My husband bought me a featherweight recently and I just love it! My understanding is it's a quilter's dream as it makes beautiful stitching, dependable, keeps running and running (and if it runs fine, leave it alone!), it's cute, not heavy, plus they say if you take a class, it's not heavy. I love how it shines and looks! My mother and grandmothers had Singer but not Featherweights, but the full-size black ones. It brings back fond memories all all - especially my Nana as she was a dressmaker in the sweat shops in New York City. It is hard to obtain one on e-bay and you don't get to "test it" but buy sight unseen. E-bay sells all the parts and accessories, which is nice.