The Pfaff 720 is possibly one of the most elegant computerized sewing machines in the world. It is part of Pfaff’s Expression line, which is their most premium line of sewing machines. It is a quilting sewing machine and is said (by Pfaff) to be a mid-range/ mid-level machine. A serious problem since the Pfaff 720 costs a warping $3000 (not a mid-range price). To some users it may sound reasonable. The machine offers a quiet sewing experience to the point of almost complete silence. Since it is a computerized sewing machine it has software it runs on. On Pfaff’s website users can download updates and upload them on a USB drive, then use the USB to update their Pfaff 720 sewing machine.
Table of Contents
1. Constant Updating
You wouldn’t expect such a problem to exist for sewing machines, but the Pfaff 720 is a unique type of sewing machine indeed. This wouldn’t be viewed as a problem by some users but the fact that it is even an option is a cause for concern. The company is constantly uploading new updates for the machine on their website. Most computerized sewing machines use the USB transfer function to only upload design assets but since the Pfaff allows for updates it can make the sewing machine’s software vulnerable to buggy or problematic software. Sometimes updates cause more problems than they solve, and since you can only get the update via their website or an accredited dealer it becomes very bad when the machine starts to misbehave.
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Unfortunately this is the reality of the Pfaff 720. If you do not update it, it may end up misbehaving just as much. At which point, buying or keeping it would be the biggest problem.
2. False Warnings/ Misreading
The Pfaff 720 will give a false warming on its touchscreen display and then respond in a way which may hinder your sewing process. A common iteration of this problem is that users will be warmed that thread from the bobbin is low or about to finish and then the machine stops sewing. When the bobbin is re-threaded and placed back into the machine it will still have the same warming.
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Keep sewing (that’s right!) The Pfaff 720 will keep showing the warming but will be overriden when you keep you foot on the pedal. A far less drastic way to solve this issue would be to turn off the sewing machine and then on again, after it has been re-threaded.
3. Difficult Needle Threading
It is crucial to thread the needle of a machine because the needle is the single most important item on a sewing machine, when threading the needle becomes on of the problems of a sewing machine it is not good. But that’s one of the Pfaff 720’s problems. The needle becomes too fiddly or loose when the presser foot is raised, and when threading the needle it can become tricky and very difficult to use the machine.
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Unfortunately even tightening the screw that holds the needle in place will not help. It may be that the housing that you place the needle in is too big for average needle sizes (some of which may come standard with the machine). It would help to try find bigger needles, but depending on fabric thickness and strength, this may not be an effective solution.
4. Auto Thread Cutter Doesn’t Work
To aid with convenience, the Pfaff 720 has an automatic thread cutter so you don’t have to reach for a pair of scissors whilst you’re still sewing. The problem is that this feature doesn’t work properly on most Pfaff 720’s.
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You have to go back to your old (un-computerized) ways of using a scissors to cut the thread.
5. Presser Foot Problem
Particularly the “buttonhole presser foot” – This is a type of presser foot that allows users to sew buttonholes automatically onto parts of clothing. This type of presser foot needs to be plugged into the side of your Pfaff sewing machine via a connected jack in order to function properly. On some occasions the buttonhole presser foot will only sew straight stitches, like a regular presser foot. A huge problem.
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It helps to make sure that the buttonhole presser foot’s jack is plugged in correctly, meaning it is pushed all the way in.
6. Skips Stitches
It is very annoying when a sewing machine does this, because the source of the problem can be anything, ranging from thread tension to bobbin case damage. It can be frustrating to find out where the problem is specifically coming from on the Pfaff 720.
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It is crucial to try most troubleshooting methods related to skipped stitching, including removing the thread from both the top and bottom, and then re-threading the machine fully. One of the more reliable features on the Pfaff 720 is its automatic thread tension setting, with it you can input what type of fabric you’re working with and the sewing machine will adjust the thread tension accordingly.
It is also advisable to try using a different needle (a 16 needle).
Some Notable Features
- Self-Adjusting Thread Tensions (You don’t have to adjust thread tension by yourself, which can end up taking a lot of time. The machine automatically does it when you input information about the type of fabric you’ll be using).
- Clear Touchscreen Display (Which displays more that false readings, like information on your sewing like stitch type, length of fabric and many more other things).
- Various Stitch Types (Like Floating stitches, Single ribbon stitches, Double ribbon stitches, Triple ribbon stitches and Stacking stitches).
- Extra-Large Sewing Space (Ten inches to be exact).
- Integrated Dual-Feed System – This feature lets you feed all types of fabric from the top and bottom with incredible accuracy. This way, it prevents the shifting of fabric layers to ensure that your sewing design remains of great quality.
- Always remember that this is a ‘quilting’ sewing machine. It has a different build quality and function, it helps to sew slower than you normally would on a different kind of sewing machine.
