I'm one of those who only sews on my beloved FW (that my Mother bought in the 60's to use just for mending, hemming, etc). My DH keeps wanting to buy me a new "fancy" machine but I don't want it. I wouldn't part with my FW if my life depended on it. It's one of the first things I'd grab in a fire. Get one! An original one... not one of the plastic reproductions on the market now -- IMHO.

I also have the celery-colored FW and really like it for straight stitching and to take to classes. I did not know that it is smaller than the black ones!
My husband has a black one at our other house where our kids live now. We haven't put them together.

I borrowed a 301 from my mom and I liked it better than my featherweight. That was the best straight stitch I ever sewed! I only quilt and rarely use anything other than a straight stitch so the FW is great for taking to sew days and classes. 221parts.com has a great carrying case with a shoulder strap (and hand held handles) - it is so cool to carry my machine over my shoulder.

I have never had a featherweight, but I do love my Janome 3160. Many people at my LQS bought this model for classes (12 lb machine) and I bought it as an upgrade because of it's automatic cutting, needle down and variety of stitches. I now have the Janome 12,000, and definitively appreciate the lightness of my 3160 for classes.

No advice, but good luck!

I am so grateful this question was asked!! I have been pining away over a FW. I have done alot of Ebay & Craigs List searching for months. I love the size and weight of the FW as it would fit perfectly in my RV. Howeover, after reading some of the postings here it is echoing alot of my thoughts about doing only straight stitching. I fought so hard to get my two top of the line machines with all the bells and whistles I think I might be really disappointed. I do a lot of applique work and while I am sure with the zig zag attachment would be great,.. I think that I might be much happier just trying to find a better place to put one of my normal sized machines. I will always love the FW and if I could ever find one, in person w/o having to go thru Ebay or Craigs List I might get one just for the fun of it. I absolutely adore the FW's but I might just be happier with my machines I have. I have enjoyed reading each and every posting!Thanks for your thoughts!!

what you are saying makes a lot of sense to me. I understand the quality of the FW straight stitch but remember, our mothers and grandmothers upgraded for a reason-they wanted something that could do more. I worked and saved for a long, long time to get my TOL machine-it's the first and last one i will ever have. I still have my old Kenmore(40 y.o.) for a backup and while it sews great, it cannot compare to my "new" machine.

I love my 2 featherweights. I am taking a class on monday, but will need my fancy stitches so won't be able to take my FW.Boo, Hoo.

I have 2 featherweights and love them. I like a rolling tote for them and the regular sewing machine rolling tote is too big for them. Michaels has a rolling yarn tote that is just the right size for the featherweight machines. Each of my machines has her own tote and some accessories with her so they both are ready to go anywhere with me. I just have to grab a tote and go...... I didn't know that there were special needles for the featherweight machines nor that the white one was supposed to be smaller than the black ones. I was told by a sewing machine repair man that the black ones were better made and stronger than the white ones.

I don't have a FW, maybe someday I will. I take the Janome jem to classes and retreats. It has the needle down and extra stitches if needed. Quite happy with that, although the FW you can clean and maintain yourself unlike the Janome, something to think about. I also have the 301, which I will take with me next. A good hardy machine that is super duper.