I’m moving homes in just under a month, and I’ve been going through my vintage sewing machine collection attempting to decide what machines I should sell and which I should keep. This one, the PFAFF 1027 Tipmatic sewing machine, is one that I’m wanting to keep! Let me know in the comments below if you agree or disagree with this choice.
I bought this machine second hand from Value Village for $19.99 in 2020, right before my province shut down all retail stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m not sure the exact age of the machine, but it references West Germany on it, so that gives us a little hint of its age. 😉
PFAFF 1027 Tipmatic: How to Thread the Sewing Machine Tutorial and Bobbin Winding Guide
In this video, I’ll show you how to thread the PFAFF Tipmatic 1027 sewing machine, including how to wind and insert the bobbin.
About the PFAFF Tipmatic 1027 Sewing Machine
I’ve never owned this brand of machine before, so I was totally new to this machine. The design is clever, with all the accessories contained within a swing out arm or within the hinged top cover. So neat and tidy! The spool pin is totally contained within the machine too! The feet and other small accessories have dedicated slots, and as a bonus, you can pull out the entire organizer tray to put on your work surface. Even the bobbins have a dedicated area so they don’t get lost. Unfortunately I don’t have all the accessories, but most are still here.
You can luckily still get the manual from PFAFF’s website. Just in case PFAFF decides to remove it, I’ve also uploaded a copy here for you as a backup mirror:
There are two ways to wind the bobbin on this machine. You can do it the traditional way, by placing a spool of thread onto a spool pin at the top of the machine, but alternatively, you can wind the bobbin WITHOUT undoing your upper threading. It’s an interesting feature!
You can use the buttons at the bottom right of the machine in combination with the stitch length dial to make a variety of stitch types. The inner panel shows you all the different stitches for reference, along with a quick tip threading and bobbin guide.
This machine supports sewing in reverse with a press of a button, and you can also lower the feed dogs for free motion sewing.
PFAFF Tipmatic 1027 Upper Threading Tutorial
Slide a spool of thread onto the spool pin. If the thread is small, use the small disc, and if large, use the large disc.
Raise the presser foot and turn the handwheel until the thread take up lever is in the highest position.
Pull the thread from the spool and draw it into the first slot near the top left, all the way down the front. Then lead the thread over to the slot just to the right, and guide it up and through the take up lever. Immediately lead the thread back down through the same slot and into the metal thread guide, then through the thread guide on the needle holder.
Thread the needle from front to back.
It may be hard to follow these instructions in written form, so feel free to check out my video for instructions on how to prepare the upper and lower threading, and how to wind the bobbin.
Winding Option 1: Winding Bobbin from Threaded Machine
I mentioned earlier you can wind this machine without unthreading your upper thread. It’s super handy! Make sure that the sewing foot is raised, and bring the needle to the highest point.
Disengage the sewing mechanism by holding the handwheel and turning the inner knob towards you. Draw the needle thread from under the sewing foot up and up into rightmost slot and hook the thread on the round metal bobbin tension stud. Lead the thread into the little hole on the bobbin, or wind a few turns of thread on the bobbin. Place the bobbin on the bobbin winder, making sure to line up the notch on the winder with the hole on the bobbin. Push the bobbin towards the right. Press the pedal to start the sewing machine and fill up the bobbin. When you’re done, push the bobbin winder back to the left and remove the bobbin. Be sure to reengage the sewing mechanism by holding the handwheel and turning the inner knob away from you.
Winding Option 2: Winding Bobbin from A Second Spool
The second option is great if your bobbin thread is a different type than the upper thread. Disengage the sewing mechanism by holding the handwheel and turning the inner knob towards you. Insert the spool holder and place a spool of thread on it.
Draw the thread around the round metal bobbin tension stud. From there, the process is exactly the same as Option 1. (Same wording) Lead the thread into the little hole on the bobbin, or wind a few turns of thread on the bobbin. Place the bobbin on the bobbin winder, making sure to line up the knotch on the winder with the hole on the bobbin. Push the bobbin towards the right. Press the pedal to start the sewing machine and fill up the bobbin. When you’re done, push the bobbin winder back to the left and remove the bobbin. Be sure to reengage the sewing mechanism by holding the handwheel and turning the inner knob away from you.
Now that the upper threading is done and the bobbin is prepared, we need to insert the bobbin and prepare the machine for sewing.
Inserting the Bobbin
Open up the bobbin cover and remove the bobbin case. If you pull by the latch, the current bobbin will not fall out. Insert the bobbin so that the thread leads out clockwise when looking at the case with the opening facing you. Guide the thread through the slot and under and out the metal spring. Â
Hold the bobbin case by the latch and insert it onto the stud, lining up the knotch with the little hole. Make sure it’s fully in by listening for a click sound.
Draw up the bobbin thread by holding the needle thread taut. Turn the handwheel towards you until a little loop of bobbin thread pops up. Carefully pull the thread up and toward the back under the sewing foot.
Now we’re ready to sew! Put a test fabric under the needle and lower the presser bar with the lifter above and to the right. Choose your stitch selection and use the pedal to start sewing.
PFAFF Tipmatic 1027 Final Thoughts
I absolutely love this machine for its clever design and its small size. If there’s anything specifically you’d like to see on this machine, let me know in the comments here on the blog or over on the video comments – whatever is easier for you! I’m looking forward to spending more time with it in the future to learn the in’s and out’s once I’m able to unpack my belongings in our new house.
Some noteworthy comments collected from my video, that I wanted to highlight here, funnily enough both from people named Pauline (purely coincidental😉).
“It was a little miracle of a machine and still is to this day.”
Pauline C
I purchased this machine in my 20’s over 45 years ago. It’s been my goto all this time and it never failed me. It’s tough and reliable so if you ever find one, get it.
Pauline P
Reading comments like these make me so happy!
I have a tipmatic also but have misplaced the bobbins. Do you know what size or specifics to get. I found dimensions of 7mm and 22 mm but don’t know if this is standard. I have two Pfaff’s and love both of them. Also have the 1222E since 1980