Pfaff

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)

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.

Pfaff is a German company that is dedicated to providing quality sewing machines. The company has been around for over 150 years and has steadily produced some of the world’s finest sewing machines.

One element that has set Pfaff apart from the rest, is that they have gotten rid of the need for a walking foot and have replaced it with their Integrated Dual Transportation that feeds fabrics through their feed dogs from the bottom and the top.

The 3 Best Pfaff Sewing Machines- Reviews

The list provided is some of the best reviewed sewing machines that have been produced by Pfaff. Included with the names are some of the aspects that make that machine unique as well as a list of pros and cons for the described machine.

1. Pfaff Creative Performance: The Best Sewing Machine for Embroidery

The Creative Performance sewing machine delivers a unique sewing machine that takes embroidery to the next level. The Pfaff design is unique and provides the operator with enough options to create works of art.

The extended work table allows you to focus on your project without having to move the fabric around too much. The sewing machine is capable of performing 9mm stitching and comes equipped with over 450 stitch choices.

The machine is automatic and no longer needs the foot control to stop and start the sewing machine. It is the superb choice for embroidery, but can handle a large array of other tasks.

The Pros:

The Creative Performance sewing machine is equipped with Pfaff’s patented Integrated Dual Transportation system that eliminates the need for walking feet.
The sewing machine allows for 450 different stitching options, which allows for a broader range in creativity.

The Cons:
The Creative Performance is on the pricier end of sewing machines and might not meet budget demands for many consumers.

2. Pfaff 1246 Industrial Sewing Machine: The Perfect Choice for Industrial Sewing Machines

The Pfaff 1246 provides everything that you need out of an industrial or heavy duty sewing machine.

The heavy metal frame allows for maximum stability and minimizes the chances of vibrations, which could lead to issues with the fabric. This industrial sewing machine can easily pierce through leather, upholstery, and a majority of thicker fabrics.

The Pros:

This sewing machine is exceptional at stitching through some of the thickest fabrics. The sewing machine will cut production time in half.

The Cons:

This is an industrial sewing machine and it is intended for industrial use. It is not intended to be used for anything less than industrial usage.
The weight of the machine makes portability almost impossible. You will need to have a workspace dedicated to this industrial machine.

3. Pfaff Ambition Essential: The Perfect Sewing Machine for Teenagers

We all know those teenagers that love to make their own clothing or that just like to make different things. This sewing machine provides everything a teenager would need in order to bring out their creativity.

The Ambition provides an extended table area, which allows you to spread out your project and work on more without always having to stop and reposition the fabric. The Ambition comes equipped with 110 built in stitches, which are sure to provide your teenager with everything they need to make their ideas come to life.

The Ambition sewing machine also comes with two LED light sources so that your project area is always well lit and you don’t miss a stitch due to bad lighting. The Ambition Essential also comes equipped with monogramming capabilities.

The Pros:

• The Ambition Essential sewing machine is equipped with Pfaff’s patented Integrated Dual Transportation system that eliminates the need for walking feet and allows for quicker sewing.
• This sewing machine promotes free motion sewing. It is as simple as attaching another foot onto the sewing machine to enjoy free motion sewing.
• This Pfaff sewing machine also boasts a feature known as immediate tie off. This feature will allow the machine to tie of the thread once it has reached the end of its seam. This function makes projects easier as you are not constantly having to worry about seams coming unraveled because they have all been securely tied off.

The Cons:

• The monogramming capability is limited to 4 fonts, which might cause issues for teenagers or sewing beginners with slightly more creative signatures.
• The Ambition sewing machine is on the pricier end of sewing machines because it is made within a German company. This price might not conform to your budget.