What is the fascination with Featherweights ?? I think they are cool to look at,but I have spent years longing for a machine with a few bells and whistles,and finally got a nice one.Is it just a thing to look at or do you USE them? I would sure miss my thread cutter and needle down feature!

Lightweight and easy to take to workshops - I don't like heaving my Bernina 730E with me, and I don't think it would do it any good either.

Cute (no contest on that one), and easy to maintain myself (brilliant, so no cost). I have a 222 which means I can drop the feed dogs, I also have a zig zagger so I have 4 fancy stitches in addition to a perfect straight stitch, and yes, I use mine to piece with.

I saw lots in Paducah - both for sale (NOT cheap) and being used. I even got to use one.

They told me they use them at shows because they're so light weight (and they are TINY!!! I didn't realize they were so small).

They also told me they use them at home because nothing sews a better straight line than a FW. That kind of makes sense - the machine was built to do one thing - sew a straight line. It does it flawlessly.

Piecing ... I'd love one. Quilting - no way. Unless it was a minature. These machines are SMALL.

I'm with you, I like all my bells and whistles.

A Fad among quilters perhaps? I can see collecting about anything, heck I collect rocks. I see your point some spend literally thousands on a fancy machine and then have to have a featherweight. I am thinking it is the "in thing"

They're great for piecing, and very easy to maintain. No plastic parts so with care they will last forever. Wonderful to take to a workshop. I love mine.

Same here. I love mine!! They are addicting- I have several old Singers now. I love how they're made, how they look, sound, etc. The quality is amazing.
However, I do have a Bernina although she's been lonely lately b/c I have so much fun sewing on my old machines!! :D:D

FWs came out in 1933 or 1934, I think, and hundreds of thousands were made. That kind of demand over thirty years of production and the current demand despite less expensive machines with more features certainly speaks to a certain QUALITY. We have been sewing on these little beauties for over 75 years, and they still work fabulously. I love my computerized machines, but I don't expect them to work for 75 years. Fad? I don't think so.

With the Featherweight you have the portability that is really nice if you want to take it with you. Forgot to add that.

I may have to look for a reasonaby priced one. I guess it would be easier to take in the camper for the winter.

No the featherweights are not fads. They are perfect little machines that sew a perfect straight line and rarely ever break down. Perfect weight to take to class and retreats. Everyone that I talk to either wants one or has one. Most of us have more than one. Sew on one and you will be hooked, too.

Plus, they are so DARN cute!

Riversong, I'm with you. I have the thread cutter on the foot pedal on my Juki and really, really miss that feature when I change over to the Baby Lock Ellegante! And, you know what, I lifted one of a friends Featherweights and it wasn't that lightweight! Really cute to look at though. I have a 25 year old Bernina that still sews like a charm that I use sometimes at the lake.

i love my fancy- computerized machine with all the bells and whistles---
but---
it does weigh a bit- and i hate lugging it around- kind of feel like the more often i carry it out to the car the more chances of something (expensive) happening to it.
a featherweight is a wonderful little work horse...they are lightweight (12 pounds) a very good basic machine that stitches beautifully and will hold up for years (generations)
i'm fairly sure my (bells and whistles) machine will at some point be obsolete- and will have to do upgrades just like with anything computerized...the featherweights- only need a good cleaning on occassion- and maybe a replaced belt...
for anyone just wanting a second machine to take to classes and have for a backup when the (big machine) is down - you can not go wrong with a featherweight. :thumbup:

I have a featherweight but use my Bernina for everyday work. I like the bells and whistles on my Bernina, *especially* needle down!

I think a lot of the featherweight thing is nostalgia (wonderful connections to women of past generations). Also, it's just a good feeling to take one to a workshop. I'm sure there's some status associated with having one too. Reality is there are other good lightweight machines that can be taken to workshops.

I have a white FW and it is so cute and makes me happy sewing with it. It is like taking a cute puppy somewhere. Everyone wants to pet it at classes and workshops! I bought it so my DGD will have it and then maybe her DD and so on. Something from me that hopefully will be cherished and used.

Over the years Singer and other manufaturers invented and marketed a lot of accessories. You can buy zig-zaggers, one step buttonholers, wide angle & narrow hemmers, 1/4" feet, blind stitchers & an amazing array of additions. I haven't even begun to play with all my accessories.

They are cute, compact, tidy and fit in a box 13 x 10 x 8. The whole package weighs less then my more modern machines. I do like my needle down and other fancy features, but the FW's have their place, too.

When machines started to have the zigzag feature, the seams became a little less straight. Sometimes it makes a difference. I love my Elna, but I'm quilting on a Singer 301 for all the reasons the FW people have given. Not as cute, but sews a great seam and being gear driven, will never need a belt replacement. The 301 also FMQs wonderfully which isn't recommended with the FW's smaller motor. We all have our preferences, but mine lie with an all metal machine I can service myself. That being said, I'd like an embroidery machine if the budget allowed.

Bells and whistles are wonderful, but there are items that never should be computerized, mostly on cars. There is a joke about a young girl finding a watch with a windup stem, and she thought it was so neat that she didn't have to buy a battery for it.

I love my feaherweight. She goes to classes. She is lightweight compared to the machines with all the bells and whistles. I have a Bernina and a Viking but the FW is one of my all time favorites!

I started a husband collection once. I found out it was far less expensive to fix or by a sewing machine. ;)

Sorry, the word "status" in owning a FW just cracked me up. So, does one mount their status on the hood of their beat up AMC Pacer?

I love the husband collection!! Can you just imagine that displayed in your livingroom?

"Fad, in thing, status" certainly don't apply to my reasons for choosing and loving machines. Precision, reliability, craftsmanship, durability, beauty do!

I have 2 Vikings with all the bells and whistles,a babylock straight stitch and a few featherweights-love them all-each for different reasons.the old machines will last generations and no cost to maintain-and they are wonderful

I've often wondered about FW. I'd probably have one too, but I just don't have the room for one.

looking for one since every one says they sew but not easy most are used and not for sell straight sewing is a must in quilting

I am not crazy about the bells and whistles. I have no problem threading my own machine. I am more than able to cut my own thread. Bobbins running out of thread are not an issue, I always have a filled one ready so I don't have to unthread my machine. My 301a holds a separate spool for filling the bobbin.

No matter how much you pay for those bells and whistles what you really have is a hunk of plastic that is considered to be disposable. The gears will get hot and wear out. My little 301a has been around and sewing for over 40 years. It is quieter than the new machines, does not do a little dance across the table every time I sew, does not need to be reset before I start sewing because some fool fixed the electronics to return to a specific setting when the machine is turned off.

When I began quilting two years ago, I bought a new sewing machine wonder. I took it to guild three times, brought it home and returned it to its box. One day it will be donated or sold for almost nothing because I dislike it so much. I have since purchased at least ten vintage machines that I can clean and maintain without taking them in for expensive service charges.

If one of my machines does give up the ghost, I can sell it for scrap and it will not contribute to the ever growing pile of trash.

All I really need is a machine that sews forward, reverse, and a zigzag stitch when needed and I can still meet those requirements with a vintage machine. Yes I have a FW, but prefer my 301a.

I had mine with me when we lived in the motor home for three years. I is small and sews beautifully. It is just right for small places. I never could have lived without quilting for that time.

I have no idea. I love my Berninas, love the knee lift,
the 5 needle postions, etc.
Maybe for classes they are light and easy to carry. (?)
I don't take classes and my machines never leave their cabinets.
I love the computerized machines.

I want one!

I guess I need to chime in too. I didn't realize how small they are till I saw them at the Lancaster Quilt show. I guess that would be fine for quilt assembly, but then you need another machine for quilting. I don't go to quilt classes or anywhere I need to take a machine, so I guess I will just live out the rest of my life without a FW. I have roughly 11 machines ranging in age from a hand crank Singer, my mother's Singer from 1936 on up to my Viking Diamond. Oh, I even have a White treadle. I don't have space to display all of them so I will use the new ones with all the bells and whistles and occasionally get an old one out just to hug.

Sure you can find the room for a FW. They don't weigh much, and they are small. LOL

I love my Featherweight. Went to a retreat last summer and there were 12 of us there. 6 had Featherweights and the other 6 had large computerized machines. the lady giving the retreat said she had never seen so many Featherweights ay one time. They do make a beautiful stitch, easy to carry, low maintenance, reliable and others have said "so cute". They are here to stay and if you have the opportunity-try one. They do sew nicely. I also have other machines-A Bernina Artista, Necchi, treadle, serger, and I love them all for their individual uses.
Happy Stitching.

It weighs 11 lbs. My Janome I was taking to class weighs about 25. Now the weight of my machine, quilting supplies and fabric weigh about 25 lbs. Big difference.

Angie

In years to come, my computerized machine will be worth very little. In years to come, my FW and my other old machines will be money in the bank, they don't wear out and they don't need an expensive Dr. to fix their ills.

I have a Babylock Embroidery/Sewing machine and thank goodness I kept my little Elna because with all the bells and buzzers tons of fancy stitches, it does not like heavy weight material like jeans, breaks needles all the time. Even doing my hooded bath towels it some times bulks at the thickness. So I use my little elna for all of regular sewing. I am trying to learn to quilt and have done a couple baby quilts and one for my moms full bed nothing fancy just squares, but find that I have a hard time keeping a stright 1/4 and sometimes if you look at the stitches they themselves are not stright. It makes a lot of sence that a machine that was designed to do only stright stitching will have no play side to side and the result is a true stright stitch. So to make a long stroy short I am going to be on the look out for a Featherweight at sales this summer or save and hope to get a good price on one on e-bay just for peiceing

They are wonderful for piecing miniature quilts and one can purchase an exact 1/4" foot. I've really enjoyed mine and it is easy to maintain, just oil and grease regularly and keep it lint-free (like any machine).

My machine doent have a lot of bells and whistles,the thread cutter I like for free motion quilting.I dont use the threader.It does no zig zag.I got it solely for free motion and it runs at 1500 stitches a minute. I was not intending to put anyone down for wanting the fetherweights. I wouldnt mind one myself,but I dont go to any classes or workshops,and my little singer works great for piecing.And mine is NOT computerized.

I want a Featherweight!