If you can find a Singer with numbers in the 400s and 500s, most of them had zigzag capabilities and and decorative cams or built in decorative stitches. The 301 is straight stitch only. I love my 301, but do like having a ZZ machine in the house - my 1973 Elna is it.

It looks alot like my brother and mine is very light weight.

I would look on Craigslist for an older metal Singer. My 15-91 came in a cabinet for $60. and will sew through ANYTHING you can put under the pressure foot. All metal, easy to maintain, impossible to break.

I found an old Elna. I knew the right one would come to me!