After all our quilting fun this week, it’s time to clean! In yesterday’s post, I embroidered a custom quilt label with PFAFF’s creative 3.0. In today’s post, I’ll show you the tools and process for cleaning the machine to get it ready for more quilting!
PFAFF creative 3.0
Step 1 – Assemble your tools
This week I’ve been busy trying several different techniques on the creative 3.0. From free motion quilting, to quilting and embroidering, I’ve put the machine through its paces, so I figured it was time to clean out the bobbin area and change the needle.
The creative 3.0 comes with basic tools ready for cleaning. Honestly, I wouldn’t think to clean my machine after week of simply piecing patchwork, but once I’ve quilted with batting I like to clean out the bobbin area to prevent problems before they occur.
Cleaning tools for the creative 3.0
Step 2 – Remove the needle plate
What I like about the PFAFF machines is how easy they are to clean – that makes me more willing to take the time to do it.
The stitch plate comes off without having to deal with any screws! Simply pop off the needle plate with the mini screwdriver and put it aside.
Popping the needle plate off
Step 3 – Lift out other removable parts
Then there are a few more pieces to remove which simply lift out – be careful of the cutting edge on the little gray piece though!
Parts removed from the bobbin area
Step 4 – Brush gently
With everything out, it’s time to use the brush to clean between the feed dogs and in and around the bobbin area.
Bobbin area ready to be cleaned
Step 5 – Replace all of the parts
Remember not to blow any air into this area – I know it’s tempting but resist the temptation! Just keep putting the brush in and gently push it around.
Once the brush comes up clean it’s time to put everything back in. Again with no screws required, the needle plate clicks into place.
Use the brush to gently remove lint.
Step 6 – Replace the needle
Next it’s time to change the needle with this cool multipurpose tool.
Mulitpurpose tool and mini screwdriver
The needle goes into the hole and you can hold the tool while unscrewing the screw that holds the needle. Yes, there’s a screw and it should be tight – remember how fast the machine was stitching when it was completing that embroidery!
Needle in hole of multipurpose tool
Optimistically, I inserted a new quilting needle hoping that I’ll continue to work on my quilt this week – it’s sooo close to being done!
Now that I’m finished cleaning I can put the tools away in the front accessory tray. This storage space on the PFAFF creative 3.0 has two levels – it store tools underneath and keeps bobbins and presser feet lined up in the removable top piece.
Front accessory tray
With the machine clean and a new needle inserted, there’s nothing stopping you from starting another project with the PFAFF creative 3.0!
This is part 5 of 5 in this series.
Go back to part 4: Exploring the plentiful custom embroidery feature of the creative 3.0