Sewing Machine Repair / Replace Questions

[Valencia]

You know, I really do need to look into a backup machine. I went to a new (to me) dealer today; she has both Vikings and Pfaffs.  I tried both out, and bought the Pfaff Select 3.0. It ran through my greyhound martingale collar material like it was NOTHING. And it has the walking feet, so while it cost more than the Viking Emerald that I also test drove (and LOVED), I think it will be worth it.  I go pick it up in the morning. I'm really excited!!!

[Lady Rebecca]

I'm so glad you found a machine! That's the one thing I miss with the Emerald (which is what I have) - a walking foot. I wish I had one, but it just doesn't fit in my budget right now.

[Valencia]

I'm so glad you found a machine! That's the one thing I miss with the Emerald (which is what I have) - a walking foot. I wish I had one, but it just doesn't fit in my budget right now.

I soooo vacillated... I've obviously, with my Kenmore, never had one, but when I saw her sew with and without, I immediately saw the benefits. I amazingly enough had the money, between a Christmas bonus and a new website job I landed *this morning*, so I took that as an omen. And then as I drove home, I wondered if it needed it, or if I was overspending... so hearing you say you would want one makes me feel like I made the right choice.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Yay!  I Love that walking feature: the one thing Lily doesn't have that I wish she did!

[gem]

The Viking walking foot is really expensive, because it comes with two other specialty quilting feet (the free motion foot and a clear 1/4" foot). It was one of the things I budgeted for when I bought my Emerald. But with the Pfaff it's built right in! So that will be a nice feature.

Have fun!! Congratulations on the new job!

[Butch]

All this talk makes me want to buy another one!

Nah; I'll keep my primary and backup until they either break, or I need more machine!

[LadyStitch]

Gem, I actually was able to get the walking foot for my viking by it's self.  Trust me it wasn't cheap, but it wasn't $100 bucks either.  The PP wasn't sure if I needed until he saw how I was able to move a 6 layers of tulle  petticoate waist band under the machine and it move smoothly.   I have found if I am working with a bulky fabric  that is a pain to move, even with my hand, using the walking foot REALLY helps. It was a 'witch' quilting a quilt with out one.  I'm looking forward to doing a real quilt with a walking foot.

The machine I was drooling over was a simple straight and zig zag machine with built in walking foot, and was industrical grade.  I wish I had the $300 bucks at the time.

[Valencia]

You guys are making me feel SOOO much better about the walking foot!!! When I left the store last night, I was so freaking out, over the price, and whether or not spending more was justified. On the other hand, I had the money by a bizarre fluke, so I figured it was meant to be, lol : )

[Valencia]

omg, I am going to PEE my pants. This machine does stitches as long as 6mm!!!! No more hand gathering, WOOOOT!!!! LOL

[Valencia]

Ugh... so I got the machine home, and it took forever to get it threaded, get the bobbin threaded, and get it working... the thread kept winding around the bobbin, the machine kept jamming. I finally got it sorted out and working by the next evening, but the machine is so finicky that it seems to work well only half the time. It sews wonderfully on a single layer of satin, but choked CONSTANTLY on the pleated side seams of the Victorian overskirt. Then I tried to sew a gathered single layer satin skirt to a single layer waistband, and it choked on that... meaning the needle freezes, and won't go through the fabric. Finally, this morning, I was sewing two pieces of thin cotton together, and it jammed up... leaving all the top thread bunched up underneath the stitching. AND, the walking foot didn't make a bit of difference... the fabric was still bunched up, just as if I'd sewn it on a regular machine. I expected to be wowed by this machine (that cost me $683 out the door, including feet!) but instead, I just want my old Kenmore back. I called the dealer, she wants me to bring it in, with my projects, so she can see what is going on. I am really, really frustrated, and I think it's ridiculous to have this much trouble with a high end machine. Gah...

[LadyStitch]

Yes it does sound like something is not working right.  If it is clogging up on cotton broadcloth something is REALLY fishy.

[Valencia]

Well, I rethreaded it for the billionth time, and sewed on it, and it sewed fine. It's just so random. So I took it into the shop, along with my Victorian skirt, jacket, and the broadcloth; and I told the lady that just like a car at the mechanics shop, it's suddenly behaving again.    It's obvious it's a threading problem, since sometimes it sews fine, and other times it jams and the thread balls up. She basically told me there is no way the machine isn't perfect, and that I needed lessons in sewing. Then she asked me to sew so she could see what I was doing wrong.  And she became convinced that I thread the machine with the presser foot down. It was very weird. I know how to sew, obviously... but the problem seems to be that the machine is really picky in how it's threaded, AND in the type of thread and needles used. She pulled my Coats and Clark thread out of the machine, and said, in a really snobby tone, "oh, THIS is your problem." Then she asked if I was using cheap needles, and said that was what was wrong. I told her I was using the needles that came with the machine, and she told me I was using the wrong ones.    So I have no idea if she is right or not, but I am less than impressed with her customer service skills. So, she gave me different needles, and told me I had to use the high end thread they sell there (which is unmarked, so I don't know what brand it is, Pfaff, I guess?) and I guess I'm supposed to hope for the best. I feel like I just spent $600 on a machine that doesn't perform as well as my old (RIP, old pal) Kenmore. But now, I don't know what thread to buy for the stupid machine, and I really don't want to pay $6 for a 125yd spool or whatever she sells it for. Do any of you know about the thread or needle issues with a Pfaff??

[operafantomet]

Well, I rethreaded it for the billionth time, and sewed on it, and it sewed fine. It's just so random. So I took it into the shop, along with my Victorian skirt, jacket, and the broadcloth; and I told the lady that just like a car at the mechanics shop, it's suddenly behaving again.    It's obvious it's a threading problem, since sometimes it sews fine, and other times it jams and the thread balls up. She basically told me there is no way the machine isn't perfect, and that I needed lessons in sewing. Then she asked me to sew so she could see what I was doing wrong.  And she became convinced that I thread the machine with the presser foot down. It was very weird. I know how to sew, obviously... but the problem seems to be that the machine is really picky in how it's threaded, AND in the type of thread and needles used. She pulled my Coats and Clark thread out of the machine, and said, in a really snobby tone, "oh, THIS is your problem." Then she asked if I was using cheap needles, and said that was what was wrong. I told her I was using the needles that came with the machine, and she told me I was using the wrong ones.    So I have no idea if she is right or not, but I am less than impressed with her customer service skills. So, she gave me different needles, and told me I had to use the high end thread they sell there (which is unmarked, so I don't know what brand it is, Pfaff, I guess?) and I guess I'm supposed to hope for the best. I feel like I just spent $600 on a machine that doesn't perform as well as my old (RIP, old pal) Kenmore. But now, I don't know what thread to buy for the stupid machine, and I really don't want to pay $6 for a 125yd spool or whatever she sells it for. Do any of you know about the thread or needle issues with a Pfaff??

I learned this only yesterday, from a professional tailor: it does indeed make a difference what needle you use. If it's only a bit too long or short, some machines acts up and makes spaghetti instead of a seam. Well, that's how it feels anyway... Sometimes it won't pick up the lower thread at all. Why? I dunno. But it did explain some of the issues that I've had with my Pfaff 1530. However, if you're using the needles that came with the machine, I don't see how THAT can be wrong! I would get a second opinion on it, especially since she worked so hard on blaming it all on you rather than locate the actual problem.

If the thread were the issue (if the problem is similar to mine) it would snap in two rather than become spaghetti. Seriously, she can blame it on you and the thread and the needle and whatnot all she wants, but there might be an actual problem with an easy solution. You need someone who'll cut the crap and give you a professional opinion. Stupid question: have you searched the web for someone experiencing the same? Maybe there's some wise heads out there?

[Valencia]

Okay, so I'm going to try the new thread and needles. I'm sure that what she said about those is true, and I had problems with my serger with the wrong needles... but I did use the needles that came with the machine, and why wouldn't they have mentioned that the machine required a higher end thread? I guess that's really my frustration... they just failed to mention anything of importance.  So yes, I did Google about it, and the beginning learning curve does appear to be VERY frustrating to about half the people doing reviews.... so now I'm thinking I just need to work through the pain. :lol

[Lady Rebecca]

I had a similar problem when I got my new Viking last summer. Major tension problems, and the thread was laying flat on top, and going all wiggly and loopy on the bottom (is this what is happening to you?), and I took it in, and they told me it was the thread. I had been using standard Coats and Clark thread, and the lady told me to use Guterman instead. I've been using Guterman cotton thread since then, and the machine runs almost perfectly.

Occasionally I'll have tension problems (though to a lesser degree) but somehow they magically go away if I take the bobbin out and put it back in again.