Test Drive:
Pfaff Performance 2056

MSRP $3099 (Prices vary by dealer)
pfaffusa.com
Reviewer: Brenda Groelz

Let's start off with a German lesson. The name of this company is Pfaff with the 'a' pronounced like the 'o' in hot. The 'Pf' is pronounced like the 'ph' in phone. My German grandmother would be proud of me for setting that straight.

When I test drive a new machine, I use it for everything I'm doing at home. I shortened my daughter-in-law's slacks with the blind hemstitch, pieced some quilt blocks, tried lots of decorative stitches (including stitch #160 shown in the border of Serenity) and did some free-motion quilting. This machine was sturdy and solid (no vibration), the tension was problem-free and it has a terrific stitch. It's easy to use, with snap-on presser feet, easy-reach bobbin and simple threading.

The large high-resolution touch screen places this machine firmly in the computer age. The menus are intuitive and easy to manipulate. Want to expand on a stitch? Mirror-image it left to right or top to bottom. Stretch it out, shorten it, or combine with other stitches or words in your own custom stitch sequence. Pictures of all stitches are shown on the underside of the machine's lid, so they're always close at hand. This machine empowers you to create.

Free Pattern!
Make Diane Harris's Serenity quilt. Download the PDF pattern.

Made by Diane Harris. Thread: Valdani. Machine: Pfaff Performance 2056.

The performance 2056 was designed with quilters in mind. Here are some of the features that fall into the category of "now that I have them, I can't live without them": needle up/down; twin-needle safety feature (no more broken needles because you've tried to stitch something too wide); a free-motion program that auto-sets presser foot height; automatic (programmable) tie-off at both ends of a seam; and a "single stitch" feature so that you can stitch one decorative element at a time.

Another outstanding feature is the patchwork program. Activate the feature and sew a seam; the machine remembers the seam's length as you sew it again and again. I can see this being especially useful for tasks such as joining hexagon shapes, where you don't want to sew from raw edge to raw edge.

An awesome, easy-to-use machine at a great price, I can recommend this one highly.

 By the Numbers

4 Alphabets; storage of up to 99 letters in a sequence

18 Patented cross stitches (combine to form new patterns)

50 Memory slots to save stitch sequences

207 Decorative and utility stitches

 Favorites

The bobbin 'fuel gauge'! The screen tells you when you're running low and includes stitch interruption as a "can't miss" reminder that you're almost out of bobbin thread.

You can't beat the original built-in dual feed system (IDT). Great for perfect bindings and attaching borders, especially when used with the optional 1/4" foot.

Winding a bobbin through the needle (really)!

Satin stitch tapering for perfect mitered corners on right-angle applique

This Test Drive article also appears in QUILTMAKER September/October '07 (No. 117). If you cannot find this issue at your local quilt shop, order back issues at VillageQuiltShoppe.com.