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Pfaff Creative 3.0 Review
Note from the Editor: The Pfaff Creative 3.0 review was originally written in 2013, and has been revised and updated in 2023. We have added alternatives such as Janome Memory Craft 500E, Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9850, and Brother Inno-vis NQ1700E.
On a recent visit to Cynthia’s Fine Fabrics in Tamarac, Florida, I had an opportunity to review Pfaff’s newest sewing and embroidery machine, the Creative 3.0.
Pfaff Creative 3.0 Overview
The Pfaff Creative 3.0 is a high-end sewing and embroidery machine that offers a range of advanced features and capabilities. It features a large color touchscreen that allows users to easily select and edit designs, and has a generous embroidery area of 10.25 x 6 inches. The machine offers 250 built-in embroidery designs, including exclusive designs from international designers, and has a USB port for importing custom designs. The Creative 3.0 also has a dual feed system that ensures even fabric feeding and precise stitching, and a precision positioning feature for perfect design placement. It offers 254 built-in stitches, including utility, decorative, and quilting stitches, and has a stitch density control for adjusting stitch appearance. Other features include automatic thread tension, a built-in thread cutter, and a free-motion sewing mode. Additionally, the machine has an integrated dual feed foot and an extra-high presser foot lift for sewing thick fabrics or multiple layers. Overall, the Pfaff Creative 3.0 is a top-of-the-line machine for experienced sewers and embroiderers who want precision, versatility, and creativity in their work.
To be completely honest, the Pfaff Creative 3.0 looks pretty much like all the other sewing machines in the store. The difference, however, comes to light when it’s turned on.
The first thing I noticed was red accents followed by the bright LED lighting and sharp image on the full color LCD touch screen. There is a convenient stylus holder on the right side to help you keep track of it when you are busy at work.
Just by looking at the Pfaff Creative 3.0, you can plainly see that the function buttons and LCD touch screen are use friendly and easily accessible.
What are some alternatives for Pfaff Creative 3.0?
The Janome Memory Craft 500E empowers designers to express their unique style through personalized, embellished, and monogrammed creations. Its intuitive features, including a full-color touchscreen and on-screen editing functions, offer unparalleled convenience. With a maximum embroidery size of 7.9" x 11" and 160 built-in designs, this machine caters to intricate projects. The automatic thread cutter, advanced needle threader, and USB import capability enhance efficiency. Navigating through its advanced features is seamless, thanks to the vivid and user-friendly LCD color touchscreen, making the MC500E a versatile and inspiring tool for creative endeavors.
- Empowers designers with personalized, embellished, and monogrammed creations
- Full-color touchscreen and on-screen editing functions for unparalleled convenience.
- Maximum size of 7.9" x 11" accommodates intricate projects
- Some users, especially beginners, might find the advanced features a bit overwhelming
Are you searching for a compact-size embroidery machine? Then, with Janome Horizon Memory Craft 850, your hunt just ended. The machine can impress you with its versatility and abundance of great features. It consists of sewing and embroidery modes, allowing you to easily switch between the skills. Moreover, the machine provides you with up to 200x 280mm hoop capabilities to ensure precision, especially during embroidery, and the latest needle threading system lets you do some vibrant stitching.
- A wide array of more than 200 built-in stitches
- 175 embroidery designs
- Sturdy frame to manage hard fabrics
- Editing capabilities
- Prompt touchscreen for easier navigation
- Expensive, especially for beginners
- Slow speed of embroidery
This model by brother is a feature packed commercial device that gives you access to over 5000 optional design options from iBroidery.con besides the ones available onboard. It also has inbuilt memory to store your patterns and designs. 2 LED lights have been built-in for visual convenience alongside advanced needle threading mechanism and automatic thread tension to ensure adequate precision. The majority of features on thai model si automatic and set up to the user’s convenience. The quality of delivery is excellent and snooth and the device works incredibly fast saving you a considerable amount of time. A large work area is provided to accommodate larger sewing and embroidery projects. The working area is also well illuminated with LED lights.
What are the features on Pfaff Creative 3.0?
The Pfaff Creative 3.0 has many more features than you might expect from its appearances.
- More than 250 decorative and utility stitch options
- 4 built in alphanumeric fonts
- Extra large work space
- Original Pfaff IDT (Integrated Dual Feed system)
- On board stitch selection guide
- Mirror image sewing
- Patchwork program
- On-screen editing
- Automatic presser foot lift
- Free motion sewing
- Needle up/down button
- Start/stop button
- 37 needle positions
- Sensormatic buttonhole
- Upper and lower thread sensors
- Variable speed control slider
- Personal stitch memory menu
- Pfaff exclusive Stitch Creator
Working on the Pfaff Creative 3.0
The on board bobbing winding and threading guide are extremely easy to follow. The needle plate is etched with easy to read seam guides and the upper and lower thread sensors make it virtually impossible to run out of thread when creating one of the many on board embroidery designs.
Selecting the right stitch is as simple as touching the menu button with the stylus and then selecting the desired stitch option.
I sampled several different utility and decorative stitches for this review and am pleased to report that the stitches produced by the Pfaff Creative 3.0 met all of my expectations for superior stitch quality that Pfaff is known for.
I particularly like the bright LED lighting. The bulbs are placed immediately over the needle and the work space, eliminating any possibility of eye strain while working on intricate designs and stitch sequences.
What fabrics work on the Pfaff Creative 3.0?
| Fabrics that work | Fabrics that don’t work |
|---|---|
| Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester Knits(Medium to heavyweight only) Upholstery | Leather/suede Fur Reptile skin Canvas/Twill Plastic/Rubber Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers |
What accessories work on the Pfaff Creative 3.0?
The accessories that come with the Pfaff Creative 3.0 include:
- 8 snap on presser feet
- 2 embroidery hoops
- Extra needles
- Bobbins
- Flash drive and lanyard
- Buttonhole sensor
- Hard cover
- Quilting guide
- Screwdriver
- Lint brush
- Seam ripper
- Spool caps
- Spool pads
How to maintain the Pfaff Creative 3.0?
| Maintenance activities | After each use | Monthly | Once each year | As needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean race hook and feed dogs | Yes | No | No | No |
| Wipe head with soft dry cloth | No | No | No | Yes |
| Wipe head with soft damp cloth | No | No | No | Yes |
| Lubricate | No | No | No | No |
| Service by sewing machine repair professional | No | No | Yes | No |
Pfaff Creative 3.0 Summary
The Pfaff Creative 3.0 is a great sewing and embroidery machine. The stitch quality is everything you would expect from a Pfaff sewing machine.
The stitches are well defined and uniformly shaped. When I sampled some of the quilt stitch options, including freehand stitches, the quality did not waver.
While winding the bobbin and threading the Pfaff Creative 3.0 is a piece of cake, I don’t think this is a good machine for anyone who has very little or no sewing experience.
It is, however, a great machine for the home sewer who is ready for more than just straight sewing or the advanced sewer who is looking for an updated sewing and embroidery machine that is computer compatible and as the ability to download updated software as it becomes available.
It isn’t a very large or heavy machine, but I don’t recommend moving it around more than necessary. It’s light enough to carry to class and to the dorm room, but I wouldn’t use this one as a travel companion to take along on vacation.
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I really like this machine. The Pfaff Creative 3.0 is one of the best sewing and embroidery machines I’ve reviewed in a while.
The only challenge I had while working on this machine is getting to the stylus holder. The stylus is mounted on the right side of the machine and I’m left handed.
If I had any suggestions for changing anything on the Pfaff Creative 3.0, it would be that the manufacturer include a slot to hold the stylus on the left side as well for us southpaws.
If you are in the market for your very first sewing and embroidery machine or if you want to replace a machine that you’ve been using for a while, I suggest you visit your local Pfaff dealer and ask for a demonstration.
Pfaff Creative 3.0 Review
Summary
The Pfaff Creative 3.0 is a computerized sewing and embroidery machine that is designed for both beginners and experienced sewers. It has 200 built-in stitches, including basic utility stitches, decorative stitches, and quilting stitches. The machine also has a number of features that make it easy to use, such as a needle threader, a top-loading bobbin, a free arm, and a large LCD touchscreen. The Pfaff Creative 3.0 also has a built-in embroidery module, which allows you to embroider a variety of designs.
Overall, the Pfaff Creative 3.0 is a high-end sewing and embroidery machine that is designed for both beginners and experienced sewers. It is a good option for those who are looking for a machine with a lot of features and that is easy to use.
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Happy Stitching.
I purchased this machine about three years ago. While it sews very nicely, it is not a good machine for free motion quilting. It constantly skips stitches. If I sew with cotton quilting thread, it shreds after awhile. If all I wanted to do was sew and use the embroidery stitches then it is a good machine.
Bonnie, I don’t think this was the machine that you purchased three years ago. This machine came out late summer of 2013.
I have the Pfaff Creative 2, it is a fabulous sewing machine. My Pfaff is excellent for free motion quilting using the Pfaff Dynamic 6D quilting foot. I give this machine 3.5 stars instead of five because it is fussy about thread, the cutter and low bobbin sensor are iffy. It will not quilt with Sulky 100% cotton thread at all, it continuously snaps the needle thread. Skips stitches with metallic threads and occasionally shreds polyester thread. In 2012 I did the Free Motion Quilting Challenge, there are quite a few examples of FMQ with this machine on my blog. The cutter does not always cut thread, nor does the low bobbin sensor always work. When using cotton threads I cleaned out the bobbin area and cutter every time I put in a full bobbin and still the low bobbin sensor and cutter fail too often for my liking.
Tammy –
Thank you for visiting Sewing Insight and thank you very much for your input. I review new machines in the store – right out of the box. Under those ideal conditions, nearly all of them work exactly as the manufacturer claims they would. It is only after you get the machine home and use it under normal conditions that some of the bugs start to rear their ugly heads.
I suggest you contact your local dealer and share your concerns. It is possible you machine might need a minor adjustment. Hopefully this will help resolve your problems.
Happy stitching.
I purchased this machine in July 2013 to replace my Pfaff 7570. I was very excited to have a larger embroidery area. I began having problems almost immediately in embroidery mode. Right in the middle of embroidering, the machine froze, shut down losing the embroidery and said an error report had been created. It was happening repeatedly so machine went in for service. The mother board was replaced along with a few other things…the bill was over $1,000…thankfully covered under warranty. I have had the machine back for about a month now and it has started doing the same thing again. I am just sick ..either I got a lemon (what can I do about it in that case?) or the 3.0 has some sort of deffect. Sure it will be fixed again under warranty but what happens after that?
I just wanted to post an update to my Pfaff Creative 3.0 review above. I just spoke to the service representative and Pfaff is going to replace my machine with a new one! I am so thankful for the wonderful customer support from my local dealer and from Pfaff. I am looking forward to falling in love with my new 3.0!
hola me acabo de comprar la pfaff creative 3.0 me gustaria saber utilizar todas las opciones que tiene tanto de costura como de bordado.
me puedes ayudar,tienes tutoriales, bloc,con explicaciones. gracias
I have a question re the feet that are sold with this machine. Would someone be kind enough to tell me which feet you get as I would like to ensure I have all that I need and will order any additional ones when I order my new machine.
Many thanks
I bought a Pfaff Creative 3.0 in September, 2013 and I love it but have decided to upgrade to a Babylock Ellisimo Gold II. I would like to sell my Pfaff to offset my new purchase. I have no idea what to ask for it. I have both Pfaff cases for it in addition to several accessories. Does anyone have any suggestions for pricing and/or where I should consider posting it? Thank you in advance for any assistance!
Hello, JoEllen –
You might want to consider using your old Pfaff as a trade in for the Ellisimo Gold. Most sewing machine dealers are eager to offer very reasonable trade in allowances for machines in good condition. If you would rather sell it yourself, try e-bay.
Enjoy your new machine.
Happy stitching.
Why did you go from Pfaff to baby lock?
Love my Creative 3.0. Getting some shopping info for the Endless Hoop. But the ones I looked at specify Creative 2.0 and 4.0 compatibility What happens with the Creative 3.0 regarding endless hoop. Also there is one called the Grand Hoop. Still confused. What can I use with my 3.0 for larger or continuous areas for embroidery. Please let me know what options I have. Thanks in advance.
Pat
I upgraded from the ambition essential to the creative 3.0.and have had nothing but problems. Skips stitches , clunks,check needle thread comes on all the time. Have had it in to be serviced 3 times still not working. Very upset with product and the dealer.
I have a creative 3.o and would like to use the 360×200 embrodery hoop witch they sell for the 3.0 but my hoop option only go to the 260×200
I am looking at purchasing a Pfaff Creative 3.0. I have been straight sewing for many many years, and currently have a Kenmore machine. I want to start looking at embroidery with machine, and this unit caught my fancy. Would you recommend the 3.0 It seems to be offering what I would want/need, and the pricing is in my range.
Thank you
Ola soy una senora de leon tengo la pfaff Greative 3,0 megustaria sabre bordar con bastidro infinito megustara que allguien mediera alguna esplicacion un saludo