Which sewing machine should I buy?
This is a big question that I get asked often, so I’m going to try a break it down into easy chunks. There are many sewing machine brands out there. Having literally tried them all I would say the top two brands in terms of performance are PFAFF and Bernina. They are the two brands I see professionals using more than any other. Yes you can buy much cheaper own brand sewing machine in supermarkets and department stores but honestly if you buy one of those colourful cheap machines from John Lewis you are buying something closer to a toy than an industrial machine and it will likely end up causing you more stress than it’s worth. You want your sewing machine to make you want to sew. You want it to be consistent and reliable, You want it to sew for many years to come. The PFAFF machines we sell will do just that.
As you can imagine, I can’t cover all the machines on the market in one article so I’m going to focus on comparing the different PFAFF machines we stock so that you can get a better understanding of which one might be right for you. As you can see below the prices vary from £349 to £3399 so it’s helpful to know what you are getting with each machine…
Should I buy the PFAFF Smarter 160s machine?
First up the PFAFF smarter 160s machine:
This machine has the lowest price point in the range and is therefore ideal for anyone starting out who wants to sew on a decent machine but doesn’t want to invest more than they need to.
Here’s a summary of its key features:
User-Friendly Interface: It has an easy-to-use dial for stitch selection, making it accessible for beginners.
Stitch Variety: Offers 23 built-in stitches, including essential stitches for basic sewing, decorative, and stretch stitches.
Adjustable Stitch Length and Width: You can customize the stitch settings for various fabrics and projects.
Automatic Buttonhole: It features a 4-step automatic buttonhole for convenience and consistent results.
Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure: This allows for better control, particularly when working with different fabric thicknesses.
Drop Feed: Ideal for free-motion sewing, such as quilting or embroidery.
Heavy-Duty Metal Frame: Provides stability and durability, ensuring smooth operation over time.
Built-In Needle Threader: Makes threading the needle much easier, reducing strain and frustration.
Free Arm: The free arm is great for sewing cuffs, sleeves, and other small, hard-to-reach areas.
Quiet Operation: The machine runs smoothly and quietly, which makes for a more pleasant sewing experience.
Overall, the PFAFF Smarter 160s is known for being straightforward, durable, and versatile, making it suitable for beginners who want to have a good time on a relatively simple machine.
Should I buy the PFAFF passport 2.0 machine?
The Pfaff Passport 2.0 is a versatile and portable sewing machine designed for both beginners and experienced sewists. I can’t stop banging on about how good they are because we have been using them in the studio for over half a decade and they have really stood the test of time. Our students find them really intuitive to use because of there simple sleek design. Here are its key features:
Portability: Lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry for sewing classes or travel.
Stitch Options: 70 built-in stitches, including utility, decorative, and quilting stitches, offering plenty of variety.
Automatic Needle Threader: Saves time and effort by easily threading the needle automatically.
Adjustable Speed Control: Allows you to control the sewing speed for more precision.
Large Sewing Area: Generous workspace with a wide sewing table for larger projects.
LED Lighting: Bright, energy-efficient lighting for clear visibility while sewing.
Drop Feed: Ideal for free-motion sewing and quilting.
Easy-to-Use LCD Screen: Clear display for selecting and customizing stitches.
IDT™ System (Integrated Dual Feed): Integrated Dual Feed ensures even fabric feeding from both the top and bottom layers, reducing fabric shifting. We use this feature all the time in the studio as it’s essentially a built in walking foot.
Start/Stop Button: Option to sew without the foot control pedal.
Overall, the Pfaff Passport 2.0 offers great functionality in a portable design, making it a solid choice for those who need a machine that's easy to transport yet packed with features. In all the years we have been using them in the studio they have stood up to every task we have thrown at them.
Should I buy the PFAFF Ambition 610 machine?
The PFAFF Ambition 610 is perfect for sewers with a bit of experience who are looking to really level up.
The Pfaff Ambition 610 is a versatile and feature-rich sewing machine, the main difference between the passport 2.0 and the Ambition 610 is that the latter has more stitches and is a slightly more heavy duty machine. Here are the main features of the Pfaff Ambition 610:
IDT™ System (Integrated Dual Feed): As we mentioned above this is one of the standout features of Pfaff machines, ensuring even fabric feeding from both the top and bottom, which helps prevent fabric shifting, making it ideal for quilting and working with delicate fabrics.
Stitch Variety: The Ambition 610 offers 100 built-in stitches, including utility stitches, decorative stitches, and buttonhole options. This allows for a wide variety of creative possibilities.
Automatic Buttonhole: The machine includes a one-step automatic buttonhole function for precision and ease in creating professional-looking buttonholes.
Large Sewing Area: The sewing machine provides a generous work area, especially useful for large projects like quilts or home decor items.
LCD Display: A clear and intuitive LCD screen allows you to easily select stitches, adjust settings, and view stitch information. The screen makes navigation simple.
Needle Threader: The automatic needle threader makes threading the machine quick and easy, saving time and effort.
Speed Control: It has adjustable sewing speed control, allowing you to work at a pace that suits your project.
Needle Position Adjustment: You can adjust the needle position, providing flexibility for different types of sewing tasks, like topstitching or inserting zippers.
Should I buy the PFAFF Ambition 620 machine?
OK I hear you, you want more! You want to really upgrade to the best you can get for making garments and quilts. Then the PFAFF Ambition 620 is fluttering its eyelashes at you. It has a whooping 136 stitch options and a built in memory so that it can recall stitch combinations you have used in the past. Hello old friend!
Some of the main features of the PFAFF Ambition 620 include:
IDT™ (Integrated Dual Feed): This feature ensures even fabric feed from both the top and bottom, which is ideal for sewing with tricky fabrics like stretch, velvet, or multiple layers of fabric.
Automatic Needle Threader: Saves time and reduces frustration by threading the needle automatically.
Stitch Options: The machine offers 136 built-in stitches, including utility stitches, decorative stitches, and quilting stitches, providing lots of variety for different projects.
LCD Screen: The easy-to-read LCD display shows stitch selections and allows for quick adjustments like stitch length and width.
One-Step Buttonhole: The machine can create a perfect buttonhole with a one-step process, making garment finishing easier.
Speed Control: Adjustable speed control to give you more flexibility, whether you're doing detailed work or sewing quickly.
Free Arm: Ideal for sewing cuffs, sleeves, and pant hems, allowing for more accessible sewing in tight spaces.
Twin Needle Function: The ability to use twin needles for creating parallel decorative or functional seams.
Drop Feed: For free-motion sewing and quilting, the feed dogs can be dropped to allow the fabric to move freely under the needle.
Built-In Memory: The machine has the ability to store custom stitch combinations for easy access later.
Extra Presser Feet: The Ambition 620 comes with several included presser feet, such as a zipper foot, buttonhole foot, and more, to help you complete a variety of sewing tasks.
Should I buy the PFAFF Creative 3.0 sewing machine?
Finally we have saved the best for last. The PFAFF Creative 3.0 is more than just a sewing machine it is a full on custom embroidery design studio! The Pfaff Creative 3.0 is a feature-rich sewing and embroidery machine designed to offer advanced capabilities. Some of its main features include:
IDT™ System (Integrated Dual Feed): This system provides even fabric feed from both the top and bottom, ensuring smooth stitching, especially with tricky fabrics like silk or velvet.
Large Color Touchscreen: The machine has an intuitive 4.3-inch color touchscreen, which allows for easy navigation of settings, patterns, and design adjustments.
Embroidery Capabilities: The Pfaff Creative 3.0 is equipped with extensive embroidery features, including a wide range of built-in embroidery designs, fonts, and the ability to import custom designs via USB.
Stitch and Pattern Options: It offers over 200 built-in stitches, including decorative stitches, and allows for stitch elongation, mirroring, and customizing.
Advanced Stitch Editing: The machine provides options to modify existing stitches, create new ones, and adjust them to personal preferences.
Automatic Needle Threader and Cutter: These features make setup faster and more convenient, saving time when threading the needle or cutting threads.
Large Embroidery Area: It offers a large embroidery field (up to 240 x 150 mm), providing ample space for larger designs.
Embroidery Speed and Precision: With the high-speed embroidery motor, the Creative 3.0 ensures precise stitching at up to 1000 stitches per minute.
Free Motion Embroidery: It allows for free-motion stitching with adjustable speed control, making it suitable for quilting and creative sewing projects.
Memory Function: The machine’s memory can save multiple stitches, designs, or customizations for easy reuse.
Sewing Advisor Feature: This feature automatically adjusts settings such as stitch length, width, and tension based on the fabric you are working with.
Automatic Presser Foot Pressure Adjustment: The machine adjusts the presser foot pressure to suit the thickness of the fabric, ensuring better stitch quality.
Sewing with a Wide Variety of Fabrics: The machine is designed to work with different types of fabrics, from lightweight to thick fabrics like denim or leather.
The PFAFF Creative 3.0 is ideal for those who want a combination of sewing and embroidery capabilities, providing ease of use and a wide range of creative options.
I hope that helps to demystify each machine for you a bit. If you are based in Bristol, England and you want to give these machines a go before you buy I’m always happy to show folks how they work from my studio. If you are from elsewhere in the UK I can do a similar introduction or answer any questions online. Just fill in the form below.