My Featherweight sews a straight even stitch and is easy to cart to classes. It is the machine I learned to sew on when I was nine. I've literally sewed miles on my Featherweight and can thread it, change the needle and wind the bobbin effortlessly as it is so familiar. I also have a 201 that is smooth and powerful. It powers through several layers of denim and duck and does not growl and complain and break needles at thicker seam junctions lke my Janome 6500. The biggest advantage was the price. I paid $2000 for my Janome and my 201 was free and only needed to be re-wired and cleaned for a $70 service charge.