Originally Posted by
dunster
I also sew on a Bernina 440QE, which stays upstairs in my quilting room. I have several other machines, including a featherweight, but the one I use most when I want to sew downstairs or go to a class is a Singer 301. It's known as the big sister to the featherweight, weighs just a bit more but is larger and faster.
It's also Singer's first
Slant-O-Matic machine. This alone makes it no big sister to a featherweight. The only thing they have in common is the bobbin and case. The 301 requires totally different feet and accessories than the FW. The 301 is a strong, gear driven machine. The FW drives with a little belt. I love my 301s. My featherweight... less so.