Lightweight and easy to take to classes. They don't take up much space. They sew a great straight stitch AND they are pretty! ;-)

I don't have a Singer FW, but I bought the Kenmore "Featherweight" (Model 1040). It has a more powerful motor doesn't weigh a lot (20 lbs.), and does zigzag stitches, too. :)

I agree with Dunster. I have one that I use every day for all of my sewing on quilt tops and have for 5 years. It is soooo easy to mantain and I love the stitch it makes. Would't trade it for a brand new Bernina or Janome or whatever.

I do not have a featherweight but have 7 301s. They sew with any thread,stitch is beautiful, need only oiling for service, no belts, no timing issues and best of all, no motherboards!

The 301s can be found very reasonably. I have bought them from $30 to $100. I paid $200 for first one, a black long bed on ebay. Look on Craigslist or post that you aRe looking for one, you will get some responses.

I have a collection of singers, don't have any 301's I have two featherweights and I love both of them. One was a gift and the other one I bought for a man I worked with you told me he had a little black sewing machine that had a side piece that folded up, would not sew that he wanted a $150.00 for, I looked at it, almost fainted, I knew what it was, told him I give him $140 for it, he said yes. The reason it wouldn't sew was it didn't have a needle in it.

Now I am going to have to get my Featherweight out, oil it and sew on it today. It does make a beautiful stitch but my newer machines sew so much faster. lol

Well, QB, I was ready to share my wonderful insights into "why a feather weight" but you have all be shared my ideas already. I was a hold out for a long time figuring the featherweight was just a fad and all about nostalgia. I must say that after seeing them and hearing the hum of a featherweight I was mildly hooked or at least interested if a good deal came along. I eventually purchased one actually just about 6 weeks ago. It is not perfectly beautiful, but it sews well, sounds quiet and "solid" and is small enough to travel to retreats and work days. What I like the most is it is simple. It stitches forward and backward. That is all. I leave it out in my sewing area and EVERYONE who come in asks something about it. Most want to know why I use the antique. I then can talk about my joy of quilting. How selfish is that?

Don't be pressured to buy a featherweight until YOU want one. Your life will be complete with or without a featherweight machine and if the machine you have serves your purpose, then sew on!

I bought a Featherweight in 1952 at the local Singer store. Yes, Singer used to have their own stores even in smallish towns like ours. I then took it to college with me.
I wish I still had it, but I traded it in on a large Pfaff. I was married by then and had a dtr to sew for. Now she has the old Pfaff and I have 3 machines and a serger....but I still wish I had kept the Featherweight. I have learned it is OK to own more than one sewing machine!

Love my FW and use it for classes, travel, and every day. Have 2 - 301's and still prefer my FW. Can't beat the stitch and it is easy to service.