Ah-ha moment on Pfaff and machine applique

I hate the book for my machine. It is a translation to English. The directions for sewing buttons is listed in the index under the letter 'S' for "sewing on buttons." Also the book doesn't really go into great detail on things for quilting. Might help if I took the advanced class on the machine, but it just didn't seem a priority. Learn more from this group than any class.

Loren in Seattle

Hi Loren, I also sew with a Pfaff, mine is a 7550 model. While you are learning 'new' things about your machine, I'd like to suggest that you try using the purl zig zag stitch for applique work. I rarely use the regular zig zag stitch anymore for - you'll find the purl stitich listed with the overlock stitches. Jennifer in Ottawa

--------- Group: rec.crafts.textiles.quilting Date: Thu, Jul 10, 2003, 3:20am (EDT+4) From: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net (Loren=A0in=A0Seattle) I have a Pfaff machine and I adore the integrated dual feed. Usually. Today, after weeks of getting very frustrated doing some machine appliqu=E9, I realized that it is much, much easier with the dual feed foot up. Much. Too bad I figured this out near the end of the project. I always put the dual feed up when I free motion quilt, so I don't know why I didn't think of it when doing appliqu=E9. I guess it was because I wasn't lowering the feed dogs and using a regular zig-zag foot. Now I know. The other tip that has saved my life was from Diana in Dallas (thanks Diana). Cheap typing paper for stabilizer. Off to finish this project, now I am finally looking forward to it.

Diana - I thought that's what they call a video?? Jennifer in Ottawa

----- Group: rec.crafts.textiles.quilting Date: Thu, Jul 10, 2003, 8:06am (EDT-3) From: snipped-for-privacy@baldwin-garbage-telecom.net (Diana=A0Curtis) Even if they arent a translation from another language manuals can be so much garble as to be useless. I suspect they get someone who is good at writing manuals to do the job and forget that they arent writing for people who already know how to do the job, they need to teach people who have no clue how to do it. =A0=A0=A0=A0I want a manual that says: So, you want to program the clock on your microwave? Here is what you do! And then gives me step by step instructions. It needs to be written more conversationally, as if the manual was looking over your shoulder and pointing to the button you need to punch next. Diana

Loren...Depending on what Pfaff machine you have, you can get an Owner's Manual for your machine that is all in English, and is completely different then the instruction manual that comes with the machine. They are three ring notebooks and are the best! You should be able to get them from your local Pfaff Dealer.

Even if they arent a translation from another language manuals can be so much garble as to be useless. I suspect they get someone who is good at writing manuals to do the job and forget that they arent writing for people who already know how to do the job, they need to teach people who have no clue how to do it. I want a manual that says: So, you want to program the clock on your microwave? Here is what you do! And then gives me step by step instructions. It needs to be written more conversationally, as if the manual was looking over your shoulder and pointing to the button you need to punch next. Diana

I did this with my father too! I computerized his real estate business while I worked for him, and then when I left for NY some 4 years later I had to make sure he knew how to do everything. Mind you, I was teaching him while I was there....he just fell into that category of "you can do it easier than I can so go ahead while I do something else." After I moved to NY, I would still get frequent calls from DF for help...and I would gently remind him that I put it in his "book."

I still get calls from time to time, nearly 4 years later. However he hasn't called me on an issue that is in his book! I still think they were frequent to begin with simply because he missed me, not because he "needed" help!

-- Dannielle from NY

You bring up something that DH & I were discussing recently. When a non native English speaking person translates from their native language to English - sometimes it comes out funny - to us. Is it only funny to us? Or are they speaking in a manner that they would in their native country? If my question is unclear, here's an example. When I was in France, our hotel room had a sign to hang from your door - it was so cute (to me) that I brought it home. In French, it says - Veuileez faire briller mes chaussures. In English, it says - Please let my shoes shine. Is it a poor translation or a literal translation? (Does my question make any sense??)

Pauline

My dd has an abacus that was made in Japan...and a very interesting manual to go with it. If I can get my hands on it I"ll post a sentence or two ...it is so amusing and apparently translated by someone with very little English.. There is no way you can learn how to use it by reading the manual . .I , also, find that the back pages of the manual that came with my dig. camera is almost undecipherable....at least, useless to me. Mary

Thanks, I have the same machine so I will try to figure out which is the purl zigzag. Do you know the stitch number off hand?

Loren in Seattle

--------- Group: rec.crafts.textiles.quilting Date: Thu, Jul 10, 2003, 3:20am (EDT+4) From: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net (Loren in Seattle) I have a Pfaff machine and I adore the integrated dual feed. Usually. Today, after weeks of getting very frustrated doing some machine appliqué, I realized that it is much, much easier with the dual feed foot up. Much. Too bad I figured this out near the end of the project. I always put the dual feed up when I free motion quilt, so I don't know why I didn't think of it when doing appliqué. I guess it was because I wasn't lowering the feed dogs and using a regular zig-zag foot. Now I know. The other tip that has saved my life was from Diana in Dallas (thanks Diana). Cheap typing paper for stabilizer. Off to finish this project, now I am finally looking forward to it.

-- Loren in Seattle

Hi Loren, I double checked and the purl zig zag stitch is #16 - I like it because changing the width only alters one side of the stitch so you can butt the inside edge of the right fork of the open toed foot up to the applique edge and any width changes only go onto the applique - you'll see the difference when you try it - I have also found that because of the way that the stitch is formed, it hasn't been necessary to use a stabilizer! Jennifer in Ottawa

--------- Group: rec.crafts.textiles.quilting Date: Thu, Jul 10, 2003, 3:20am (EDT+4) From: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net (Loren in Seattle) I have a Pfaff machine and I adore the integrated dual feed. Usually. Today, after weeks of getting very frustrated doing some machine appliqu=E9, I realized that it is much, much easier with the dual feed foot up. Much. Too bad I figured this out near the end of the project. I always put the dual feed up when I free motion quilt, so I don't know why I didn't think of it when doing appliqu=E9. I guess it was because I wasn't lowering the feed dogs and using a regular zig-zag foot. Now I know. The other tip that has saved my life was from Diana in Dallas (thanks Diana). Cheap typing paper for stabilizer. Off to finish this project, now I am finally looking forward to it.

I have a 7530. I looked in my big owners manual and couldn't find the purl zigzag. Could it be another name?

Laurie G.

Megan Vest wrote:

Thanks, Jennifer! I will check again. Does your 7550 have the design thingy? I didn't get it with mine and thought I probably would never need it.

Laurie G.

Jennifer Hepworth wrote:

Hi Laurie, I do have the designer unit which I will periodically take out to play with. The advantage of the 7550's is that the line drawing appears on the screen so the paper grid really isn't necessary. I have drawn lots of variations and new stitches into the memory including a serpentine, beading, hand-quilting, buttonhole variations, scribbles, etc. Jennifer in Ottawa

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Group: rec.crafts.textiles.quilting Date: Fri, Jul 11, 2003, 8:20am (EDT+4) From: snipped-for-privacy@pacbell.net (Laurie=A0G.) Thanks, Jennifer! I will check again. Does your 7550 have the design thingy? I didn't get it with mine and thought I probably would never need it. Laurie G. Jennifer Hepworth wrote: =A0=A0Hi Laurie - I checked the listing in my owner's manual and it is there as 'purl' stitch. Go to the page in your manual where there is a chart with the stitches diagrammed and explained. I know that the stitch is in the 7530 because when I traded up, I made sure the stitch was 'going' too! It looks something like l/l/l/l/l/ =A0 rather thanVVVVVVV in the diagrams. Jennifer in Ottawa

--------- Group: rec.crafts.textiles.quilting Date: Thu, Jul 10, 2003, 3:20am (EDT+4) From: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net (Loren in Seattle) I have a Pfaff machine and I adore the integrated dual feed. Usually. Today, after weeks of getting very frustrated doing some machine appliqu=E9, I realized that it is much, much easier with the dual feed foot up. Much. Too bad I figured this out near the end of the project. I always put the dual feed up when I free motion quilt, so I don't know why I didn't think of it when doing appliqu=E9. I guess it was because I wasn't lowering the feed dogs and using a regular zig-zag foot. Now I know. The other tip that has saved my life was from Diana in Dallas (thanks Diana). Cheap typing paper for stabilizer. Off to finish this project, now I am finally looking forward to it.

That reminds me of a Bilingual Education/English as a Second Language monitoring visit I made to one school district last month. Each student in required by law to have a Home Language Survey completed and signed by the parent at registration. The law further requires that it be printed in both English and Spanish. (Yeah, I know there are other languages than Spanish, but few people in Texas seem to be aware of that abstruse fact.)

Other documents should (as opposed to must) be supplied in "the home language." One district was very proud of the expensive translation program they had bought to translate report cards, student manuals, PTA announcements, etc. When I talked to the parents, all of whom were literate in Spanish, they got a weird look on their faces, and said that the words were Spanish, but the sentences made no sense.