David Allen

Brother PQ1500s High Speed Quilting and Sewing Machine Reviews

December 14, 2019 by David Allen Leave a Comment

The Brother PQ1500S Straight Stitch Sewing Quilt Club Machine has been around for several years but is still a favorite for quilters that like using a machine to piece fabric tops, and do their quilting with a straight stitch. It’s a reliable sewing machine that has received good reviews from the quilting community. This machine is priced in the upper-mid cost range but it’s heavy duty and operates like an industrial model sewing machine, which makes it worth the investment.

It’s two to three times faster than most home portables and made for durability and longevity. This featured Brother Sewing Machine has all metal gears which will make it last much longer than those with plastic interior parts. Metal gears also holdup well when working on heavier and layered fabrics (like quilts). The PQ1500s is one of the fastest home sewing machines on the market, sewing up to 1500 stitches per minute. It also has one of the largest sewing surface areas available. It comes with a generous accessory kit and an over-sized fabric carrying case on wheels.

The Brother PQ1500S sewing machine is a good all purpose machine that is easy to use on large scale sewing projects. It is very user friendly and has a fast learning curve so it’s perfect for beginners and experienced quilters alike. The large arm, knee lift, F.A.S.T. needle threader, and thread cutter are time savers and make it very convenient to use. And the extension table has room for sewing large projects, quilts, or even drapes. Quilters that use the Brother PQ1500S say it makes quilt assembly much easier and faster.

The presser foot can be operated with the knee lifter, and the foot pedal controls the stitching speed, leaving your hands free to manage the fabric. On the front of the Brother PQ1500s you will find a manually operated reverse lever for backstitching and reinforcing, and a color coded upper tension setting dial. The needle stop position is also programmable so you don’t need to turn the balance wheel to raise the needle. When the needle is down the needle stop position button lights up so you can easily see where your needle is at any given time.

I love the fact that even when the extension sewing bed is being used, you can still access the vertical bobbin area so you don’t have to stop everything to change the bobbin. And there’s a quick automatic bobbin loader when you do need to change. I also like the metal bobbins that come in the accessory package. That’s a personal preference though. I just think they are more durable but some people like the clear plastic bobbins so they can easily see how much thread is left. You can use either kind on this Brother model. There is also a telescoping thread guide bar so you can use cone style threads and a fast bobbin winder.

The exclusive pin feed mechanism is great for piecing together patchwork fabrics. It allows you to get a perfect point where the quilt pieces come together. Once the presser foot is lifted the pin automatically drops for safety. No fabric slipping or sliding. And the four feed dog settings give you precision fabric control. The feed dogs can be adjusted with an easy turn of a dial and they drop automatically when the presser foot is lifted. Another handy feature is the fabric separator for sewing together fabrics with different weights without puckering.

The PQ1500s model comes with an automatic thread cutter that cuts both top and bobbin threads with the push of a button and then instantly resets itself for the next use. No more looking for where you laid your scissors down the last time you used them.

Advantages of the Brother PQ1500s over other quilting machines –

1500 stitches per minute speed
Extra large work area
Exclusive pin mechanism for precision stitches
Automatic needle threading and thread cutting

Disadvantages

Includes only a straight stitch
Somewhat heavy to move for a portable machine
A bobbin out indicator light would be a nice added feature

Brother PQ-1500S Features and Functions

The Brother PQ-1500S comes with lots of high end machine features that will make your quilting projects automated and easy. Read on for a comprehensive list of what this quilting machine will do.
It has an exclusive adjustable pin feed that keeps the fabric layers even and prevents slippage. The mechanism comes up from below the needle plate eliminating the need for a walking foot attachment
Sews an amazing 1500 stitches per minute for experienced machine quilters
Has an automatic needle threader
Automatic thread trimmer button that cuts top and bottom threads and resets for the next project
Four adjustable feed dogs for fabric control.
Large 12” x 18” bed extension to accommodate larger quilting projects and fussy fabrics
An oversized 6” x 9” throat area to accommodate quilts and large projects
Fast bobbin winding
Programmable needle stop position
An array of adjustable presser feet allow a wide range of quilting and sewing functions
Knee and hand levers for presser foot lifting
Stitch length up to 7mm for machine basting
A telescoping thread stand to allow cone style thread
Unique fabric separator that helps when sewing different fabric weights without puckering
Sewing area light
Reverse stitch lever
Measures 12.6″ T × 7.9″ D × 19.3″ W
Built in handle
Foot stitching control
Manufacturers US warranty – 25 years on parts, 5 years on electrical, 1 year on labor

Included Sewing Tools and Accessories – Check The Website You Order From For Confirmation Of This List

Plastic dust cover to protect machine when not in use
Rolling fabric storage case
Screwdrivers and cleaning brush
Presser foot knee lift
An assortment of machine needles and a case
Fabric separator attachment
Feed pin and changer
5 metal bobbins
Seam guide
Foot controller
Fabric extension table
Sewing feet –

1. General purpose foot
2. Rolled hem foot
3. Zipper foot
4. Invisible zipper foot
5. ¼” foot for quilt patchwork piecing
6. Quilting foot
7. Walking foot

Janome MC6500P Review – Memory Craft Sewing Quilting Machine

December 14, 2019 by David Allen Leave a Comment

Janome 6500P Quilting Machine, First a little history of Janome sewing machines. Previously the company was the New Home Sewing Machine Company, which has been in business since 1860. They are an industry leader in programmable computerized sewing machines and the first to offer professional style embroidery stitches. Janome machines are known for their ease of use and stitching quality.

The Janome Memory Craft 6500P is one of their best and most popular sewing machines with lots of quilting features. It’s a super modern sewing machine with lots of options to allow you to finish up quilts and other sewing projects quickly and easily. The computerized engineering offers an amazing array of features for the home quilter, in addition to sewing features for embroidery, monograms, garments, and home décor. This flexible Janome MC6500P Sewing Machine does it all. It’s a home quilting machine that professional sewists love. It’s priced in the upper-mid cost range so make sure you visit a sewing studio and try one out before you invest. I love it and think it’s definitely worth the money.

There are some elements that are especially handy for making quilts including a large 9” x 5” throat area that will accommodate big quilts, along with a 12” x 24” extension bed to give you a much larger sewing surface and support for the fabric. There is a knee lifter for raising the presser foot so you keep your hands on the project, and an advanced feed mechanism that works with thick, layered, or delicate fabrics. It sews fast too, up to 1,000 straight stitches per minute with professional speed control and flexibility. It’s the fastest Janome has ever offered.

The customizable and specialty stitch choices are very generous. The back-it LCD panel with a ten key selection display makes them easy to program. With 135 different stitch types over 4 different modes, there is a wide range from utilitarian to decorative. That translates to 391 stitch variations including 7 buttonholes. There are beautiful custom stitches such as the French Knot and Feathering. The Quilting mode has 69 patterns, 4 of which look like hand quilting. And the system memory will recall the last 3 settings you’ve programmed in case you need to go back and re-do a particular seam. There is a quick flip chart that shows all of the stitches that folds up from the back of the machine. And just in case you don’t sew in English there are 9 other languages included.

Another nifty feature is the exclusive independent bobbin winder. The bobbin loader is a drop in style and very easy to change – as long as you don’t have a project going. That’s a disadvantage. It seems if the Janome Company thought it was important enough to be able to wind a bobbin while still sewing they would have used a side bobbin loader so you don’t have to stop sewing to load the bobbin. Seems contradictory. But the bobbin mechanism is jam proof, which is a great feature. Janome recommends using plastic bobbins which aren’t my favorite but the advantage is you can see easily how much thread is left on the spool.

The automatic thread cutter will cut both the top and bobbin threads with push of a button. Or it can be programmed to cut automatically at the end of certain stitching combinations. And the automatic needle threader makes your set up time fast and easy.

The needle controls for the reverse, lock, and up/down settings are located right above the sewing area. There’s a light in the face plate along with a visible pressure gauge that lets you control how much pressure the sewing foot places on the fabric. Once you find the perfect setting for a particular project, you can see exactly how to get back to it every time.

The Janome MC6500P has die cast aluminum arm, bed, top cover and face plate. The internal gears are all metal it comes with a 25 year limited mechanical warranty. Metal gears allow top speed sewing without vibration and they last longer than plastic parts. The disadvantage of metal gears is the noise and weight. This machine weighs 27 pounds so it’s not made for toting to quilting class easily. This sewing machine is built like a tank and made to last.

Advantages of the Janome MC6500P Over Other Quilting Machines

Works well on a machine quilting frame when sewing large quilt projects.
Many programmable and automatic features that allow fast and easy quilting
Large number of different stitch and monogram styles.
Heavy duty construction made to last.

Disadvantages

The metal construction gives the Janome Memory Craft 6500P some extra weight making it less portable than some machines
Does not include a free arm for garment sewing
Doesn’t include a start stop button and the machine must be run by foot

Features & Functions

Back-lit LCD screen with stitch indicator
Ten key stitch selection in quilt, monogram, quilting, and direct modes
10 language selection
Memory function with recall for previous 3 stitch settings
Sews 1000 pm straight stitch & 700 pm zigzag
Auto stop at the end of buttonhole
Speed control lever & foot speed control
Knee control presser foot lifter & lever on back of Presser bar
9” x 5” throat area
12” x 24” extension bed
Front access 5 piece feed dogs with up & down control
SFS – Superior Feed System
External feed balancing dial
Separate bobbin winder with thread cutter
Jam proof, magnetic, top-loading full rotary bobbin hook system
Automatic thread cutter with memory
Built in needle threader
Industrial spool stand
Visible pressure gauge
Sewing lamp in face plate
Manual tension dial
Short folding handle
Size 19.5” W x 11.8” H x 8.6” D
Weighs 27 lb
13 standard feet that attach easily including:

1. Automatic buttonhole foot – There’s a feature in the machine to auto cut the thread when the buttonhole is finished
2. Satin stitch foot – For a dense zigzag sewing and decorative sewing
3. Open toe satin stitch foot – For sewing dense zigzag stitching & made of clear plastic making it easier to view underneath
4. Zigzag foot – For everything from straight to wide zigzag stitches
5. Blind hem foot – Just place the folded fabric against the black guide for an invisible hem
6. ¼” seam foot – Very handy for piecing quilt tops and top stitching
7. Cording foot – Three slots in this foot hold 1 to 3 in place while stitching over them
8. Zipper foot – Easily guides the seam along the zipper for side or center placement
9. Overcastting foot – Finishes off raw edges easily
10. Overedge Foot – Another edge finishing stitch to reduce raveling along the fabric edge
11. Open toe walking foot – Reduces shifting and puckering of layered fabrics. Feed dogs are incorporated into the foot itself which work in conjunction with the machine feed dogs to feed fabric layers evenly. The open toe configuration allows for a clear view of your work
12. Open toe basting/darning foot – A spring loaded foot for free motion quilting, embroidery, and monograms
13. Rolled hem foot – perfect for hems that are too small to sew by hand

Tools and Accessories Included

Accessory kit that includes extra needles, screwdrivers, seam ripper, large and small spool holders, 2 quilting bars to use for evenly spaced quilt seams, and more.

Stitches Types And Styles

Fold up stitch chart for quick reference
135 stitches across 4 modes totaling 391 including the buttonholes
7 buttonhole stitches – Square, rounded, keyhole, and more
Block and script monogram stitches – – 2 American alphabets & 2 European alphabets with accent marks. Each alphabet comes in both block style and script, along with upper and lower case letters. Also includes numbers.
Adjustable zigzag stitch
Stitch length to 5mm & width to 7mm
Individual, combination stitch editing
Elongation stitching
Mirror image stitching
Turnover stitch & reduction of monogram

Tin Lizzie 18DLS Longarm Quilting Machine

December 14, 2019 by David Allen Leave a Comment

The Tin Lizzie 18DLS Long Arm Quilting Machine is an affordable high quality long arm quilting machine, and the most popular machine the Company makes. It was introduced in 2006 and was one of the first lower cost machines on the market. It is designed for the home quilter in mind, yet has the high end features and size that a professional quilter needs.

If it were up to me I would put this machine in the mid arm quilting machine category instead of long arm. Mid arm machines generally range from 12” to 18” in the throat area so it’s at the highest range. But long arm quilting machines are usually thought of as industrial bedspread and comforter sewing machines. The Tin Lizzie 18 is truly a machine made for home quilting. Big enough to accommodate king size quilts, and yet compact enough to live in your spare bedroom. It’s the best of both worlds.

The Lizzie stitch, an automatic stitch regulator that is included in the Tin Lizzie 18, is a favorite feature with quilters. This helps keep all of the stitches on your quilt the same size. The auto up or down needle position setting helps minimize bending or breaking the needles, and allows the machine to move freely in any direction. And there is a rocker switch for turning directions on the Tin Lizzie. All of these standard features mean that your stitches remain a uniform length, and give you the flexibility to change speed or sewing direction without affecting the quality of the quilt.

Ergonomic handles with rubber grips adjust up and down for comfort and safety. And you can stand or sit while quilting when using a frame. Try using a rolling bar stool for ease of movement if you prefer sitting.

There are a number of other professional features included with this quilting machine. One is the laser light, which mounts on the back, and makes following paper patterns easy. Another is the capacity to use large bobbins. Nobody wants to refill the bobbin all the time. But when you are getting ready for a new bobbin, you can wind one automatically while you are still quilting. It saves time and the aggravation of having to stop for a tedious task when you’re on a roll. The hopping foot holds down the any thickness of sandwiched fabric and batting, and allows for stitching next to rulers and templates. And finally the oil reservoir with dip stick, keeps the bobbin area lubricated and keeps the oil off your quilt in addition to helping your machine last longer.

The Tin Lizzie 18DLS integrates easily with a computerized robotic add-on, called the Shirley Stitcher. It gives you the ability to quilt with computerized patterns or create your own design and save it into memory.

Tin Liz Lizzie 18DLS typically comes with a Falcon Frame or with the newer Phoenix Frame, which is made especially for the DLS machine. Make sure to check the specifications on the machine you are considering as some companies sell the components separately. Both frames can be expanded to 10 feet meaning you can make up to a king sized quilt with no problem. You can easily sew 12” patterns on a king sized quilt and you won’t have to turn the quilt. The quilt rolls onto the leader bars as you progress. The light weight sewing head mounts easily and glides smoothly along the rails. And the Tin Lizzie 18 can be used from the front or rear on these frames.

Features & Functions

Front handles with electronics
Throat space 18” x 6” with an actual quilting space of 15”
Digital Lizzie LCD stitch regulator
Adjustable 2 position laser light
Ergonomic handles
Needle Up
Needle Down
Single Stitch
Dual thread capability
Double bobbin capacity
Built in bobbin winder
Fully adjustable goose lamp
Multi thread holder
Super smooth machine head carriage
4 fabric clamps
5 year U.S. warranty on defects in materials and workmanship
Size 37” W x 17” H
Weighs 47 lbs

Tools and Accessories Included

M bobbins, metal and cardboard sides
Needle plate screwdriver
Bobbin tension screwdriver
Pack of 10 Groz-Beckert needles
Allen key
Superior King Tut thread sample spools
Two spool vertical thread stand
Rotary hook oil tube
Instructions & DVD

Stitches Types And Styles

The Tin Lizzie 18DLS Long Arm Quilting Machine has a single stitch that is controlled via the LCD panel at the front of the sewing head. The convenient panel also includes the stitch speed settings.

Learn More About The Tin Lizzie 18DLS Quilting Machine At The Tin Lizzie Company Website

The Singer Curvy 8770 Review – Might Just be the Easiest Sewing Machine Ever

December 14, 2019 by David Allen Leave a Comment

Sometimes, you just want something easy. Easy to handle. Easy to thread. Easy to understand. After all, it’s the sewing that matters, not how complicated or expensive your machine is. Fortunately, easy doesn’t have to mean “cheap and unreliable.”

The Singer Curvy 8770 is a convenient, easy-to-use and affordable machine for home sewing, quilting and embroidering. It’s not a heavy duty or industrial model, by any means. But I’m counting it as a “serious sewing machine” because it provides some new features that help people with low eyesight and other physical issues.

Although you might not find this model in your local fabric store, at least you won’t have to search a web site or mail order accessories like bobbins, needles and thread. That’s the beauty of Singer brand sewing machines and sergers, they are fine using common supplies found at your local sewing shop. Plus, you can get things like portable cases as a gift later on.

Two awesome features set this model apart for home sewers.

What makes this model special is the revolutionary threading system. If you hate threading up, down, and through all the little holes on a regular machine, you’ll love the simplicity of the SwiftSmart ™ threading system and one touch needle threader (also available on the 8763 model.) It’s ideal for seniors and sewers with less than optimal eyesight.

Until now, to thread a sewing machine you had to thread the spool, guide the thread down along the groove, then U-turn the thread, pull it up again, thread the take-up, and pull it down again to thread the needle eye. Now using the SwiftSmart Threading System, you simply guide the thread from the spool to the needle along the groove at the front of the machine. Another feature, the One Touch Needle Threader, will even pull the thread through the eye of the needle. No need to go through a complicated threading process (you’ll have to find something else to swear about.

The new Drop and Sew(tm) bobbin system comes with a specially designed thread track and new needle plate, there is no longer a need to manually raise the bobbin thread.

Some serious sewers don’t really care about the color or style of their machines, but sometimes it’s nice when your beautifully decorated studio has pretty machines to match. It’s amazing how many online comments for this item and related categories include references to the new curvy profile and contemporary colors.

Standard Features for the Singer Curvy 8770 Sewing Machine:

Exclusive SwiftSmart ™ Threading System

As I said earlier, this new digital technology makes threading a cinch! All you have to do is guide the thread directly from the spool to the needle area through a single groove. Then, you automatically thread the needle by pressing the threader lever on the side of the machine. One-touch threading…it’s about time!

Exclusive Drop & Sew ™ Bobbin System

Simply drop in the bobbin, then pull the thread through the specially designed needle plate and track. No more manually raising the bobbin thread. That’s easy.

3 StayBright LED Lights

Not 1 but 3 nice bright lamps illuminate the sewing surface which means less eye strain and longer sewing sessions. The long-lasting bulbs (100,000 hours) stay cool, even after hours of sewing.

Electronic Push-Button Stitch Selection

With just the click of a button you have selected the stitch and settings for length, width, balance, pressure and tension.

173 Stitch Patterns

It’s pretty standard these days to get a large variety of stitches for construction, fashion sewing, quilting, heirloom, crafts, home decorating and decorative sewing. Some stitches can be mirror-image reversed with the touch of a button. I don’t know if anyone really needs 173, but they’re there if you want ‘em.
Your choices show up on a 2-Line (17mm x 56mm) liquid crystal display window with backlight for easy viewing. Thank goodness you don’t have to memorize the names of all 173 designs.

6 Styles of One-Step Balanced Buttonholes

More choices…This time you can choose from 6 different one step buttonhole styles. Each side of the buttonhole is sewn in the same direction, creating beautifully balanced buttonholes.

Exclusive Buttonhole Underplate

If you sew a lot of buttons, you’re going to love this feature. Singer includes a system that sandwiches fabric between a lower plate and the foot to ensure perfect buttonholes on multiple layers of fabric. Basically, you’ve got a mini-embroidery hoop and the machine feeds the attachment, rather than the fabric. It makes creating buttonholes possible in places that conventional buttonholers can’t reach easily.

Exclusive 3-Step Infinite Length Bar-Tack Buttonhole

Yeah, they went a little crazy on the buttonhole features. This one lets you create a buttonhole with endlessly long sides, ideal when sewing non-traditional sized buttonholes. There are no size limitations with this buttonhole-every one fits.

BuiltIn Alphabet

You can personalize projects by adding a monogram, name or phrase with the built-In block style alphabet. This one’s nice if you don’t already have an embroidery machine. A 20-space memory bank holds full names and simple phrases. And editing is easy with a simple cursor system. Really, it’s like you’ve got a computer inside your machine.

Built-In Stretch Stitches

I sew a lot of dance and skating costumes, so these specially designed stitches are great. They add strength and flexibility to seams, especially useful when sewing on knitwear and super-stretch fabrics.

Hand-Look Quilt Stitch

I’m not sure how they do this, but this stitch is designed to look like hand sewing for topstitching or quilting.

Center Zigzag Taper

When tapering with the zigzag stitch, the Singer Curvy tapers it to the center, not the left or right, which provides a more attractive look when tapering into or out from a point.

Automatic Tacking Stitch Function

One of the reasons I don’t use a lot of decorative stitches is they tend to unravel after a while. This machine ties off those suckers with four tiny tacking stitches so the start and end of the pattern is reinforced.

Automatic Tie-Off Function

With just a push of a button the machine will sew 4 stitches forward and then 4 stitches in reverse at the start of Straight Stitching. At the end, press the reverse button again and the machine will sew 4 stitches in reverse and then 4 stitches forward and then stop. The Automatic Tie-Off Function reinforces the start and end of seams for stronger stitching.

7mm Stitch Width

What’s that they said on that car commercial? Wider is better. Most stitches on the Curvy can be set for a maximum width of 7mm. When sewing decorative stitches or satin stitches, these wider stitches are bolder and more pronounced.

Electronic Twin Needle Control

Stitches are automatically adjusted for twin needle sewing with just the touch of a button. Twin needle sewing creates two parallel rows adding a decorative touch or a bit of added strength.

13 Needle Positions

Needle position can be changed for individual projects, such as inserting zippers or cording and topstitching.

Programmable Needle Up and Down

Select whether the needle is up or down when the machine stops. You’re going to want the needle to stop in the down position when appliquéing, quilting or pivoting fabric. When removing the fabric from the machine, it is easier if the needle is raised to highest position.

Sewing Speed

With a maximum sewing speed of 750 stitches per minute, this isn’t a production model. But most projects can be sewn quickly and easily.

Automatic Tension

Okay, this feature is awesome. I hate tension problems! This computerized system ensures stable stitch quality, whatever type of fabric is being used.

Automatic Presser Foot Pressure Control

The amount of pressure exerted on the fabric by the presser foot against the feed dogs is automatic. Sew from the lightest weight tricots to the heaviest denim, without making presser foot adjustments. Sweet!

Extra-High Presser Foot Lifter

There are 2 heights to the presser foot lifter. The second height offers more clearance when you’re sewing multiple layers of bulky fabric.

Top Loading Jam-Proof Bobbin System with Clear Cover

No more thread jams–woo hoo! This mechanism incorporates a magnetic vertical axis rotating hook that ensures smooth, quiet, thread jam-resistant sewing.

6-Segment Feeding System

This is a specially designed feed dog that makes sure the fabric is picked up and supported from the front of the presser foot to the rear. This makes for much more accurate feeding.

Box Feed

This is a feed dog motion that moves the feed dogs in a box motion, rather than the usual arc motion. That means you get perfect feeding throughout the entire feed process, as the feed dogs are always in perfect and equal contact with the fabric and presser foot.

Drop Feed Dogs

A conveniently located lever will lower the feed dogs below the needle plates for free-motion embroidery, monograms, and for attaching buttons.

Direct Drive

The needle bar is geared straight from the motor, rather than from a drive bar across the machine. This makes the machine more powerful and durable.

Optimum Power Control

The machine senses when additional power is required to maintain speed through thick or changing fabric conditions. This feature is most useful when sewing through multiple (6-8) layers of fabric. Can you say dance costumes?

Snap-On Presser Feet

Change from one to another effortlessly with Snap-On feet. No need for screwdrivers to change presser feet.

Portable and Cabinet Mountable

It has a built-in carry handle, making it easy to transport. It can also be mounted into a cabinet.

Free Arm

You gotta have easy access to clothing parts like cuffs, collars, pant hems and other difficult-to-reach areas.
The Singer Curvy 8770 includes a US warranty of 25 years for the head, 2 years electrical, and 90 days parts and labor. Non-US warranties vary, so check with your dealer.

Sometimes people buying online come across a sale page and are happy to save a little money, but have concerns about machines run by computers. Fortunately reviews and information are easy to find. PDF manuals and video tutorial downloads give instructions, increase user confidence and provide loads of inspiration. And a 2019 blog post might give you details on a pattern created back in August 2018

The Pfaff 335 Review – Cylinder Bed Industrial Sewing Machine for Those Hard-to-Reach Places

December 14, 2019 by David Allen Leave a Comment

Sometimes no matter what you do it’s impossible to reach the seam you need to sew or repair. You know what I mean, those hard to get to places you wonder how anyone ever manages to reach. Well, the secret is the proper style bed on your sewing machine. I use a post-bed for most hard to maneuver pieces like shoes. But one of the most useful styles is the cylinder bed.

The Pfaff 335 is one model I hear leatherworkers and upholstery shops recommend frequently. It’s a single needle, straight stitch machine with a small diameter cylinder bed and a walking foot for top speeds of 2800 stitches per minute. The maximum stitch length is a standard 6mm. And it comes with a large table, power stand and a clutch motor available in 110v or 220v. (The 220 version costs a little extra.)

Whether you’re in industry or just like handicraft projects, you’ll find these type lockstitch machines most useful for general sewing and tape binding on upholstery, foot wear, bags and other leatherwear and accessories. Of course, it’s possible to use it for other fabrics, too.

It’s especially nice to have a cylinder arm when you’re tape binding on tubular or pre-attached articles. The machine just zips right around the circle without the need for constantly shifting the piece. Binding strips that work best with this machine are leather, imitation leather or textile tape, such as what you would use for piping on bags or suitcases.

Features the make the Pfaff 335 cylinder bed a great machine:

Unison triple feed keeps layers from slipping. The needle, walking foot and feed dogs work together in unison to move the fabric after each stitch is complete. This makes for even, consistent high-quality stitching, even when using different workpiece materials together like canvas and leather.
Nice roomy fabric clearance, 14mm with the presser foot raised.
A moving binder attachment holds the tape close to the binding edge producing very neat bindings even on inside and outside curves.
It uses 134-35 needles, and they recommend a needle thickness of 80-100 on the SCHMETZ needles system. Recommended thread type is synthetic 40/3.
The Pfaff 335-G model has an extra large bobbin and 40% more thread capacity. And who doesn’t love fewer bobbin changes? The builtin winder is right where you can see it–another thing that makes life easier.
You can get lots of attachments and extra accessories depending on what operations you need including welting, zippers and special binding. Work aids available include an electro-mechanically controlled thread trimmer, an automatic presser foot lifter, an automatic needle positioner. You can also get a maintenance unit for pneumatically controlled work aids.
The belt comes with a finger guard, and the take-up lever has a guard as well. Yay, safety!

The Pfaff name means you get the highest quality machinery:

Pfaff prides itself on quality and efficiency, and for over 145 years they’ve proven themselves masters of high performance technology for industrial machinery. Their designs focus on superb seam quality with high output and reliability. It’s a name professionals and passionate hobbyists have trusted for generations.

Here are the technical specifications:

Stitchtype: 301 lockstitch
Max. sewing speed: 2,800 s.p.m.
Max. stitch length: 6.0 mm
Top feed lift: 7.0 mm
Fabric clearance: 14.0 mm
Thread sizes: synth. up to 30/3
Needle sizes: 80 to 100
Needle system: 134-35
Clear work space: 265 mm
Clear work height: 115 mm
Cylinder bed diameter: 51 mm
Cylinder bed circumphrence: 165 mm
Weight: 40 kg (head only in carton)

Pfaff 1245 Review – Finish Projects Faster to Walking Foot Industrial Sewing Machine

December 14, 2019 by David Allen Leave a Comment

I feel the need….for speed! Sewing is great fun when you’re actually making progress, right? Not so much when you’re fighting with broken needles, messed up timing, or a just plain slow machine.

The Pfaff 1245 is the ideal straight stitch machine for leather, upholstery work and production sewing of costumes and fashion products. The 1/2 horsepower clutch motor helps it sew up to 2800 stitches per minute, making it a true industrial grade sewing machine.

Features that make this machine awesome for high volume sewing include a compound walking foot and needle feed. They work in unison to provide excellent traction and prevent multiple layers of fabric from slipping and sliding and making a general mess of your project. The motor comes with an unassembled power stand, available in 110 or 220 voltage. (110 is standard house current, and 220 needs those giant outlets used for your washer and dryer.)

The machine comes with a vertical rotary hook (standard on most industrial sewing machines) but it has 60% more bobbin thread capacity than the standard size. The bobbin area also has an automatic hook lubrication system, which is good when you sew a lot and don’t have a mechanic on staff to do regular maintenance on your hard working baby.

The high top feed lift means heavy materials are no problem, even when going over bulky seams that can be 8 or 12 layers thick. No surprise since the machine was engineered to sew upholstery, drapes, furniture, tents, car tops and other heavy-duty projects. You’ll find loading and unloading is easy, too. The fabric clearance is 14mm, higher than most.

The Nitty-Gritty Technical Specifications:

Sews up to 2800 stitches per minute depending on motor speed and pulley size
Unison presser feet provide excellent traction
Even feed motion without any ply-shift of individual layers
Large vertical rotary hook includes 60% more bobbin thread capacity than any other standard-sized hooks
Automatic hook lubrication
Efficient hook protection due to standard built-in overload coupling
Rugged and durable
High top feed lift allows trouble-free sewing of thick materials and easy sewing over cross seams
Good control of bulky material – due to a high fabric clearance of 14 mm
Extremely quiet running and ergonomic design
Made to handle furniture, upholstery, drapes, and more
Needle system : 134-35R

Needle Size Information:

207 top thread and #138 Bobbin thread use a #23/160 needle
138 top thread and #138 Bobbin thread use a #22/140 needle
92 top thread and a #92 or #69 bobbin thread use a #21/120 needle
69 top thread and a #69 bobbin thread use a #20/110 needle

This item ships with an unassembled power stand and a 1/2 HP clutch motor.

Pfaff designs some of the best upholstery and leather machines in the market. They have been perfecting sewing machine engineering for over 145 years. Although they’re a German company, they’re well known all around the world for high quality precision sewing equipment.

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