Pfaff Quilt Expression 725 vs the 720 Review
- Irina
- Oct 11
- 8 min read
I’ve been sewing on my Pfaff Quilt Expression 720 for six years now, and I still absolutely love that machine. It’s a true workhorse, perfect for both piecing and quilting, and I’ve always felt it offers incredible value for the price. Back in 2019, I wrote a detailed review of the 720, and to this day, it remains one of the most-read posts on my blog!
So when Pfaff Suomi offered me the exciting opportunity to loan and test the brand-new Pfaff Quilt Expression 725, launching here in Finland in October 2025, I didn’t hesitate for a second.
In this post, I’ll share what’s new, how it compares to my beloved 720, and my first impressions and favorite features of the 725 from the point of view of a quilter. Compared to the 720, this is not just a facelift - it’s a real upgrade, with design and technology improvements that make a noticeable difference the moment you see the machine and sit down to sew.
1. Appearance
The first thing that strikes you about the Pfaff Quilt Expression 725 is its big, beautiful 8” color touch screen (174 x 96 mm). This display immediately gives the machine a premium, modern feel from the very first glance. It’s bright, sharp, and exceptionally easy to read, making navigation through stitches and settings a breeze.
Compared to the 720, the upgraded screen isn’t just about looks. It actually transforms usability. Editing stitches, adjusting settings, and customizing your sewing experience feels smoother and more intuitive than before.
One of my favorite touches is how the 725 puts helpful resources right at your fingertips. With just a few taps, you can access the User’s Guide, explore tutorials, or even find inspiration and support without having to reach for a manual. It’s a sleek blend of style and functionality that makes the 725 stand out before you’ve even started sewing.
2. Clever Upgrades That Make Sewing Even More Enjoyable
The Pfaff Quilt Expression 725 comes packed with thoughtful improvements that add convenience, modern touches, and a bit of fun to your sewing sessions:
Wi-Fi Connectivity & Easy Updates
With built-in Wi-Fi, you can connect the 725 to helpful resources and receive the latest software updates effortlessly. You can even download updates while sewing, though you’ll need to pause stitching to install them.
Built-in Speaker
Yes, you read that right! The 725 features a speaker positioned under the wheel. It’s a small detail, but it gives the machine a more modern, interactive feel, especially when paired with its bright touch screen.
Smarter Foot Control
The redesigned foot control now has a covered casing to keep dust out and prevent the cord from twisting. And here’s my favorite part: when the cord is fully extended, just give it a gentle tug, and it retracts automatically.
Magnetic Lid & Upgraded Accessory Tray
The top lid now snaps securely into place with magnets, and the stitch categories are displayed directly on the inside for quick reference.
The accessory tray has also been redesigned with deeper compartments for better storage. There are 8 compartments instead of 9, but several are large enough to hold two presser feet each, making it more practical and space-efficient.
A Soft Fabric Cover
Not only does it protect the machine when not in use, but it’s also more environmentally friendly compared to the 720, which came with a traditional hard plastic cover. I really appreciate this move toward more sustainable materials.
3. Throat Space & Lighting
The throat space on the Pfaff Quilt Expression 725 remains the same as on the 720 - a generous 10 inches to the right of the needle, but thanks to improved lighting, it feels noticeably bigger.
The new lighting is brighter, clearer, and beautifully distributed across the work area, which makes a big difference when quilting or working on larger projects. You can now adjust the intensity of the light, which wasn’t possible on the 720. It’s a small detail, but one that really enhances the sewing experience.
4. Variety of Stitches & Presser-Foot Recognition
Even though the Pfaff Quilt Expression 720 already offers an amazing variety of stitches, the 725 takes it to a whole new level.
Stitch Comparison (without utility stitches)
Stitch Category | Expression 720 | Expression 725 |
Quilt Stitches | 52 | 70 |
Needle Art | 59 | 119 |
Satin Stitches | 55 | 104 |
Decorative Stitches | 80 | 138 |
Miscellaneous | 39 | 59 |
Stitch Techniques | 43 | 91 |
Additional Stitches | 25 | 35 |
Total | 353 | 616 |
That’s a 263-stitch increase, opening up even more creative possibilities!
The Expression 725 includes 6 built-in alphabets: Block, Comic, Outline, Script, Cyrillic, and Grand, plus 2 types of monogram stitches.
Compared to the Expression 720, that’s:
2 extra alphabets (Block and Grand)
1 additional monogram style
These additions give you even more ways to personalize your sewing projects beautifully.
The Expression 725 now also includes presser-foot recognition. If the wrong foot is attached, the machine displays a warning message in red on the top bar of the screen. This helpful feature guides the user to select the correct presser foot every time, ensuring optimal stitching results.
5.Needle threader
One feature I’ve always appreciated on the 720 is the needle threader. But I’ll be honest, it has its quirks. The mechanism on the 720 feels a bit flimsy and can easily misalign, which can be frustrating.
It seems the designers were listening, because the 725 features an improved needle threader. The lever is now located on the left side of the machine, outside the needle area, making it much easier to use.
All you need to do is raise the needle, place the thread correctly and pull the lever down and up. The machine automatically threads the needle. That’s it! The lever also feels robust and solid compared to the plastic handle on the 720 needle threader. Since the action is simple and controlled, the chance of misalignment or mistakes is very low, making threading your needle easier and much more reliable.
6. Laser
In my opinion, one of the major upgrades on the Pfaff Quilt Expression 725 is the addition of the laser guide. This feature opens up entirely new possibilities when using IDT (Integrated Dual Feed) for quilting.
The laser position can be adjusted up to 30 steps to the right or left (about 1" / 2.5 cm), and you can also fine-tune its brightness to suit your workspace. The beam itself extends to about 1 7/8" (4.8 cm), giving you a clear, precise reference line.
What does this mean in practice? You can simplify your quilt marking process - rather than marking every line, you only need to mark reference points. The laser does the rest, keeping your stitching straight and accurate while saving time and effort.
I found the laser feature also useful for matchstick quilting. I used to mark my reference lines about 1 inch apart, but with the laser I marked them 2–3 inches apart, and it worked just fine.
The only drawback is that I wish the beam were a bit longer. With the current length, grid options are restricted to about 2" (5 cm), so larger quilting designs still require more marking. But this limitation is likely due to the position of the laser and its design.
The possibilities for IDT quilting are truly endless - various lines, grids, point-to-point designs, and more. I’m sure the laser feature will quickly become your best friend in helping you achieve precision quilting with ease.
7. Free Motion Quilting Options
The Pfaff Quilt Expression 725 offers the same four free-motion quilting options as the 720:
Dynamic Spring (Dynamic Spring Foot 6D – available separately)
Spring Foot (available separately)
Sensormatic Foot (6A – included with the machine)
Ruler Foot (available separately)
However, the piercing power on the 725 is noticeably stronger than on the 720. It glides through thick fabrics - like multiple quilt layers, even with double batting, or heavy materials such as denim - with ease. Another bonus is that for each free-motion option, the screen shows you the recommended stitch plate, active features, and you can also find tutorials, so you always know how to set up and quilt correctly.
As with the 720, you can also adjust the foot height in Sensormatic or Ruler Foot mode depending on the thickness of your quilt sandwich.
If you’ve ever wondered why there are so many FMQ modes:
Spring and Dynamic Spring Motion (hopping foot – no need to adjust the foot height): The foot “hops” with each stitch, keeping the fabric pressed firmly against the machine bed. It’s ideal for uneven thicknesses (for example, applique or trapunto) and high-loft batting.
Sensormatic and Ruler Foot (hovering foot – you can adjust the height of the foot to suit the thickness of your quilt sandwich): The foot “hovers”/"glides" above the fabric and there is no hopping motion. It works beautifully when the quilt has a consistent thickness, providing smooth movement across the surface.
From my own experience: I started FMQ years ago on the Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.2, and I struggled with the Sensormatic foot, so I switched, first, to the Dynamic 6D foot and eventually the Ruler Foot. On my 720, the Ruler Foot gave me the best results, I could concentrate better on my stitching without hopping, and it became my go-to both for free-motion quilting and ruler work.
That’s why I was pleasantly surprised when testing the 725 - all four options produced excellent quilting quality. This really widens the possibilities for free-motion quilting at all skill levels. My advice: try them all and see which feels most natural for your quilting style and project.
Of course, you may still need to adjust the upper thread tension depending on the type of thread you use to get the best results. I used Aurifil 50 wt and had to lower the tension from the standard 5.8 to 4.6.
One drawback, which may feel limiting compared to the flexibility some users expect, is that you must purchase a new clear plastic extension table for quilting with the 725, since its free arm is shaped differently from that of the 720. While the extension table from the 720 can be used as a temporary solution, it leaves an empty space at the back.
Conclusion
As you can see, the Pfaff Quilt Expression 725 is not just a facelift - it’s a true upgrade. From the large screen and adjustable lighting to the addition of the laser guide, smarter usability, expanded stitch options, and enhanced free-motion quilting modes, it’s a machine designed to make sewing and quilting smoother, easier, and more inspiring.
Of course, with all these improvements comes a higher price tag. The Quilt Expression 720 retails around $2,999 USD, while the new 725 is priced at $5,999 USD. That’s a significant difference, but after sewing with Pfaff machines for the past nine years, I see it as an investment. I started with the Expression 4.2, then moved to the Quilt Expression 720, and every step has brought me new possibilities as a quilter. For me, Pfaff means quality, longevity, and room for growth.
Thinking about how much I’ve done on my 720 in the past six years and how it handled everything with only yearly cleaning services and no major repairs, I’m convinced that only few machines could tolerate this kind of workload. And yet, it’s still going strong today.
So what do I recommend? The same advice I always give: buy the best machine you can afford. A great sewing machine will pay for itself in the long run. It will save you time, make your sewing more enjoyable, help you grow as a quilter, and last for years.
At the moment, my 720 continues to serve me beautifully, but after testing the 725, I can honestly say: if the time comes to upgrade, the Pfaff Quilt Expression 725 would be my choice.
Happy Quilting!♥