New machine: my Pfaff Ambition 630

I was lucky enough to get a new sewing machine for my birthday back in January and having used it for three months I thought I’d write up some thoughts in case others are in the market for a new machine. I decided to upgrade from my prior machine – the Janome DC3050, which I’d had since about 2009 – because it had a few annoying issues that couldn’t be fixed by my servicer and I wanted a few more advanced features. (My mum has taken it on extended loan for now!)

I didn’t do a huge amount of research but I think was instead gradually influenced by hearing bits and bobs about Pfaffs such as Manju’s review of the same machine and the fact that the New Craft House uses it for all their workshops. (I also bought my machine from NCH as they deal in Pfaff machines too.) The model’s called the Quilt Ambition 630, and not gonna lie, I was partially influenced to pick this over the 610 or 620 because of the lovely dark grey colourscheme alone.

Overall, my impressions of the machine now it’s been in use for a couple of months are really positive. I find that thanks to some of the enhanced features I can get an accurate and polished result without much effort and the overall operation of the machine is smooth and delightful.

Some of the features I particularly like are:

The feet it came with are useful and they and the throat plate has really clear markings on. I can edgestitch very accurately now! The working surface is large and the illumination is great; I can sew easily after dark now. Makes my old machine feel very cramped and dim by comparison.

The built-in ‘walking foot’ aka IDT system is fantastic. It’s a little arm that pulls down and clips onto the back of the presser foot to help the foot ‘walk’ over the fabric rather than drag it. Like a regular walking foot, but no need to bust a screwdriver out to attach it and much quieter to operate.

Winding a bobbin and threading up is really fast and has useful features like a thread cutter by the bobbin winder, a drop-in bobbin case, and a needle threader (which is actually easy to use!). And there are loads of stitches to explore which are handily set out on the lid and picked via the easy to navigate LED screen. I’ve used the built-in alphabet and buttonholes already and the mock-overlock is excellent and useful for finishing seams when I don’t feel like changing overlocker threads.

A few things that are less good or will take a bit more getting used to:
– I find the physical function buttons quite fiddly to use. The dark-grey-on-dark-grey is hard to see in my periphery while sewing; in particular the frequently-used reverse button is tucked away on a slant near the sewing area and as I sew standing up it’s hard to see/reach it while sewing in-flight. The start-stop button is nearby too and I’m scared I’ll hit that by accident one day and sew through my finger or something.
– The automatic tie-off feature is great but there’s no automated way to start a new line of stitching with a lock stitch or backstitch. My old machine had this feature and I really miss it!
– Weird one but all they grey areas are a rubberised finish and it smelled really bad when I first got the machine! It left a real plastic-y smell on my fingers too after handling it. It seems to be wearing off thankfully.

Finally, here’s a few stitch samples from recent projects:

Buttonhole and edgestitched pocket/hem on a chunky corduroy jacket I’ve just finished. I left the IDT system engaged for most of this project as it helps the foot glide over the bumpy, bulky surface.

Topstitched binding and hem using a zigzag stitch on a fine merino knit. Again, the IDT prevents the foot from dragging the fabric and causing it to stretch out.

So overall I love my new machine: I think it’s levelled-up my sewing a bit and made it much more enticing to get out of a sewing slump and start some new projects. I’d definitely recommend a Pfaff if you’re in the market!

35 thoughts on “New machine: my Pfaff Ambition 630

    1. NETTIE

      Thank you Katie, I too have a Janome DC3050 which has been amazing but getting tired and worn, I was
      tempted to just get the same one only to find it’s no longer available, so I thought maybe try something
      new! I already have a semi industrial Pfaff 360 a handsome machine which is amazing for heavy weight fabric and leather so I decided to look a Pfaffs, which is where I came across your very helpful review, also Manju’s.
      You both proved very helpful in my decision to go for it 👍
      So thank you, it will take some getting used to but as Manju said old dogs and new tricks etc….

  1. KS Sews

    I was *this* close to jumping on a Performance 5.2 then found out it was discontinued. Unfortunately, I didn’t do additional research to learn that wouldn’t mean that it would no longer be supported! Doh! It was a really good price too!

    I saw a Janome MC that I really liked but still have that Pfaff experience stuck in my head :) We’ll see when the time comes.

    I LOVE the Pfaff design; so sleek! Enjoy your new machine!!

    1. Sandra

      Owned a 30 year old Pfaff 2058. I wore it out. Cannot find new memory board. Had it replaced 6 years ago now needs it again. I have a performance 5.2. I hate it. Sounds like a tin can when you sew on it. I’m done with pfaff. Good luck trying to find parts in a few years. Makes me so mad. They sell this pfaff to us then dump us.

  2. Awfulknitter

    Don’t worry about sewing through your finger. I did that (had to pull a bit of broken needle out too) and it’s nowhere near as bad as you think. About as bad as shutting a door on your finger.

  3. Ellen

    I’d love to know more about your standing sewing desk. I’ve never even thought of that, does it make it quicker to switch to ironing etc?

  4. Sarah

    I have your old machine and I’m intrigued by this magic walking foot thing. I think either it needs some kind of adjustment or the DC3050 has a very stompy normal foot – I use my walking foot a _lot_, to the point where I’ve left it attached for long periods of time.
    Happy new machine!

  5. Leslie

    Hi there Katie, thank you, this was really interesting! I was wondering if you have a serger or overlocker, or do you sew your knits using a walking foot? My apologies if you’ve covered this elsewhere on your fabulous blog!

    1. Katie Post author

      Hi! I do have a very old overlocker which I tend to use for knits, although I have sewn a couple of recent knits on the Pfaff using a simple zig zag stitch.

  6. Marty

    Katie, I bought the Ambition 620 in February. I was wondering, have you had any issues with raising and dropping the feed dogs on your machine?

  7. Pingback: Misc: Pfaff ambition 630 review – Sew Ingwii

  8. Rosemary

    Hi, I wonder if you can help.? I have recently purchased a Pfaff Ambition 630 and although happy with it I have a problem when I use the reverse. It leaves such a mangle of threads underneath which takes me an age to untangle. Any ideas of how I can remedy this?
    Many thanks
    Rosemary

    1. Katie Post author

      Hi Rosemary, I actually have the same issue with mine and it’s quite annoying and can leave a bit of a mess when finishing a line of stitching with a backtack. I don’t have a solution unfortunately other than trying to sew with the right side up when possible.

    2. Lynne

      Hi, I have the same machine and found the reverse button on the the front of the machine awkward too!
      What I now do to make reverse stitches is select the reverse stitch (no 3) from the main menu and use that instead, I feel I have more control. Wondered if you could try that and see if it avoids the issue you are getting. It would be worth the extra step if it avoids you having untangle the mangle of threads.

      1. Katie Post author

        I might try this. I do find the reverse/stop reverse quite slow to clunk into action, like it takes a few stitches to start sewing the other way. Quite annoying when you need to be accurate!

        1. Lewis

          I’ve just tried this after googling this exact issue for my brand new 620.

          I put the machin on slowest setting, chose stitch 3, sewed 3 stitches using the play/paue button, then changed to stitch 1.

          Machine defaults to a normal stitch length and I sewed onwards from there and no birds nest and it’s secure.

          The process takes longer to explain than do, it’s only a few button pressed and a nice secure beginning (although small stitches to unpick if necessary but the back stitches can be any length).

          Thanks for the tip OP

  9. Abby

    How did you get past not being able to lock stitch/reverse at the start of a line? I just bought this machine and its driving me crazy not being able to just start sewing with a lock stitch without having to press 4 buttons! I’m considering sending the machine back. How do you just sew a line?!?!

    1. Katie Post author

      Yeah, I’m not quite used to this quirk of lacking functionality yet either to be honest – I find myself not securing the start of a new line if I know it’s going to be intersected later which isn’t great!

      1. Robin

        I’ve found that I can start sewing with my finger on the lock button and press it after the first stitch to lock stitches at the start of a seam. I haven’t found a way around the little nest of threads that appears on the underside on the next seam after using the automatic thread snips, though, so I rarely use that feature.

        The Quilt Ambition 630 is an adequate but not great replacement for my old 7550, which finally died after 25 years. I loved that machine.

  10. Anonymous

    I sewed through my finger with a Melco embroidery machine. Pulled the needle bit and thread out of my finger and after a band aide kept right on working. Didn’t get any bone so it healed quickly. I’m in need of a new Pfaff. My 1475 CO is on its last legs!

  11. Prudence

    Maybe you have knowledge how to get my tie off to work and to deactivate twin needle? I have troed 5he trouble shooting to know avail

  12. ks

    i just bought the Ambition 620, and i’m wondering what method you use to do the backstitch at the start – do you sew a few stitches, then push the backstitch button, then go forward again afterwards? I find that method doesn’t look so good on the underneath side, and it’s bulky as 3 rows of stitching. I hope you have a better method….
    Look forward to your response,
    Karen

    1. Katie Post author

      Hi Karen, yes I do the manual backstitch way but I also find it messy. I tend to skip the backstitching when I’m intersecting the seam with another, which is a bad habit! It’s a shame the machine is missing a better way to do this.

      1. Jo

        The same bobbin thread tangle happens sometimes when reversing to start on my Husqvarna Sapphire – I find if I hold the thread tails tight for the first few stitches (like on my old vintage machines!) that seems to help. Hope you find a solution that works for you as it is doubly annoying on a brand new machine!

      2. Angela

        You can also start off by holding your top and bobbin threads firmly and sew with a few very short stitches then resort back to your usual size…it’s helped with bird nesting and no need to do the secure stitch at the start by the usual method!

  13. Janneke

    Hallo Katie.

    Ik heb de Pfaff 630
    Aanhechten aan het begin van de stiklijn doe ik als volgt:
    1.Druk op afhechttoets. (2 in handleiding)
    2.Druk op achteruitnaaitoets (7 in handleiding)
    3.Druk op Start/stop toets (6 in handleiding)
    4.Start met naaien
    Probeer het maar eens, voor mij werkt het.

  14. Nemayian Konchellah

    Hi! I have an Ambition 0.1 Pfaff and now that I know about Ambition 630 I may just upgrade! Only problem I live in Kenya and serving is a great problem!

  15. Eddy ONGENA

    Mijn tranportverzinker op mijn naaimachine Ambition 630 schijnt niet te werken, en het spant enorm om de omschakelklnop te verschuiven…

  16. Michael

    Hi, Katie. Thanks so much for the review of the 630. It was a decision maker for me as I begin sewing at 70! Love the machine. I was wondering about the baste stitch (no. 4). Have you had any success with it? I don’t think I “get” it. When I choose that stitch, it offers no way to change the length, and sews one stitch, then stops. What am I missing here?

  17. SCMK

    I looked at the YouTube video of basic utility stitches tutorial and it explains how to do a lock stitch at start and finish of a seam and also how to auto reverse. I had read this in the instructions but didn’ fully understand it so it really helped to see it done and explained. Maybe still a bit more painful than just pressing one button but at least it can do it! I only got my machine last month but so far I love it. It is so quiet and smooth. I had a fairly basic Janome which was fine but I wanted to be able to sew with different types of material and the Pfaff is so much better for that.

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