Circular Attachment Techniques on the PFAFF creative elevate 680

Over the last two days, I played with decorative stitches, Specialty Stitch Techniques on the new PFAFF creative elevate 680

Today I’m playing with the PFAFF Circular Attachment. This simple tool can create perfect curved stitching that you can use in multiple ways. When using a circular attachment, you need an extension table on all machines. There is one available for this machine, but I do not have it. See if you can figure out what I used instead from the picture below.

So now the secret’s out, the PFAFF creative elevate 680 can simply be a sewing machine, or if you buy the large optional accessory, the embroidery arm, it can be a ‘Sewing and Embroidery Machine’, WIFI Enabled, which includes CREATIVATE Connectivity and access to the catalogue (with a membership). Now you can buy the embroidery arm with the machine (always the cheapest), or if you want to spread out your purchases, you can get it next year! PFAFF has done this before, and for tight budgets, it really helps!

Now, why, you ask, is the embroidery arm not fully engaged when sewing in previous pictures? The gap you see between the machine and the embroidery arm. This is a more entry-level machine, and it will not sew with the embroidery arm fully engaged. With the Circular Attachment, as long as the left part of the PFAFF Circular Attachment is supported, it does not matter.

Note: Here are some essential tips for using the PFAFF Circular Attachment.

• First, you’ll need an extension table; however, for smaller pieces that won’t hit the embroidery arm, you can work without it. Be careful, as bumping the arm can throw off the calibration. You can use the embroidery arm in a partially engaged position.
• It’s important to attach a stabilizer to the fabric, ideally with a sticky or temporary basting spray. Avoid using the Scissor Button, as the PFAFF Circular Attachment connects just above it through the two holes in the plate.
• When selecting stitches, choose ones with minimal or no forward and backward movement. For larger machines, avoid stitches with side motion. For the best results, utilize the Stop/Start button and slow down a bit, yes, that applies to you speed demons, myself included!

Let’s explore the different feet and stitches I used for stitching in the round. The smallest circle features the Candlewick Stitch found in Menu 9 – Additional, paired with the PFAFF Candlewicking Foot designed for IDT. Menu 9 includes specific stitches that were introduced with the development of new feet. Although I could have used a 30-weight cotton thread to achieve a higher, bolder effect, I didn’t have the right color, so I opted for an embroidery thread instead.

The next, larger circle is couching three strands of yarn, using the PFAFF Three Hole Yarn Foot for IDT and another stitch from Menu 9 Additional, designed for this foot. I didn’t have or buy three different balls of yarn, so I got one variegated ball and cut out the colour tones I wanted. Just pay attention to the yarn length before it changes color.

Lastly, I used a satin irregular stitch narrower than the default to speed things up. Why an irregular well, a traditional satin, will be tight on the inside of the circle and more open on the outside. An intentionally jagged-edge satin has a more irregular edge, so you do not notice it. I narrowed it as I was tired and wanted to finish faster! This requires the 2A foot.

Now we can talk about embroidery: The PFAFF Creative Elevate 680 Sewing and Embroidery Machine has More Than 330 Built-In Embroidery Designs and 8 Embroidery Fonts. There are multiple editing features, such as My Favourite 4-Step Exact Positioning, Basting, Rotate, Scale, Move design, Mirror Image, Change Shape, Change Order of Stitchout, and the ever-useful Automatic Jump Stitch Trim. The largest Hoop area is 360X200 (120X120 is included). The new PFAFF 40X40 hoop is preloaded!! So, there are lots of Optional Hoops available with sizes in between, see the list under Hoops on the machine. Over the years, I collected hoops like I collected feet, usually when I was doing a project that called for a different size. How do you know? You get the best tension with a hoop that is the smallest that your design will fit into. For example, I used the 150X150 Optional Hoop for the design below.

Note: See your dealer about the PFAFF 40X40 creative petite spring hoop; they will know the part number. Or check out the NEW Downloadable 2026 Accessory Catalogue (English and French). The hoop is shown in the catalogue but has not yet appeared on the webpage. You can (free) download and /or print this if desired. The Petite hoop is on page 69. I tend to save mine on my iPad/computer for easy reading.

I choose to use one of the preloaded signature designs, a circle. Now you can see the theme for my color scheme: teals, blues, and greens. Lights and darks. Now the Pfaff creative elevate 680 comes with a 6A Embroidery Sensormatic Free-Motion Foot. However, I prefer the optional PFAFF 6D Dynamic Spring Foot, so I used my own, as this filled circle is quite dense.

When doing embroidery, you’ll quickly come to appreciate the lovely Automatic Needle Threader, especially as I sew a lot at night and I have, sigh, old eyes!

Note: I have obsessive-compulsive tendencies when it comes to how I do things. You can achieve beautiful results using the included PFAFF 6A Embroidery Sensormatic Free-Motion Foot and the 360×200 hoop, but I choose not to. Traditionally, the 6A Sensormatic is used for flat, simple embroideries, while the PFAFF 6D Dynamic Spring Foot is recommended for thicker materials and designs. This embroidery was quite dense.

This week, I played with the PFAFF creative elevate 680 using Decorative Stitches and new specialty feet. Then I stitched Specialty Technique Stitches. Today, I showed you how easy it was to use the PFAFF Circular Attachment and introduced the Large Optional Accessory, the Embroidery arm. Join me tomorrow, I’m playing with more embroidery. Why? Because I CAN!

This is part 3 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 2: Floating, Ribbon and Stacking Stitches on the PFAFF creative elevate 680