MFG SKU: 850222112
PFAFF Performance Icon
PFAFF Performance Icon
We can't wait to get you sewing!
Quilted Joy is the home of the world famous Quilt Fairies and is led by Angela Huffman, host of PBS' Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting. Buy your machine from people who sew on these machines every day.
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Machine Information
The Performance Icon is the top of PFAFF's sewing line, and it is a sewing machine only. It does not embroider. Everything PFAFF might have spent on an embroidery unit went into the arm, the light, the needle power and the screen instead.
You notice that the first time you put a finished queen top under it. There are 12.2 inches to the right of the needle, so the quilt has somewhere to sit, and nine points of light around the needle so your own hand is not casting a shadow across the seam you are watching.
It is a lot of machine, and we would rather say so than sell you the wrong one. If you sew a few times a month, a smaller PFAFF will make you just as happy. The Performance Icon earns its keep when you are at the machine most days and your projects keep getting bigger.
Room to move a quilt
There are 12.2 inches (310mm) to the right of the needle and 140mm of height under the arm, about 5.5 inches. Under the sewing head itself you get 3 inches of clearance, so a thick batting sandwich still moves freely and you can see where the needle is going.
The bobbin holds 30 percent more thread than the previous generation, which across a king-size quilt is a handful of stops you do not have to make. The stitch plate is marked on both sides out to 2.5 inches, so you can line up a border without reaching for a ruler.
Nine points of light
PFAFF put nine separate LED points around the work area instead of one lamp over the needle. Light arriving from several directions means your hand does not throw a shadow onto the stitch line. That matters most on navy, on black and on anything with a nap, where the stitch line is hardest to read.
It is the feature nobody asks about in the showroom and everybody mentions a year later.
ActivStitch measures thread as you sew
ActivStitch uses sensors to measure the thread running through the machine and portions out what each stitch actually needs, adjusting continuously as you sew. You will notice it most with metallic, with heavy topstitching thread, and with the wide decorative stitches, where the amount of thread a stitch needs changes constantly.
The thread guides telescope, so a big cone of quilting thread feeds straight off the back without a separate stand clamped to your table.
Enhanced Original IDT feeds from the top too
Original IDT is engineered into the machine itself, and on the Performance Icon it runs on its own power source. Top and bottom layers move at the same rate, so plaids meet, borders finish the length you cut them, and a quilt sandwich comes out the far side square.
A sensor tells you on screen when to engage it and when to drop it back out of the way, which saves the moment of wondering whether you remembered. This is the strongest needle piercing power PFAFF has built, so a binding crossing four seam allowances sits well inside what it will handle.
A 10.1 inch screen that answers questions
The screen is 10.1 inches (257mm) of full color and it swipes, pinches and zooms the way a tablet does. Built into it is the Help Center, with more than fifty animated and illustrated walkthroughs.
If a machine this capable worries you, that is the part to look at. When you cannot remember how a technique is set up, the answer is right there on the screen, at the machine, while the fabric is still under the needle. You can move the on-screen tools where your hand naturally falls and make them the size you want to read.
mySewnet and CreatorCue
The machine joins your wifi. Stitches you save to mySewnet cloud storage arrive on the machine on their own, and firmware updates install without a USB stick or a trip to the shop. The free PFAFF CreatorCue app puts step by step project instructions on your phone alongside the same guidance on the machine screen, so you are not holding a tablet in one hand over your work.
Stitches you can change, and stitches you can build
There are 522 built-in stitches, six sewing fonts and two more for monogramming. Six of the stitch groups are PFAFF techniques you will not find on another brand: Triple Ribbon, Double Ribbon, Floating, Radiant, Lace Edge and Stacking. They are worth an evening with a scrap and a walking foot before you commit them to a quilt, and they are the reason a PFAFF label on a garment looks like a PFAFF garment.
When none of the 522 is quite what you pictured, Stitch Creator lets you draw a new 9mm stitch point by point, or take a built-in one and change it. Whatever you make is yours to save and use like any other stitch.
Specifications
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| Threading and feeding |
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| Screen and connectivity |
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| In the box |
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Angela Huffman, host of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting PBS show and founder and owner of Quilted Joy.
Quilted Joy is a family-owned authorized PFAFF dealer in Louisville, Kentucky, and the home of the Quilt Fairies. A machine at this level should come with people, so it does. Our technicians are factory certified for PFAFF and your machine is serviced in our own shop, by someone you can call and talk to.
Your Pixie Playdate owner classes are free and there is no limit on how many you take, so nobody goes home with a machine they are afraid to touch. Every PFAFF we sell is eligible for the Quilt Fairy Godmother Program, and if you have found this machine for less at another authorized PFAFF retailer, tell us and we will work to match it.
★★★★★ 4.9 stars on Google and a 98% recommend rate on Facebook
“Best customer service I have received in a retail setting in a long time!”
Jeannette M., Facebook recommendation
Where the Performance Icon sits in the PFAFF line
The Performance Icon puts everything into sewing. If you want the same PFAFF engineering with embroidery as well, look at the creative icon 2, which sews and embroiders and adds voice control and a projector. The Creative Elevate 680 is the modular route: a full sewing machine now, with an embroidery unit you can add whenever you are ready. For a smaller footprint built around Original IDT, the quilt ambition 635 is the one to compare.
Not sure which of them is your machine? Call the Quilt Fairies at (502) 718-7148 or send us a note. We sew on these every day, we will ask what you make before we tell you what to buy, and we would rather point you at the right machine than the expensive one.
Additional Information
| Product type | Sewing Machine |
| Brand | Pfaff |
| Manufacturer | Pfaff |
Easy for Everyone
Buying a machine is a big decision. The Quilt Fairies make every step of it simple.
Price Match Guarantee
Found it for less from another authorized dealer? Tell us and we'll work to match it.
Trade In & Trade Up
Your current machine can help pay for your next one. Ask us for a trade-in quote.
Talk to a Sewist
Not sure which machine fits? The Quilt Fairies stitch on these machines every day. Call (502) 718-7148.
Flexible Financing
Spread your purchase into monthly payments with Shop Pay Installments. See your estimated payment right on this page.
Trusted by Sewists from Coast to Coast
Their response time and shipping was so quick! I received my order three days early and I live on the other side of the country.Laura W. · Google review
My orders always arrive in 2 days, with nice notes that inspire me every time. They always have exactly what I need.Eleanor P. · Google review
No other online quilt shop or local shop compares with the enthusiasm, willingness to help and great resources offered at Quilted Joy.Deborah B. · Oklahoma
Even though I’m in Texas they made it very easy. They responded quickly by email and got me enrolled. I loved the class and learned so much. 10/10Leslie W. · Texas
This company is FANTASTIC. Not only does the online shop have fast shipping and exactly what I needed, but there’s so much helpful quilting information.Kathy V. · Google review
The “quilt fairies” truly are amazing. They have made me feel so welcome and have been incredibly patient with me every step of the way.Ella S. · Google review
Reviews
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PFAFF Performance Icon — Frequently Asked Questions
Does the PFAFF Performance Icon do embroidery?
No. The Performance Icon is a dedicated sewing and quilting machine, and everything in it goes toward sewing. If you want PFAFF engineering with embroidery as well, the creative icon 2 sews and embroiders, and the Creative Elevate 680 is a sewing machine you can add an embroidery unit to later. The Quilt Fairies will happily compare them with you at (502) 718-7148.
How much room does the Performance Icon give me for a quilt?
There are 12.2 inches (310mm) to the right of the needle and 140mm of height under the arm, which is about 5.5 inches. Under the sewing head itself you have 3 inches of clearance, so a batting sandwich still moves freely. A queen top rolls through rather than packing up against the pillar.
What is ActivStitch technology?
Sensors measure the thread running through the machine and portion out what each stitch actually needs, adjusting continuously as you sew. You will notice it most with metallic thread, with heavy topstitching thread and with the wide decorative stitches, where the amount of thread each stitch needs keeps changing.
What does the Original IDT system actually do?
IDT is PFAFF's integrated dual feed. It moves the top layer at the same rate the feed dogs move the bottom layer, so plaids meet at the seam, borders finish the length you cut them, and quilt sandwiches come out square. On the Performance Icon the IDT has its own power source and a sensor that tells you on screen when to engage it.
How many stitches does the Performance Icon have?
There are 522 built-in stitches up to 9mm wide, six sewing fonts and two more fonts for monogramming. Six stitch groups are PFAFF techniques you will not find on another brand: Triple Ribbon, Double Ribbon, Floating, Radiant, Lace Edge and Stacking. The Stitch Creator feature also lets you draw your own 9mm stitches or edit a built-in one.
Can I finance the Performance Icon?
Yes. Shop Pay Installments is available at checkout, and you will see your estimated monthly payment right on this page. You can also ask the Quilt Fairies about the Quilt Fairy Godmother Program and about trading in your current machine.
What warranty comes with the Performance Icon?
PFAFF warrants the machine frame for 20 years and the electronic and electrical components for 5 years, supplying replacement parts free in both cases. The remaining mechanical parts are covered for one year, including labor. The warranty goes to the original purchaser buying from an authorized PFAFF dealer, so keep your receipt with the warranty card.
Why buy the Performance Icon from Quilted Joy?
Quilted Joy is a family-owned authorized PFAFF dealer in Louisville, Kentucky, home of the Quilt Fairies and led by Angela Huffman, host of Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting on PBS. Our technicians are factory certified for PFAFF and service is done in our own shop. Your Pixie Playdate owner classes are free with no limit on how many you take, and we back the machine with our Price Match Guarantee against other authorized PFAFF retailers.
