Most of their machines are manufactured in Shanghai, China. What is the best sewing machine to buy? Here are the best sewing machines you can buy: Best computerized sewing machine: Janome Magnolia Computerized Sewing Machine.
Who makes the Pfaff sewing machines? Does Singer own Pfaff? Older singer machines have a reputation for excellent build and quality. In fact vintage machines are still very much sought after these days. Who bought Pfaff?
I asked my Pfaff dealer about this and it is true and for the last 3 years they have all been made in Shanghi. What does Pfaff stand for? Prominent Italian Domestic Sewing Machine.
Business » Products. And of course, price matters, too. Good luck with your selection! Write back and tell us which one you picked. Recently it has needed repair perhaps twice in 40 years and was told by the tech, that of course going forward, there are certain things that will no longer be repairable if they should fail. I will not buy another pfaff as they are now made in Shanghai.
I am a pretty basic sewer, new garments, repairs, a few crafts, and I might be interested in venturing out a little bit more with a new machine. Can you recommend a nice basic machine to replace it, I am thinking a bernina , or even a janome, or would you have other recommendations? Yeah, those older machines lasted 40 years or more and they were sooo solid. Try looking at the Bernina to start. You can move up or down from there, but it would be a good place to start. These are often used in classrooms.
Go for an updated machine…you still get a 20 year warranty on mechanical parts. I am considering buying a Pfaff Quilt Ambition I had a previous Pfaff that lasted over 30 years, I think a or similar number? Loved it. I sew home decor, mend, hem, piece quilts, make a baby quilt every year or two, etc.
Is there a similar one I should consider? The pretty much hits the high end of my price range. So the Pfaff looks like a good machine. I had a Pfaff 20 years ago, which was a wonderful machine. But Pfaff has gone through a lot of changes since then.
They are, as you know, owned by the same company as Singer. You can find mixed reviews about every manufacturer, and I always say…shop the dealer as much as the machine.
As for a comparable Bernina, I would suggest a , but that could get pricey. Good luck to you and happy stitching! Another reader wanted to anonymously send a message. The quality is not there. I used to be a Pfaff customer with obout 5 machines. The ones made in West Germany and Chech were wonderful.
Then I bought on made in China. They had to replace it twice. I finally sold it in a garage sale for pennies. I then went to Bernina. I love my 5 Berninas. Good luck. Be sure to thoroughly check you dealer. I went to a dessert 90 miles from my home because they were the best.
I would not buy a Phaff machine again. I purchased one and it had a 10 year warranty. I needed it repaired in less than 5 years and they no longer made parts for it. So I now have a dust catcher and I am very disappointed. Thank you, yes. I might give them a call to find out more. They have a pretty large fullfillment capability, so as a catalog business, I think it makes sense. Came across your article doing research on purchasing a new machine.
Just getting back into sewing retired. Had a singer which I purchased in for 35 years sewed great no problems. Took it to have a tune up never worked correctly again it was the best model for that time paid about for it then. Took it back twice to the service center it never worked properly again. Was a big sewing then went to work full time so stared sewing less. Have a Singer stylist, it ok but does not sew like my old singer. Thinking of purchasing a new machine, the singer is in for a tune up.
Would like something with many stitches and maybe a few embroidery stitches. Want something that can take multiple layers. Have made garments in past years, many home projects, slip covers, do a lot of crafts now. The dealers has a floor model baby lock Rachel on special but this looks much like the stylist.
The dealer recommended the Janome I was looking at the brilliant. Want something sturdy, fast motion, easy bobbin. My old singer had the bobbin fill in place which I loved seems they no longer have this option. You seem to have a wealth of knowledge, would appreciate your input.
I have been sewing for 58 years learned in a singer store. Just judging by their features, I would be more inclined to go with the Janome, which has a 6. However, I am not a fan of a drop-in bobbin, which they both have. The Rachel has more decorative stitches. But to be honest, I know very few people who use all the decorative stitches a machine has available. AS you probably know, I am a Bernina fan.
It would be more expensive, but you should look at a B They have cast iron frames to support their powerful motors, so even though the outside is plastic, it will feel more like your old Singer. If you decide to go with the Janome or Babylock, just be sure to test drive them with multiple layers and make sure you feel like they can handle the work you want to do.
Once you sew on the machines, you will know which one you are bonding with. And always be sure you have a dealer you trust. Good luck and Happy Sewing! This may be an odd question. Are the Bernina machines manufactured differently for the US market vs the rest if the world? I had a , then upgraded to a qe. Brand new out of the box. It has the same backlash issue that my did. The reason I am asking is because I have several friends over the world with the same machines, same sewing process, and they have never had this issue.
I have videoed the bobbin while the dogs are up then dropped them. The bobbin moves at a consistent rotation when the dogs are up, then inconsistently , many times stopping completely when the dogs are dropped. I believe that all the machines are made exactly the same. However, I know that in the past sometimes Bernina had versions of machines or models that are specific to Europe or other places and never were distributed in the US.
But a should be a anywhere. One more thought. Have you tried using the stitch regulator to see if the same thing happens? One thing to keep in mind—because this happens to me when I am free motion quilting—is that if your heel hits the foot pedal a certain way, it could cause the machine to stop and lift the presser foot.
But other than that, your best bet is to get it in front of a tech. Thank you for your quick reply. They said I was doing everything right from loading the bobbin to threading and everything in between. Always with the feeddogs down and FMQ. However, the most miraculous solution came when I discovered Magic Genie Bobbin washers. In fact, the results were so amazing I sent before and after photos to Pat LaPierre, the owner of the company who manufactures and sells the product Lapierre Studios.
I purchased mine on Amazon. Their machines are built with too much precision and the bobbins have sensors. I have no experience with them on other machines, so just a word of caution.
Hi, what a wealth of knowledge and wonderful to find some very useful input and opinions. I am wanting to buy a mechanical machine as I have a fully computerised Janome that also embroiders but hanker after a strong, fast, simple mechanical.
I also hanker after a Bernina! Oh, you are someone after my own heart. You can take a look at the Bernina or They are not mechanical, but they are the lowest end Berninas that offer presser foot pressure adjustments—manually.
I have done a quick look through Juki and Sailrite these are the two places I would look for mechanical machines. And what I find is that neither the Juki home sewing machines or Sailrite have that feature.
So, sadly, I think you have to get a slightly upgraded machine with some electronics. Hey, manufacturers! This is a feature we would like to see on a mechanical machine! He also thinks that if I get a that my current computerised Janome will end up benched and not be used.
His view is to trade in my Janome and get a higher end Bernina. My question is given the had that CB hook, where in the Bernina range do you need to be to access that with presser foot pressure adjustment haha? Head is spinning. In a good way, of course! Well, here is the problem. But the newer hook system is just fine too.
Anyway, there are still a lot of slightly older machines at dealers. You might have to call around. So you might still be able to find the CB hook on some new but outdated machines, especially at a dealer who had a large stock on hand. Or they might have had a trade-in for people who wanted to move up to the 8 Series,etc. Look for the 5 Series and ask if they have any with the CB Hook. Wow, you set yourself up for a challenge. And if you cannot find any, the newer Bernina hook system is just fine.
Sew with it and see for yourself. In that case, the or are ideal for you. Oh I know, I really have given myself a challenge. It was a 9mm stitch width.
I wish the option of the B existed over here but sadly not. Again thank you so much. My understanding is that Baby Lock sewing machines are made by Brother. They are the same thing. Most dealers have told me that Baby Lock buys their sewing machines from Brother. If you look closley they have the same models with just differnt coloring on the casings and diffent names.
I am told machine parts and accessories are interchangeble. Baby Lock sergers may be a differnt case or source however. That seems to be the general consensus. But no one from either organization will clarify.
Neither organization Babylock or Brother actually owns and operates manufacturing facilities. Babylock has some factories in Japan for sergers. They can easily overlap. Hello everyone. Im really amazed at the knowledge and understanding of sewing machines that you all hold. I took a course in sewing and obtained a diploma in dress making some 10 years ago.
I have sewed now and again since then and unfortunately can only describe myself as a beginner but would love to improve my skill and explore the sewing world. I have never done quilting or embroidery but would like to try them both. Should I even Consider a bernette? Should I buy from new a lower spec machine or a used higher spec? Is this true? Many thanks in advance. Welcome back to the sewing world! You need to spend some time online first. Go to bernina. I like the lower end Bernina machines.
They are rock solid but not cheap and you have to get pretty pricey for embroidery. But the 7 series is awesome. Bernette—try one. The new bernettes are nice machines with the same interface as the real Berninas. They are not built in Bernina factories. The specs are outsourced and they are put together elsewhere.
They are just not the precision-built machines that you expect from Bernina. But they are brand new, not refurbished. That would be illegal. They might be made in the same plant as other machines. True Berninas are made in two places: Headquarters in Switzerland or in the Bernina plant in Thailand.
Plus you get classes and other perks from a dealer when you purchase. As I tell everyone, be sure you trust the dealer when you purchase.
They have to make you happy. Good luck, hope this helps! I also stumbled across this very useful blog while looking at new combo sewing and embroidery machines. I will be new to embroidery and thus does not require a dedicated embroidery machine.
I have a PfaffCD and enjoyed the free arm. Any suggestions or recommendations? I am also looking at a new overlocker. Coverstitch a bit expensive. Not sure about a combination of the two? I am retiring in a few years and want to upgrade before then. Thank you for your honest reviews. All I know is what readers tell me. Do you want to just dabble in embroidery? What if you love it? You can get cheap machines that will do both, but they are not always worthwhile.
Right now, Bernina is offering a free embroidery module with their sewing machines. I know these are well-made machines: the or the That is an ideal purchase…to get the embroidery module for free.
As far as sergers go, I have a Babylock with a coverstitch, the Accolade. It is less expensive than the new sergers Bernina is offering. And it has the most beautiful stitch. Any Babylock serger will give you a nice overlock, but the Accolade has the coverstitch, and honestly, I love that machine. As I always say, be sure to trust your dealer.
If you have questions, they will set you straight and train you on your machine. Bernina has a LOT of free training online, and Babylock has a lot available, but you pay for it. Good luck to you! Thank you for the blog, I just discovered it. I was able to repair a hole in my favorite oven mitts and it sewed all those layers without any trouble at all. Thank you for the info.
I wish you the best with your machine. Obviously, I am pro-dealer for lots of reasons. Not having the built-in IDT like my main Pfaff really kicked my butt on the assembly line we did for minky stuffed animals on our group project, lol. Have you had any experience with Bernettes? When it comes to the bernettes, you just need to know that these are not manufactured in the same plants as other Bernina machines, and could possibly be made in Janome factories. The bernette box should tell you what country the machine was made in.
While they do have plastic parts, the bernette b77 is a pretty darn nice machine. Beyond that, the stitch quality is lovely and the machine feels solid. For you, I think it will come down to price, weight, and quality of dual feed. The b77 is a bigger machine and 20 lbs, as opposed to the pfaff at 14 lbs. Best of luck to you! I bought a Bernina Qe a little under a year ago.
I have found it to be a little temperamental and have had problems with the bobbin and upper thread sensors. I do mostly patchwork piecing and find that the fabric can easily get chewed up in the feed dogs. I also find the extension table to be not so sturdy or secure when quilting larger quilts.
I just bought a Baby Lock Crescendo and am liking it much more. It has not messed up once and sews very smoothly. I think I prefer the 7mm feed dogs. The LCD screen is huge and the programs are very easy to navigate.
With a couple of small exceptions, the machines are pretty similar but I am currently loving the Baby Lock more and thinking of selling the Good information to know.
As far as the Bernina goes, your dealer should take care of any issues with the sensors. But I absolutely recommend a straight stich plate for piecing on a 9mm machine. You are correct. I assure you, the is a well-built machine and is under warranty for 20 years on your mechanical parts. And that dual feed with the 97D foot is hard to beat. But I am thrilled the Babylock is working out for you. We all bond differently with machines. Thank you for letting us know! Happy Sewing! I have been sewing on my Baby Lock Crescendo for a month now and I really love it.
I have not had a moment of trouble with it. It sews beautifully and seems to be very reliable. I am going to get my out for my project and re-evaluate what I feel about it in comparison to the Crescendo.
The machines are pretty comparable in terms of features and I can see a couple of advantages that each has over the other. Nothing too drastic in terms of different though, at least for my needs. What I care most about it ease of use and reliability and up to now I am favoring the Baby Lock on this score. I have a Bernina and make a lot of minky blankets, piece quilts and free motion quilts around 45 x45 , much larger than that I send out, and some home doc.
Idk if I can justify getting a new machine but I know the was in the first generation of the 7 series and they have made changes since. Do you think I would be gaining enough for it to make sense? Thanks I really appreciate your input!
Well, I really like the , and I have to tell you, now is an awesome time to upgrade. The newer 7 series machines have a more beautiful stitch. Your choice. Some dealers are better about that sort of thing than others. You never know. The promotion ends Feb. So, to get down to the brass tacks, is there one machine that is built better?
How do we know which ones are built the best? Not sure about the absence of a presser foot lever. My Bernina has been so good it is hard to leave the name. Bernina produces high-end products, and they are well-known for being passed down generations, as they are built to last more than a lifetime.
Bernette is the budget brand from Bernina. They are also made in Switzerland and offer very good quality for the price. The machines you are considering really are essentially the same. This company started as a German sewing machine company and they made a lot of top sewing machines over the years.
This sale and other negative business issues were the results of taking Pfaff public and selling shares around During the next 7 years, this company is rumored to have subcontracted the production of Pfaff machines to unnamed Chinese and Vietnamese manufacturers.
But they did not do the same for Pfaff or other brands under their corporate umbrella. Unfortunately, the Pfaff website does not mention where their machines are being made at this time. Unfortunately, the list only goes up to There is a second list that covers the same ground but only goes to You can find the first list at this link and the second at the following location.
For years following , you may have to contact Pfaff directly and ask them when your sewing machine was made. Make sure you have your serial number handy as that is the best way to find out when your machine was manufactured. The Pfaff English website is at this link. They do have a FAQ page but it does not cover the serial number issue or provide dates for certain sewing machines. More recent Pfaff sewing machines can easily be dated.
If you only get the former information then it is best to contact Pfaff directly and ask them when your sewing machine was made. For more vintage models, you should be able to find the serial number listed on the machine itself. Check the back, the sides or the bottom of the machines to find the bade and see if the number is listed on it. Once you get that number check the 2 lists linked to above to see what year your Pfaff was produced.
If you have the right information it is not that hard to find a date for your sewing machine. It may take a little legwork to get the right information but Pfaff should have it in their databases.
In the beginning, though, Georg Michael Pfaff made industrial sewing machines. Production was limited in the early years as those machines were built by hand.
He went to America to study the different techniques and machines for production and came back to Germany ready to expand operations. The modernization of the plant laid the groundwork for upgrading the original sewing machines and allowed those upgrades to continue as technology allowed.
Pfaff has always looked to stay competitive and continued to do research and development to make sure it did not lose its market share. Yes, you can say that the company still makes sewing machines.
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