seems to me that the problem here is that the Pfaff machines are inconsistent in their quality, some being fine and some being real lemons. In retrospect, I should have really pushed to have the machine replaced with a new one, but I was so upset and frustrated with the whole experience that instead I just gave up on it. My advice to anyone having problems would be to print out this blog and REALLY push for a new machine …………… or buy a Bernina! :)

]]> By: Annie http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/2008/09/17/thoughts-on-the-pfaff-quilt-expression-40-after-one-month/#comment-73897 Annie Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:39:08 +0000 http://carolinapatchworks.com/blog/?p=1171#comment-73897 I'm so pleased to have found this informative thread. It helped me when I felt that I just wanted to give up on my QE4, particularly with fffFMQ! I had the numerous issues mentioned by many people and have taken copious notes as I've trawled through the above. The good news (so far) is that it seems to have worked (I won't be 100% satisfied until I've trialled it for longer). Today I've FMQ'd all morning with only one broken thread (over a rather bulky seam). This one thread has helped me more than anything else. Many many thanks. Annie I’m so pleased to have found this informative thread. It helped me when I felt that I just wanted to give up on my QE4, particularly with fffFMQ! I had the numerous issues mentioned by many people and have taken copious notes as I’ve trawled through the above. The good news (so far) is that it seems to have worked (I won’t be 100% satisfied until I’ve trialled it for longer). Today I’ve FMQ’d all morning with only one broken thread (over a rather bulky seam).
This one thread has helped me more than anything else.
Many many thanks.
Annie

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