PREPARATIONS Operating Instructions Voltage Switch 220 - 240V / 120V The sewing machine is set to the voltage 220 - 240V. To change the voltage to 120V (US/Canada), you must set the voltage switch on the underside of the machine to 120 V. If you are unsure of the correct voltage for your country, please check with your authorized Pfaff sewing machine dealer or local electrical authorities before plugging in your machine. Electrical connection Connect the lead cord between the socket of the sewing machine and the wall outlet. Preparations 2:2 For the USA and Canada: This sewing machine has a polarized plug (one blade wider than the other). To reduce the risk of electric shock, this plug is intended to fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install the proper outlet. DO NOT modify the plug in any way! Connecting the foot control Pull the retractable cord out of the foot control to a length that is comfortable for you. The foot control has an automatic cord-rewind reel for storage. Connect the plug of the foot control to the connection socket of the sewing machine. The sewing speed is controlled by pressing the foot control. The foot control ATK 0080 must be used for this sewing machine. Main switch When the main switch is switched on (switch function I) the sewing lightbulb lights up and the multi-color touch screen lights up. The sewing machine is now ready to function. "0" = OFF "I" = ON Thread cutter Pull the thread from the back to the front up over the thread cutter. Preparations Contrast of the screen The contrast of the screen is adjustable. The setting can be re-adjusted with the screen control dial (A). A 2:3 Carrying case Place the enclosed lead cord, the foot control and instruction book into the storage compartment of the carrying case. Lid Open the lid upwards. The stitches of the sewing machine are illustrated on the inside of the lid. Preparations Accessory tray Open the accessory tray by placing your left index finger on the ridged area on the left of the lid and open the lid up and towards you. Free arm In order to sew using the free arm, swing the detachable accessory tray to the left and lift it up out of the hole. When replacing the accessory tray, make sure it is flush with the free arm of the sewing machine. Note: Some fabrics have a lot of excess dye which can cause discoloration on other fabric but also on your sewing machine. This discoloring may be very difficult or impossible to remove. Fleece and denim fabric (especially in red and blue) often contain a lot of excess dye. If you suspect that your fabric/ready-to-wear garment contains a lot of excess dye, always pre-wash it before sewing/embroidering to avoid the discoloring. 2:4 Changing the presser foot Snap off the presser foot Switch off the main switch. Press the front part of the presser foot upwards and at the same time the rear part downwards until it disengages from the presser foot holder. Snap on the presser foot Place the presser foot under the presser foot holder, so that when the presser foot lift is lowered, the pins of the foot snap onto the presser foot holder. Preparations Check: Please check that the presser foot is properly attached by raising the presser foot lift. Note: If your Presser foot lift is disengaged because of the embroidery or free-motion, step on the foot control in a sewing stitch or disengage the free-motion icon. 2:5 The IDT (Integrated Dual Feed) For sewing any fabric precisely Pfaff provides the ideal solution: the Integrated Dual Feed, IDT system. As on industrial machines, the IDT feeds the fabric from the top and bottom at the same time at the same stitch length. The fabric is fed precisely. On light fabrics such as silk or rayon the dual feed prevents puckering of the seam. The even feeding action also ensures perfect matching of checked and striped fabrics. The IDT keeps all layers of quilt projects aligned to prevent stretching of the top layers. Engaging the IDT Important: For all work with the Integrated Dual Feed IDT, use presser feet with the center back cut-out. Preparations 2:6 Raise the presser foot. Press the IDT down until it engages. Disengaging the IDT Hold the IDT with two fingers at the ribbed ankle. Press the IDT down, then pull it away from you and release the IDT slowly upward. Changing the needle A Switch off the main switch. To remove: Lower the presser foot and set the needle to its highest position. Loosen the needle screw and pull the needle out downwards. To insert: The flat side A of the needle must face to the rear. Lower the presser foot and insert the needle, pushing it up as far as it will go. Hold the needle and tighten the needle screw firmly. The feed dogs For certain sewing work such as free-motion quilting or darning or when embroidering, the feed dog must be lowered. On your Pfaff creative 2170 there are two different methods for lowering the feed dogs, one on the outside of the machine and one inside the bobbin door. A For either method: Raise the presser foot before lowering the feed dog. Push slide A or B to the left. To bring the feed dogs back up move the slide to the right. Preparations B 2:7 B A Winding the bobbin from the spool pin Choose a spool cap slightly larger in diameter than the spool. For example use the large spool cap for larger spools of thread, and the smallest cap with cone-type spools. Place the sewing thread on the spool pin. Slide the cap tightly against the spool. Preparations 2:8 Threading Place the thread into guide (A) from front to back and pull it counterclockwise ABOVE the bobbin winder thread guide (B). Wind the start of the thread around the bobbin several times in a clockwise direction. Note: When bobbin winding always place the thread ABOVE the bobbin winder thread guide (B). Place a bobbin on the bobbin winder with the Pfaff logo up. Make sure the bobbin is secure on the bobbin winder by placing the small pin on the bobbin winder into the slot on the bobbin. Switch on the main switch. Start bobbin winding by pushing the bobbin winding lever to the right. You may need to adjust the Winding speed on the window in the multi- color touch screen as explained on page 2:11. As soon as the bobbin is full, the winding action will be stopped automatically. Cut the thread and remove the bobbin from the winder. 1. 2. B A 1. Winding from the second spool pin Swing the second spool pin up and lock. Place a spool of thread with an appropriate spool cap on the spool pin. Preparations 2. Winding from the third spool pin Insert the third spool pin in the hole provided. Place the appropriate spool cap and then a spool on the spool pin. Threading Place the thread into thread guide (A) from front to back and pull it counter clockwise above the bobbin winder thread guide (B). Wind the start of the thread around the bobbin several times in a clockwise direction. Start bobbin winding by pushing the bobbin lever to the right. As soon as the bobbin is full, the winding action will be stopped automatically. Cut the thread and remove the bobbin from the winder 2:9 Bobbin winding while embroidering The creative 2170 has a thread guide for bobbin winding while embroidering. The needle thread (red) is placed into the thread guide (A) and underneath the bobbin winder thread guide (B). Pull the bobbin thread (blue) counter clockwise above the bobbin winder thread guide. Wind the start of the thread around the bobbin several times in a clockwise direction. B A Winding a bobbin through the needle It is possible to wind bobbins even when the machine is fully threaded (see page 2:14 for threading instructions). Raise the presser foot. Pull the needle thread underneath the presser foot and upward through the right-hand threader slot. Preparations Place the thread from left to right through the take-up lever (C). Note: The take-up lever must be at its highest position. C Guide the thread to the right. Wind the start of the thread around the bobbin several times in a clockwise direction. Start bobbin winding by pushing the bobbin lever to the right. As soon as the bobbin is full, the winding action will be stopped automatically. Cut the thread and remove the bobbin from the winder. Note: The thread knife next to the bobbin winder makes it easy to cut the thread after bobbin winding. 2:10 Setting the bobbin winding speed You can select the speed in which the bobbin winding is wound when the machine is stopped. In the context menu (A), you will find an icon called Winding speed. If you touch that icon, a pop-up will appear where you can choose if you want the winding speed to be Slow, Medium or High. If you touch the Show Dialog icon, a window for selecting the speed opens each time the bobbin winder is switched on. The speed that you have selected can halved at any time by touching the half speed button. Note: If you wind the bobbin while the sewing machine is running, the winding speed is automatically set to Low. A Preparations 2:11 Inserting the bobbin and bobbin case Switch off the main switch. Open the bobbin door at the left side swinging it open towards the front. Lift the latch of the bobbin case and pull the bobbin case out of the machine. Release the latch and take the empty bobbin out of the bobbin case. Bobbin thread monitor When the bobbin thread is nearing its end the red light next to the reverse button flashes automatically. A warning message will also be given on your display. This function is only activated when the bobbin door is closed. Preparations Inserting the bobbin Insert the full bobbin (with the Pfaff logo facing towards the bobbin case) in the bobbin case. When doing so, pull the thread through slot (A), then under tension spring (B) until it rests in the opening (see arrow). Check: Hold the bobbin case with the bobbin facing towards you. When you pull the thread, the bobbin must turn clockwise. Inserting the bobbin case Lift latch (E) and push the bobbin case fully onto pin (C) of the sewing hook. Opening (D) of the bobbin case must face upwards. Check: Pull the bobbin thread sharply. The bobbin case must not fall out of the hook. 2:12 Correct top tension - How to get it This machine will automatically preset the tension for different types of stitches. Depending on what type of fabric and threads you are using, manual adjustments might be needed. If you find that the bobbin thread is visible on the top side of the fabric or that the top thread is visible on the underside of the fabric, you need to adjust the thread tension. Press the thread tension icon (A), + and - to set the required amount of the needle thread tension. Your adjustments will be reset when you select a new stitch or design. To save your alterations for the next time you sew see page 3:12. A Thread tension For the best stitch appearance and durability make sure the needle thread tension is correctly adjusted, i.e. the threads evenly meet between the two fabric layers. The following is valid for general sewing work: Preparations Bobbin thread is visible on the top side of the fabric: The needle thread tension is too tight. The needle thread tension must be reduced. Top thread is visible on the underside of the fabric: The needle thread tension is too loose. The needle thread tension must be increased. For decorative stitches and buttonholes the top thread should be visible on the underside of the fabric. 2:13 Threading the needle Raise the presser foot. Place the thread on the spool pin and fit a spool cap of the right size. Using both hands, pull the thread into the thread guide (A) from front to back. Place the thread from the right underneath the bobbin winder thread guide (B). Now pass it through the left-hand threading slot downwards. Pull the thread around the stop (C) in the right-hand threading slot and upwards to the take-up lever (E). The thread must be pulled fully into the take-up lever from left to right. Pass the thread downwards in the right-hand threading slot. Pull the thread from the side behind one of the two thread guides (D). To thread the needle, please refer to the next section. Note: When sewing always place the thread underneath the bobbin winder thread guide (B). B A E Preparations C D Needle threader In order to make threading of the needle easier and quicker the Pfaff needle threader is built-in. The needle threader allows you to thread the needle automatically. 1. Lower the presser foot. Press the threader down with the handle. The threader hook (G) swivels through the needle eye. 2. Place the thread from the back, over the hook (F) and under the thread hook (G) and hold the end of the thread taut. Reduce the pressure so that the needle threader slowly moves upwards. 3. At the same time, the threader hook swivels out of the needle eye and pulls the thread through the eye. Slightly r ...