If you’re looking for a great entry-level sewing machine for less than $1000 that is durable, well-made, and packed with great features – you might consider the Pfaff Passport 2.0 sewing machine. Pfaff has been a well-known and highly regarded sewing machine manufacturer for over 150 years. Pfaff machines are known for their quality, durability, and cutting-edge technology. I have been using my Pfaff Passport 2.0 sewing machine as my primary machine since I bought it in 2014, so I thought I would share my experience with the machine to help you decide if it might be a great fit for you!
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Features of the Pfaff Passport 2.0
The Pfaff Passport 2.0 is one of the “lower-end” entry-level models in Pfaff’s lineup – most of their machines are well over $1000, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking features.
Here are the features included in the Passport 2.0 machine:
· Start/Stop button (so you don’t have to use the foot pedal)
· Speed adjuster (So useful! I love to lower the speed to sew tricky areas)
· Built-in light source
· Easy feed dog drop (for free-motion sewing/quilting)
· IDT (Integrated Dual Transportation/Feed)
· 70 different stitches
· One-step buttonhole capability
· Adjustable presser foot pressure
· Adjustable thread tension
· Needle up/down button
· Tie-off button
· Adjustable needle position
· Needle threader
· Easy top loading bobbin
· Comes with 6 different presser feet
· Comes with hardcover/carrying case
· Portable, small size (weighs 13.9 lbs or 6.3 kg)
You can see that this machine comes with tons of features – really anything you’d need unless you’re planning on doing any specialty sewing like embroidery. So, let’s talk about my favorite feature of the machine, the IDT system!
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IDT/Integrated Dual Feed
Pfaff Passport 2.0 with the IDT Engaged
My absolute FAVORITE feature of my sewing machine is the IDT technology. It’s basically a built-in walking foot. If you’ve never used a walking foot – what it does is feed the fabric from the top, while the feed dogs feed it from the bottom. This helps your fabric to feed through the machine more evenly and smoothly because it’s being pulled through the machine from both the top and bottom at the same time. This makes sewing knit fabrics so much easier! You get less wavy seams and hems on your knits when using IDT (or a walking foot if your machine doesn’t have IDT). I can really tell the difference when sewing knits if I have the IDT engaged vs disengaged.
Plus, the IDT system is super easy to disengage if you’re sewing something that you don’t want to use it for, like sewing buttonholes. All you need to do is gently pull it down and back with the presser foot up and it will disengage and be pulled up away from the fabric. Personally, I leave it engaged for everything except when using a specialty foot that can’t accommodate it (such as the buttonhole foot), or when sewing super thick fabrics where it gets in the way.
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So, how does it sew?
As I mentioned, I have had my machine since 2014 - 7 or 8 years at this point, so I have put many hours of sewing time on this machine and sewn with many different types of fabric!
I find that my Passport 2.0 really is a great machine that doesn’t have many issues. It sews very evenly and is able to power through most fabrics with ease. I’ve sewn super thick fabrics like leather and denim, as well as thin and shifty fabrics like silk and lace, and usually don’t have any issues. I have occasionally had trouble when sewing through 4 or more layers of thick fabric like denim – sometimes the presser foot isn’t able to get high enough to accommodate all the layers and sometimes the machine will skip stitches through super bulky areas.
The other frustration I’ve had with this machine is sewing buttonholes in bulky, layered areas -often the buttonhole on the waistband of pants. This is my main complaint about the machine because it’s super frustrating to have sewn an entire pair of pants only to have the buttonhole get all wonky because the machine refuses to feed the thick fabric correctly. Because of this issue, when making pants with a fly I typically leave the buttonhole for later so I can borrow my aunt’s machine to finish them (she has a Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.2 – which seems to have no issues sewing buttonholes through thick layers).
Also, while the compact size of the machine is great for portability and fitting into a small sewing space, it does limit your ability to sew super large projects. The throat space is not very large in this machine, so I’ve sometimes had to spend a lot of time figuring out how to maneuver my project through the machine when sewing something bulky like a wool coat.
However, despite my few complaints, this has overall been a great machine that is super versatile, has all the features and stitches I could ever need, and has held up amazingly well. This may not be a good thing to admit – but I’ve never had this machine serviced, and it still sews like a champ!
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Who would the Pfaff Passport 2.0 be a great fit for?
I think this machine would be a great choice for someone with a small sewing space or someone who loves to take their machine to classes and meet-ups because of the compact size. It would also be great for someone who wants a quality Pfaff machine for an affordable price – the durability and quality of this machine is really great compared to entry-level models from other sewing machine brands. Also, while this may be an “entry-level” machine, that doesn’t mean you’ll ever need an upgrade – this machine really can handle just about any project and create professional results. Plus, I can attest to the fact that it’s a durable machine that will last for years!
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