puzzled by this Pfaff sewing machine I've inherited

[highlandcoo]

I wonder if anyone can help me ..

When my mum died she left two different sewing machines. My sister took one and I took the other. Mine has been in the cupboard for years and inspired by the GB Sewing Bee I decided I should finally investigate it.

I used a Singer myself years ago and it doesn't look very different, however ...

Its name is a Pfaff Stretch and Jeans 6091. Sorry if this is an obvious question but does that mean it's a specialist sort of machine and only useful for stretch fabrics and jeans? Or just that those are extra features?

My mum did all sorts of complicated sewing projects so it's quite possible she had different machines for different purposes.

I've bought my Tilly and the Buttons book, I'm full of enthusiasm to get going on a project but I'm not confident about this machine yet.

I'd be really grateful for any advice

Does it say Varimatic? If so this link takes you to its manual: www.pfaff.com/SiteMedia/PFAFF/Products/Machines/Support-manuals/Varimatic_6091-manual-EN-FR-DE-IT.PDF

Jealous! It looks really good.

Hi Muttering thanks so much for your reply.

I was also linked to this manual on a Quiltingboard forum but I'm not sure if it's the right one. On the fourth page of the manual the illustration of the machine has "Varimatic" on the front whereas mine has "Stretch and Jeans" in the same place. I hadn't noticed that detail until you asked the question so thank you.

Which suggests that it's possibly a specialist machine and the Varimatic is for straightforward sewing which is what I want to do

I know nothing about this machine but, the link here says the Varimatic 6091 is also called Stretch and Jeans. sewing.patternreview.com/review/machine/169

Thanks for the info BlueMoon. I am still a bit confused . I think I'll get some old fabric out and have a go at sewing some simple seams and just see what happens!

It will be a machine that does all the basics but is just promoted extra features for stretch stitches and being robust enough for heavy duty sewing.
Pfaff are really good machines. Did you track down the manual?

You could contact Pfaff Via their website. They have Stretch and jeans listed but unfortunately no supporting documents. But might be worth asking if they know anything about it.

www.pfaff.com/en-GB/Support/7052

Sorry, I see you’ve been to the website already. Still might be worth an email though.

I had a quick look through the manual, it looks like a good sewing machine with extra features for stitching stretch and heavy duty fabrics like denim. Should cope with whatever you throw at it!

Good news! I think this will be a great project for my restricted life at the moment.

Back at school in the seventies I used to make my own clothes just to have something a bit different to wear. My mum's family were all tailors and although she didn't follow that career herself she'd picked up a lot of skills from her parents and made some fab stuff.

It'll be really nice to get her machine working again.

Thanks everyone

I have a jeans machine (not pfaff) and it’s a basic machine with some added jeans features, and needles.

That seems to confirm what PPs have said - thanks Times

Probably coming to this thread quite late. I have the same machine. Stretch and Jeans and have the complete full manual. Let me know if you need any help. And yes, it does all the basic sewing stitches and more. It’s a great machine. Some of the varimatics which are similar weren’t made in Germany. The stretch and jeans, well mine at least was made in Germany.

Hi HARMyel thanks so much for your reply.

18 months later and I am getting on with it pretty well. I did track down the printed leaflet and every single time I change a spool I am still referring to it .. I have the method I used on my own original machine firmly entrenched in my kinesthetic memory obviously!

I started by making masks and have made cushions for the garden, mended duvet covers, made curtains (a lot of these objects were very rectangular ) and have recently joined a dressmaking evening class, so moving on to clothes and hoping to learn how to fit garments really well.

It's going OK so far however I may well take you up on your offer of help if things get more complicated .. thank you