Creative Pfaff 3 Manual

							4:3
Sewing mode
Selection menu
To enter selection menu, touch selection menu icon 
at the left. The selection menu contains a selection 
bar at the right with icons for stitches, stitch fonts, 
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When a stitch or font is selected, the selection menu 
will close automatically. A selected stitch font opens 
in sequence window. 
Selecting a stitch
Select a stitch by touching the desired stitch on the 
screen. Use the scroll arrows to scroll in the list of 
stitches. 
To view all categories, touch stitch category 
icon. For each category, there are two or more 
subcategories. For each subcategory a list of stitches 
is shown. 
Selecting a font
Text can be created with stitch fonts. To load a stitch 
font, open the selection menu. Select stitch fonts 
from the selection bar. Your machine contains four 
built-in stitch fonts. The number to the right of each 
font shows the font size. Select a font by touching 
it. A selected stitch font opens in sequencing. Read 
more about sequencing in chapter 5.
Note: Stitch fonts are only visible if sewing mode is 
active.
Stitches
Stitch fonts
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USB device
Cancel
Scroll arrowsStitch category
Category
Subcategory
Selection menu
Stitch fonts 
						

							4:4Sewing mode
Stitch settings
Your machine will set the best settings for each 
selected stitch. You can make your own adjustments 
on the selected stitch. The setting changes will only 
affect the selected stitch. Your changed settings will 
be reset to default when selecting another stitch. The 
changed settings are not automatically saved when 
turning your machine off. You can save an adjusted 
stitch in a personal menu to keep the adjustments.
For some stitches you can change more than one 
setting in each setting control. This will be indicated 
by a button symbol in the middle of the control. 
Touch the button symbol to toggle between different 
stitch settings.  
If a stitch can be balanced, a long touch symbol 
appears in the lower right corner in the middle of 
the control. Long touch the button symbol to open 
balance setting.
Note: Some stitches can be balanced but not toggle between 
two stitch settings (width/positioning) and/or (length/
density). If touching once on a button symbol with a long 
touch the stitch control will not change its appearance. 
This indicates that the selected stitch cannot toggle 
between the two stitch settings.
Note: When trying to exceed minimum or maximum 
settings for the stitch controls, a warning sound will be 
heard. The default value is shown in white. 
Stitch width
Increase or decrease the stitch width using + and -. 
The number above the control shows stitch width in 
mm. 
Stitch positioning
For certain stitches the stitch positioning icon is 
shown instead of the stitch width control. Use + to 
move the needle to the right and - to move the needle 
to the left. The number above the control shows the 
needle position in mm in relation to center needle 
position. For straight stitches the machine has 37 
needle positions. 
It is possible to change the needle position of all 
stitches that are less than 9 mm wide. Touch the 
button symbol in the middle of width/position 
control to toggle between stitch width and stitch 
positioning. The stitch position can only be changed 
to the limit of the maximum stitch width. Changing 
the stitch position will also limit the stitch width 
adjustment.Stitch width
Stitch positioningStitch width/Stitch positioningStitch length/Stitch density
Long 
touch Button 
symbol 
						

							4:5
Sewing mode
Stitch density
+–
+–
Stitch length
Increase or decrease the stitch length using + and -. 
The number above the control shows stitch length 
in mm. If lengthening a zigzag stitch or a decorative 
stitch, the entire stitch will be longer. If lengthening 
a satin stitch where the density can be adjusted, 
the entire stitch will be longer but the density will 
remain the same.
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The stitch density control adjusts the density (the 
closeness of the satin stitches that make up the 
entire stitch). The density does not affect the actual 
length of the entire stitch. 
Touch + to decrease the density. Touch - to increase 
the density. The number above the control shows 
the distance between satin stitches in mm.
Note: This is often used with specialty threads and when 
a less dense satin stitch is desired.
Balance
When sewing on special fabrics or doing a special 
technique, the balance may need to be adjusted. If 
a stitch can be balanced, a long touch symbol will 
appear in the stitch length/density control. 
To ensure a good result, start with sewing a test 
sample on the fabric you will use. Long touch the 
stitch length/density control to activate balance. 
Use the + and - icons to adjust the forward/
backward balance of the stitch. 
Note: Buttonholes can also be balanced.
Balance forward/backward
Stitch length 
						

							4:6Sewing mode
Thread tension
Your machine automatically sets the best thread 
tension for the selected stitch. The thread tension 
can be adjusted for specialty thread, techniques or 
fabric. Touch  +  to increase and - to decrease the 
needle thread tension.
Correct and incorrect thread tension
For the best stitch appearance and durability make 
sure the needle thread tension is correctly adjusted, 
i.e. for general sewing, the threads evenly meet 
between the two fabric layers (A).
If the bobbin thread is visible on the top side of the 
fabric, the needle thread tension is too tight. Reduce 
the needle thread tension (B).
If the needle thread is visible on the back side of the 
fabric, the needle thread tension is too loose (C). 
Increase the needle thread tension.
For buttonholes and decorative stitches the needle 
thread should be visible on the underside of the 
fabric (C). Reduce the needle thread tension to bring 
the needle thread back side of the fabric.
Mirroring
To mirror a stitch or sequence horizontally, touch 
the mirror side to side icon. To mirror vertically, 
touch the mirror end to end icon.
Note: Buttonholes cannot be mirrored.
B
A
C
Mirror side to side
Mirror end to end
Thread tension 
						

							4:7
Sewing mode
Save to personal menu
To save a stitch, touch the save to personal menu 
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							4:8Sewing mode
Free-motion options
All stitches on your machine can be sewn in free-
motion to create fantastic effects. 
Touch the free-motion options icon to open a 
window where you can select between three 
different free-motion options. The selected free-
motion option is shown at the top of the screen by a 
free-motion options symbol. Use quick help on the 
symbol for information about the current setting. 
For all free-motion sewing the fabric must be moved 
manually and the feed dogs need to be lowered. See 
page 2:9 for information on how to lower the feed 
dogs. On the top of the screen, a lower feed dogs 
recommendation will be shown.
Note: Make sure that the IDT
™ system is disengaged.
Read more about free-motion sewing on page 4:20
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Activate to set the machine in Dynamic spring foot 
free-motion mode for the Dynamic spring foot 6D 
(optional accessory, part number 820991-096). The 
Dynamic spring foot measures the fabric thickness 
and will raise and lower with each stitch to hold the 
fabric on the needle plate while the stitch is being 
formed.
Note: The Dynamic spring foot 6D is recommended for 
use with straight stitch. Activate Stitch width safety in 
Machine settings.
Spring foot free-motion
Activate to set the machine in Spring foot free-
motion mode for optional spring feet. A spring foot 
will raise and lower with each stitch to hold the 
fabric on the needle plate while the stitch is being 
formed.
Note: Optional spring feet can be purchased at your local 
authorized PFAFF
® dealer. 
Free-motion options
Free-motion options symbol 
Dynamic spring foot 6D free-motion
Spring foot free-motion
Sensormatic free-motion
Lower feed dogs 
recommendation 
						

							4:9
Sewing mode
Sensormatic free-motion
Activate to set the machine in Sensormatic free-
motion mode for, e.g. Embroidery/Sensormatic 
free-motion foot 6A.
When sewing free-motion at low speed the presser 
foot will raise and lower with each stitch to hold the 
fabric on the needle plate while the stitch is being 

the fabric while sewing.
Skipped stitches can occur if your fabric moves 
up and down with the needle as you are stitching. 
Lowering the presser foot height will reduce the 
space between the presser foot and the fabric and 
eliminate the skipped stitches.
To adjust the presser foot height in Sensormatic 
free-motion mode, long touch the check box and 
make adjustments in the pop-up.
Note: Be careful not to reduce the presser foot height too 
much. The fabric must still move freely under the presser 
foot.
Do not use a spring foot if Sensormatic free-motion is 
activated, since the needle might damage the presser foot.
Presser foot height 
						

							4:10Sewing mode
Tie-off options
Tie-off beginning
Tie-off end
Thread snips
Tie-off options 
When touching the tie-off options icon, a foldout 
opens to let you select three different functions; tie-
off beginning, tie-off end and thread snips.
When you have activated your settings, you can 
hide the three icons by touching the tie-off icon on 
the option bar again. The tie-off options icon will 
show your settings by changing the color of the 
chosen function. The settings will remain active 
until you switch them off.
Note: For immediate tie-off, use the Immediate tie-off 
button, placed on the front of the machine among the 
buttons. 
Sewing with tie-off options selected
1.  The tie-off beginning will be performed as soon 
as you start to sew.
2.  Press the reverse button to perform tie-off end. 
The action indicator will be lit. The machine will 
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  When a thread snip is programmed, the 
machine will automatically cut the threads 
after performing the tie-off end. The needle and 
presser foot will raise.
 Note: To activate reverse sewing, stop sewing and 
press the reverse button. The reverse indicator will be 
lit. No tie-off will be performed.
  Press the reverse button when sewing in reverse to 
activate tie-off end. Both the reverse indicator and 
the action indicator will be lit.
  To go back to sewing forward, stop sewing in reverse 
and press the reverse button. No indicators will be lit 
and no tie-off will be performed.
Reverse buttonAction indicator
Immediate tie-off
Reverse indicator 
						

							4:11
Sewing mode
Sewing programs
These options let you activate tapering, single stitch 
and patchwork programs. You can sew without 
closing this pop-up. 
Note: Not all programs can be used at the same time. 
Tapering program
Tapering increases or decreases the width of the 
stitch during sewing to create symmetrical or 
asymmetrical tapers.
Activate tapering by selecting either of the tapering 
icons. The default angle is 45 degrees. Long touch 
a tapering icon to view the angle choices for that 
taper. Select one angle for the beginning taper and 
the same angle or a different one for the end taper. 
If tapering is deactivated and then activated again, 
the angle will be set to the previously selected angle.
When tapering is activated at both the beginning 
and at the end and you start to sew, the stitch 
width will start at 0mm. It becomes wider until the 
selected stitch width is reached. Sew your desired 
length and press the reverse button. The width 
is reduced until the width is 0mm and the action 
indicator on the machine will be lit until the taper is 
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Single stitch program
Activate the single stitch program by touching the 
icon. The single stitch program lets you decide how 
many repetitions of the stitch you want to sew.
Set the number of repetitions using the icons on the 
right. The number of repetitions chosen is shown 
between the + and - icons. The machine will stop 
automatically when the repetitions are sewn.
Tapering program
Single stitch program
Patchwork program
Set number of stitch repetitions 
in single stitch programSewing 
programs
Pop-up for tapering program
Number of 
repetitions
Single stitch 
program 
						

							4:12Sewing mode
Patchwork program
The patchwork program makes it possible for you 
to program an exact seam length that can be sewn 
repeatedly. This is very useful when quilting.
To program a seam length, activate the patchwork 
program. Sew your desired seam length and press 
the reverse button. The action indicator on the 
machine will be lit until the last repetition of the 

seam. 
After you have programmed the patchwork 
sequence, the patchwork program icon is inactive. 
The single stitch program is now activated instead. 
Combining Tapering and Patchwork  
or Single stitch programs
Combining Tapering and Patchwork or Single stitch 
programs makes it possible to repeat a tapered seam 
with the same length. 
Activate tapering by selecting any of the tapering 
icons then activate Patchwork by touching the icon. 
Follow the instructions for tapering on the previous 
page. When the reverse button is pressed the action 
indicator will be lit until the taper and last repetion 
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The stitch is now programmed and the single stitch 
program is activated. When you start to sew again 
the stitch will automatically be repeated with the 
same length. 
Between the + and - icons the number of repetitions 
in the program is shown. Use the + and - icons to 
adjust the length of the seam. 
Note: The tapering is included in the repetitions shown 
on the screen.
Sequencing 
Touch this icon to open sequencing. In sequencing 
you can create and adjust a sequence of stitches and 
letters. Read about sequencing in chapter 5.
Stitch Creator™ feature
Touch this icon to open Stitch Creator™ feature. 
Stitch Creator™ feature allows you to create your 
own 9mm stitches or edit built-in stitches. Every 
single stitch point can be edited. Read about Stitch 
Creator
™ feature in chapter 6.
Singel stitch program
Patchwork program
Sequencing
Stitch Creator™ feature