I can zig zag with my 1951 301 and 1954 301A...I have the zigzagger foot that comes with cams that do decorative stitches also...

The magnet adheres to the metal cover plate I use it all the time and have no problem...

We refurbish sewing machines so have had a number of them on my desk. Our average time for work with and on them ranges from 6-15 hours so we know it is in top condition and what a machine can do before it leaves us.
The 301 is great as far as ease of use and visibilty of the needle due to the slant shank and the off set of the tension dial It is strictly a straight stitch unless you locate a zig zag attachment which if you can find it will run anywhere between 50.00- 400.00. I have not sewn with one of the attachments so can not speak to the quality of the stitch it produces- it creates a zigzag by moving the fabric from side to side. I like the 301 machine, great stitch quality and easy to manuver fabric with excellent speed control.
I grew up with a 401 and thought for years that was the cream of the crop. It also is a slant needle with more options as far as stitches. Having said that I still believe it is a very good machine but now have more insight. The two center dials which need to be changed with stitch selection can be touchy and even difficult to not possible to set if the machine has been abused.
Out of the 400 series I would seriously suggest the 403- much simplier to set- the same cams fit it as the 401. Also would recommend the 501 also easy to handle and has an added feature of a dial inside the faceplate that allows you to set the presser foot tension witout guess work out of it. All three are very good and will meet your needs for years to come if they have been properly cared for. Recently someone refered to one of our video demos as an example of what the machine they were selling was capable of. My husband made a very good point- it's like buying a used car- depending on the life, care and maitainence a car/machine has had you are not able to truely access it by what another one is capable of. We have sold the 301, 401, 401, 501 within the last few months and have others soon to be so continue to find features we like about each model.

you are right on the two-tone 301s. for some reason, they
are the fastest machines. yes, the throat area is small, but
for medium quilts, they are great. I have done queen size, but it was a struggle. "pool" your quilt, do not roll it as many sites say to do. relax everything so the area you are
working on does not have an tension or pulling on it.
get the 401 if you do not have a zig-zag machine. It is
a real work horse. you will love either one. and you can
maintain it yourself from the start if you follow the manual.

well, the blacks, especially long-beds are harder to find. and
sometimes more expensive. they sew the same except that
two-tone is a fast little bugger. the mochas are the easiest
to find.

I have both. If I could have only one machine it would be the 401. If you have other good general purpose machines and want an awesome light weight portable machine for piecing and some quilting then I would get the 301. I prefer the 301 over the feather Weight and I know there are others that feel that way.

They are so different from each other. The 401 is a tank and can do many things while the 301 is portable, slant shank and sews straight. Think of the 301 as a full sized Feather Weight. It does not look as cute as a Feather weight though.

About 3 weeks ago I bought a beautiful 301a..2 tone in a case...and cleaned her all up...in the last 2 weeks or so, I have found 2 more...one 2 tone and 1 black both with cabinets...one is coming tonight...2 hours away and I "think" I found someone who can pick it up for me..the other one is 4 hours away and I am still arranging pickup...I am very happy....

Or unless you get a treadle!!!

:lol: :lol:

YOU SHOULD BE...JEALOUS....But I have two...I guess I'm still happy

My 301 was advertised as a heavy duty machine, which it is not, but it is capable of any household sewing. It doesn't need to be babied because it is light. The gears and inner working are all full size and good steel. Only the housing is aluminum. Mine came with four layers of leather under the presser foot with rows of stitching.. My daughter was fascinated and played with it. I had her stop. It is not an industrial machine. If I want to sew four layers of leather - and I have, I'll use the Elna or Necchi. The Elna loves that kind of sewing. I haven't tried with the Necchi.

Necchi depending on the model is a heavy duty machine- however- let me stress again- just because that is said does not mean your particular machine has been handled the way it should have been by a previous owner and care should be given when testing it.

You will need an FMQ foot, but you can probably get one for 8.00 on ebay. That's what I paid for the one that fits my 401. By the way, I love my 401. My service man says the 301 and the 401 have the same motor, so they should both "purr" the same.

writerwomen, ny Necchi is a pre 1950 model. I haven't used it for anything except piecing. If I had heavy duty sewing to do, I think I'd pull the Admiral out of it's hiding place. It has a Japanese motor that seems stronger than the Necchi's.

The 301 has a 1/4" seam guide screwed on, so it does piecing and the Necchi does HSTs and such. It's working out well. The guide will come off when it's time for FMQ. That is the 301's specialty in my house.

I also have a 1951 301, and after some cleanup and heavy oiling sessions (she was stiff as a board when I first got her...hadn't been used in years!), she sews like a dream!! I haven't done any FMQ on her, and I think it would be a little difficult for a large quilt. But I would certainly try it for a smaller quilt.

In surfing around in images on google I came across this .It tells you what you are quetioning and more about which vintage Singer is best in her opinion for FMQ. Put the follo9wing in google and it should come up for you. I just googled it myself and it comes up as eBay Guides Free Motion Quilting with vintage singer sewing machines click on that and it is what I have listed below. It's Excellent. Do read before you decide.

Free Motion Quilting with Vintage Singer Sewing Machine
by: karenquiltstexas

Nice article, but it has an error. The 301 weighs 17 pounds, not 12 and does not dance around when FMQ. The feet kept it grounded. It's gear driven and strong enough for FMQ. Also has the vertical bobbin she prefers and the 401 doesn't. I do agree that a FW is not a FMQ machine.

My mom purchased a 301 in the fifties (not really sure what year).I sewed on it before I graduated from high school in '58 and through college ('62). That machine is still working beautifully today. I bought a 404 in '62. It, too, is still alive and healthy. I don't know what the differences are between the 301 abd tge 401. But I do know that both of our machines are straight stitchers. I had purchased attachments for zigzagging and for buttonholes.

Here’s another vote for “one of each”. In our home sewing area, my wife has used her 401A for years, and pulled her Featherweight out from time to time for straight stitching, until she began using my 301A. Now, she has both the 401A and 301A set up full-time and the 221 stays in the case most of the time. She does straight stitching and FMQ on the 301A, and zigzag or other stitches on the 401A.

CD in Oklahoma

I have a 401 and wouldn't give it up for any thing.....my Mom got it new back in the 50's and still works great

Looking for the Darning foot You Mentioned
 

Hello Pollyparrot,

I clicked on the link to the darning foot you recommended. I know this is an old thread so perhaps Sew Classic doesn't sell this one anymore? The link opens their site but doesn't show a darning foot. I checked out their slant feet. They sell two darning feet. One has a metal foot and the other a clear foot. Are either of them the one you like? Thank you.

Pollyparrot hasn't been on QB for a couple of years. Based on the link that she posted it appears it is the clear foot, now the part number does not have letters https://shop.sew-classic.com/Singer-...oot-384037.htm

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Not affiliated with off-site link

I wish you would show a picture of this machine please.

I bought a Singer 401 - maybe the one I got was a dud - but I sure do not "get" all the excitement about that machine.

I do have a 301 - was able to get one for my birth year (1956). They are workhorses - and i am thinking they are known as the “sister” to the 221 (Featherweight). I should look that info up.