I love my little machine. It goes with me on vacation and to classes. It is so light weight. I also service it myself and have learned all the repair. It is nice because of the great straight stitch and it is simple.

Ain't that the truth... or while you are waiting to save up for repairs on the computerized machine...

I love being able to treadle and piece my quilts when our electricity is out, too. We live in the sticks, and the power goes down quite often. During storms the rural areas are the last priority for repairs, too. We were without juice for 12 days, post-Katrina. If I'd had my treadle then, I would have been happy!

So far, I'm not a featherweight girl. I like the heavier vintage machines. I have a 66, two 201s, and a 403, all Singers. Since I don't go to classes or anywhere else to quilt, I don't need a lightweight portable machine. If I find later that I do, I will look for a 301.

My youngest machine is my trusty Bernina 830-- the original one, all metal and all mechanical. It's got 20 built in sts, 5 utility and 15 decorative. I rarely use any of them but the zig zag, and the blind hem st once in a while. In the past 20 years I have not used the decorative sts at all. My Singer 403 has removable cams to make decorative sts too, but I can see the previous owner rarely touched them.

I guess you have to weigh out the pros and cons of every machine, and maybe own more than one. For me, reliablilty, strength to sew whatever I need it to, and a great looking straight st are the most important concerns. All the bells and whistles would not justify the huge prices of the new computerized machines, for me.

Funny story, I was in the local Bernina shop looking at their Moda fabrics and they had one of their fancy Berninas set up with a giveaway offer. If you would sit down for about 1/2 an hour and let one of their staff demo the machine for you, your name would be entered into a drawing to give that machine away on a certain date. I wasn't even interested enough in the demo to possibly win the machine! I know they thought I was crazy when I didn't take them up on the demo... lol. I guess I could have tried to sell the machine if I won it, but I just didn't want to hear the sales pitch.

I bought a Singer "Redeye" treadle. I love the nostalgia of it, but I also like having having something to sew on if the power goes out! It's like putting a little piece of history in a quilt that is pieced on it. It is neat to think about the lady that must have used this long ago and what her life must have been like. I like knowing that because it is a metal, mechanical machine, it isn't going to wear out. I like my little computerized machine, but my treadle will be sewing long after the electric one dies.

Years and years and years ago (70's) I worked with an semi-retired elderly gentleman who did the accounting in a small insurance office. Turns out he used to be an executive for the Singer company during the 30's thorough 60's. He always bragged about what wonderful machines those early one's were, and bemoaned the quality (or lack of) in the newer models.

I had a consveration with a Singer repairman and he was saying the new models were a piece of junk and he refused to repair them . If you have a older model they were a great machine.

My Featherweight 221, was purchase by my mother, used, in the late 50's and was the first electric sewing machine I used (I was in my teens & in 4H). It's a wonderful machine and I have zig zag and button hole attachments. It is part of the family and gives me a warm feeling every time I use it. It is in my will, to eliminate any arguments.

I have a Singer Slant-O-Matic model 401A.Purchased in 1959 and I love it, sure has saved me lots of money over the years. I think its going to out live me.

I don't have one because money is tight but one day I will buy one of those beauties.

I totally agree with what the Singer repairman said! I used to sell the new Singers...it hurt to sell those. :oops:
I love my old Singers.

I wouldn't trade my FW for anything. I love it, it's a workhorse.I don't have a car so it fits very well on the bus, I do use a cart so I really dont have to "carry" it.