PFAFF select 4.2 Mechanical Sewing Machine with Original IDT System

The PFAFF® select™ 4.2 pairs PFAFF's Original IDT™ system with simple mechanical controls. It feeds fabric from the top and bottom at the same time, with no separate walking foot to attach. It's for sewists who want even feeding for garments and piecing, and who would rather press a button than scroll a screen.

Stitches are chosen with the Easy select™ buttons: 40 stitches, up to 5.5 mm wide and 6 mm long. Constant needle piercing power, LED lighting and a built-in needle threader round out a machine built for everyday sewing.

Who the select 4.2 is for

• Sewists who want built-in even feed (IDT) for plaids, stripes, slippery fabrics and quilt piecing, without a separate walking foot
• People who prefer mechanical, button-and-dial controls to an LCD
• Garment sewists who want adjustable needle positions for topstitching and zippers
• Learners who want a speed limit: a full/half-speed slider on the foot control

• Traditional Sewists: Ideal for creators who prefer the robust feel, simple repairability, and intuitive feedback of a premium mechanical deck over digital touchscreens.

Not the best fit if you need

• A one-step buttonhole. The select 4.2 sews a 4-step buttonhole
• An automatic thread cutter, lettering or a large decorative library (40 stitches, manual cutter)
• Room for large quilts (6.8 in from needle to tower)
• A light machine to carry to classes (24.25 lb). The PFAFF passport 2.0 is the compact IDT option
• Satin or decorative stitching wider than 5.5 mm

Standout features

• Original IDT™ system: integrated dual feed moves the top and bottom layers together.
• Easy select™ buttons: press a button to choose one of 40 stitches. No menus.
• Constant needle piercing power: PFAFF's wording for full control at any speed.
• Bobbin winding from the needle: wind a bobbin without rethreading the machine.
• Sew slow: choose full or half speed with the slider on the foot control.
• IDT™ feet in the box: standard, fancy stitch, blindhem/overlock, zipper and 3 mm rolled hem feet.

select 4.2 specifications

What's in the box

• Standard Presser Foot with IDT™ system
• Fancy Stitch Foot with IDT™ system
• Clearview Foot
• Blindhem/Overlock Foot with IDT™ system
• Zipper Foot with IDT™ system
• Buttonhole Foot
• Darning Foot
• Rolled Hem Foot, 3 mm, with IDT™ system
• Edge guide / quilting guide
• Felt pad
• Spool caps (small, medium, large)
• Needles
• Extra spool pin
• Seam ripper
• Brush
• Bobbins
• Foot control
• Power cord

Frequently asked questions

What does the Original IDT™ system do?

IDT feeds the fabric from the top and the bottom at the same time, so the layers move together. It's built into the machine (PFAFF describes it as integrated dual feed), so you don't attach a separate walking foot.

Is the buttonhole one-step?

No. PFAFF's manual shows a 4-step buttonhole: sew one side, bartack, sew the other side, then bartack again.

Which needles does it use?

System 130/705 H, per PFAFF's manual.

How wide can the stitches be?

Up to 5.5 mm wide and 6 mm long, per PFAFF.

How heavy is it?

24.25 lb (11 kg), per PFAFF. It's a full-size machine for a home sewing table, not a travel machine.

Why buy from ThreadWorks

You get real, live phone setup support from experts who know PFAFF mechanical systems inside and out, and your investment is secured by the official PFAFF manufacturer warranty.

Manual, guides and troubleshooting

• select 4.2 instruction manual (PDF download)
• PFAFF models compared, and how IDT works
• Walking foot vs built-in dual feed
• Mechanical vs computerized sewing machines
• Sewing machine needle systems explained
• Why is my machine puckering fabric?
• Fixing tension problems

Verified for the PFAFF SELECT 4.2

• Needles: system 130/705 H, per Pfaff's official manual. Verified and in stock: Schmetz Universal 80/12 and Schmetz Universal 90/14.
• Bobbins: Pfaff's manual doesn't publish a bobbin class for this model — call us before buying bobbins and we'll confirm what fits.

Not sure what fits? Call (480) 545-0778 (Mon–Fri 9–5 Arizona) or contact ThreadWorks — setup questions are our favorite kind.