Not least of which is an enabler.
"New" Pfaff 360
Thank you, Mom. Merry Christmas.
This is a Pfaff 360. Some time in the 60s, it was a top of the line embroidery machine—that little colourful wheel thingy gives you the settings for the various stitches. My mom bought hers in the early 70s, second-hand, for about $250; this is still what a lot of them go for, from some quick googling. It’s the machine I learned on, and measure every other machine against.
When I saw the case with the ribbon tied to the handle, I nearly had a heart attack, and had to open it up right away and check the attachments to make sure it wasn’t her machine. Fortunately, no. This is the machine a friend of my mom’s has been sitting on, but not actually using, for a while now.
This one has had a bit of a rougher life than my mom’s, I think. It’s a bit dinged up and the automatic threader is missing (not that I even knew it had one before Mom mentioned it.) The tension is giving me a bit of grief, although I think it’s just a little sticky and probably needs cleaning. I already messed around with some free motion satin-stitch embroidery and it sucked considerably less than I thought it would.
Every sewing machine feels a little different to “drive”, y’know? Some are zippy and light, some are sluggish, some are powerful. The Pfaff 360 isn’t as fast as my new Janome (or, for that matter, the old Army Machine, which when it’s going, goes like crazy), but it’s solid, powerful, and can chew through anything you can fit under the presser foot. And most importantly, it feels right.
The accessory box isn’t as extensive as my mom’s, (and in fact is missing some key pieces, like a zipper foot) but it does have a few that were missing from my collection—there’s a funny little keel that fits over the regular zigzag foot to work as a stitch-in-the-ditch foot and a buttonhole-measuring foot that had me thoroughly puzzled until Mom told me what it was. And it’s another low-shank machine, so the bits should be interchangeable with everyone else except the Army Machine.
Merry Christmas, everyone! I’m thoroughly overflowing with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, so I’m off to bed. Have a great night!
Tanit-Isis Sews 
Oh, that is ONE great machine! Congratulations! It is a true work horse.
I have a Pfaff 332. It started my collection of old sewing machines. I also have the box with the brown paper. 🙂
lol. Glad you had a wonderful Christmas!
Cheers to a good machine! My Mom’s Viking is a great work horse, I just need a power supply for it.
Yea! Mummy!
What a great gift – so thoughtful of your mom! Merry (late) Christmas!
Congrats on such a wonderful Christmas gift!
That’s one great Mom! Merry (belated) Christmas!
Do you think there is a site for Sewing machine porn? You know, glossy airbrushed pics of sewing machines that we can all drool over and fantasize about? If so- I think you have a centerfold on your hands- pretty!
It looks like my Mom’s machine, and the machine I learnt to sew! I LOVE this machine. My Mom still sews with it. I wish I could get one here in US. I can tell you that this machine looks much better than my mom’s: she lives close to the ocean. She got hers around 58, brand new.
Best wishes for the season! Looks like a well-built machine. All my best!
Your mom clearly knows you well, it’s a perfect present.
I think your mom needs to adopt me. 🙂 Happy new year!
Your mom is awesome! I have to rely on the Hubs for sewing-related gifts and we’re talking a list, complete with pictures, of exactly what I want. He would be flummoxed if I sent him a picture of a vintage machine, ha. Actually, I might do that next year just to freak him out a little. Because I’m mean like that (imitates Grinch laugh).
Wow. Gorgeous, a thing of mechanical beauty in itself as well droolworthy from the point of view of a seamster… Your mother is awesome!
All the best for a fantabulous New Year in creativity and blogging!
Wow very cool. Gotta love Mum, though of course for those less material things too!! Merry Merry, Emily.
It’s a good thing you made yourself a sewing room! Though, it seems like it must be more of a sewing machine room than a sewing room these days! Hopefully having so many machines on hand makes for more productivity. I can’t wait to see where you’ll go in 2012. Oh, and I’m finally starting to cut my first pair of Jalie jeans. I hope I have as much luck with that pattern as you have.
You’re going to need a separate sewing house just to keep your machines! Love the dials on this one. Super space age. Happy New Year!
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