I have a question I know some of you can answer. What is the purpose of having a featherweight machine? Is it just so that you have a light machine to take to quilting classes?

THey are convenient for taking to classes, but they are very nice for piecing quilts, because they make such a wonderful straight stitch, they will last practically forever if properly maintained.

It varies for different people. Some of us love the vintage machines, and love the lovely straight stitch. Some add to that the portability so that they can take the machine with them.
For me, it's a nostalgia thing...it's what I learned to sew on.

Like Charlee said, the love of vintage machines is why I have several of them. I do like my Featherweight a lot, but also my Singer 301, which right now is my very favorite!!

It stitches like a fiend!! Straight seams are the best I've ever seen!! And it's lightweight too...a little heavier than a Featherweight, but still very easy for me to take anywhere I want.

Since I got my first FW last year I've had that girl sewing almost daily. So much fun and so cute!
My Bernina is getting bored and lonely :D

I love mine because she is so cute, mostly. I keep her out where I can see her and when I look at her, it makes me smile. She sews a great stitch but I am so used to my needle threader on the machine I'm using that I haven't taken the time to really sew with her yet. I have trouble threading her needle even with one of those needle threading thingys. (age is not good for eyes) I'm going to start a 1930's patch quilt before long and I'm determined to sew the patches with her!

I have the 301a (big sister to the FW), It has a 1/4" marking on the plate, it grabs the fabric early and it sews a straight stitch.

Take it outside and sew on your patio! And I will be soooo glad when I get the weather back to be able to do this.lol Probably by that time I will be high gear into making Christmas gifts. lol

They're soooo cute!

I love my FW.

Yes, it is much easier to carry to sew-ins and classes. I can do the maintenance myself [a big factor there what with costs rising so much.] It doesn't take up much space. It is a design element in my living room. It is a workhorse. It will definitely outlive me and will be worth more as time goes by.

I like it as long as I don't want to change my needle position or do some fancy stitching, like the blanket stitch or such.

I did buy a marked throat plate so I can see the markings for the various seam allowances.

ali