Ode to my Sewing Machine

One of my favorite blogs, Sew Mama Sew, has named June Sewing Machine Month. This week, they asked us to review our sewing machines and I thought it would be fun to participate.

What brand and model do you have?
Pfaff Expression 2038


How long have you had it?
About 10 months and 15 quilts. Whew!

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
I’m not sure… it was a gift.

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
Mostly baby and throw-sized quilts.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
I probably sew somewhere between 3-10 hours per week, depending on how much else is going on with life.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
I love my machine. I previously had a Singer from the 1950s that I loved and that was what I learned to make quilts with. I was happy with the Singer; it was simple and didn’t jam or have any technical problems (or buttons or computers). My mother-in-law bought us both new Pfaff machines and I was a little hesitant to start using it. But once I did… oh my gosh! I love my machine. It’s so fast and everything is so easy to use. It rarely jams or has any tantrums. It’s a very strong of machine; I really feel like I can throw anything into it without hesitation. When I am sewing, it’s motor sounds like music to my ears.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?
I love that the walking foot is built right in ("integrated walking foot" shown in black in the photo below) and that it has a “glove compartment” for storing the extra feet (I'm a huge fan of the Quarter Inch Foot and the Stitch-in-the-Ditch foot, both of which make life so much easier!) and tools (seam ripper, extra bobbins, ruler, etc.). The little blade on the side to cut the threads is such a time saver, too. That’s the one thing I didn’t know how much I needed. I have a lot of stitches to choose from, which is fun (although I’ll admit that I rarely use anything out of the ordinary).



Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
If I had a wish, I’d wish for it to beep or tell me when my bobbin is getting low. It’s a big pet peeve of mine to run out of bobbin thread at an inopportune time.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!
I had no idea my new machine was coming. It was a “just because” gift from my mother-in-law who had mentioned that she was looking at new machines. As I mentioned before, I was happily plugging away on my old Singer machine and didn’t want to deal with all the bells and whistles of a new machine. She showed up on my porch one afternoon holding what she called my “new headache.” Looking back, I am soooo grateful. My quilts have come such a long way since getting this machine and the bells and whistles have made things so much easier and faster. I can be more creative and expressive now because I have equipment that can keep up with me. Thanks again, Laurie!

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
I would recommend it… it’s easy to learn and rarely has given me any irritation. As far as I can tell, it’s capable of sewing anything you ask it to!

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
I’ve never actually shopped for a new machine, so I honestly don’t know. I guess I’d look at what your passion is and try and find a machine that caters to that particular kind of sewing.

Do you have a dream machine?
I’m very happy with my current machine.