Thanks for all the replys yesterday on the Fiskars ruler/cutter duo. Now I have a new question and hope it's not too silly. I am fairly new to quilting so hopefully this is not a stupid questioion.

Everyone seems to want a Featherweight sewing machine. May I ask why and which model would be the one you would want? Also, I know depending on the condition of it, what is a reasonable price?

I have been checking them on ebay and of course the prices vary quite a bit.

they CAN sew like a dream and they're light weight.

I bought one off of ebay, for around $177 with shipping. I just love the little thing. I sew on it more, than my expensive machine. It's a 1947 model.

The OLD Singer featherweights are wonderful little machines...not to be confused with the new models called featherweight....you can't get a straighter stitch with a portable machine, and the lightweight aspect makes them great class machines.

On Ebay? I've seen prices range from $150 to $600...depending on condition, color and who else wants it...average being somewhere in the $300 range...

I got mine on ebay a 1938 for 145.00 on a Saturday late night no one was bidding. I can sit in front of the tv and it is so quiet no one complains. I have a top of the line Janome and rarely use it. Oh yes you want a 221....

The only model featherweight that you would want is a model 221 (what most quilters have) or 222 (rare and extremely expensive!).

I learned to sew as a child on my mom's Featherweight and it was the only machine she had until I was 15. Every time I use mine it brings back good memories. :)

Sometimes you can just get lucky buying a featherweight. Check estate sales and Kijiji. A couple of weeks ago, I answered an ad in Kijiji and a lady was advertising two old Singers for $60. She was cleaning out her mother's and her aunt's houses and didn't sew or even know what she had. From the fuzzy picture and description, I thought at least one of them might be a featherweight. When I got there, both were 221's, one a 1948 model and the other a 1952. I felt almost guilty as I handed her the $60 and quickly loaded them before she changed her mind. Both of them needed a good cleaning but have all the attachments and the instruction books. The machines are out there and hunting for one gives you something to search for at auctions and estate and garage sales. I have never yet found a 222 or the card table or cabinet for the 221 at any sales but I am ever hopeful.

I have the cardtable, but no machine!

Wow Shelbie, great buy on the featherweights. I'd love to find a deal like that.

Feathers weights were designed for the adverage house wife to do all their own maintence. These cute little machines are light weight, portable, and all parts are metal, not like the cheap plastic ones of today. The Feather weights big sister the 301 is also light weight, portable and you can drop the feed dogs and FMQ on the 301. I have both and I just love them.

Thanks for all the information that everyone added. It helps to know details just in case we were to run across one at an estate sale or yard sale. :D

i was reading your post.. i live in ca. i went to craigslist in redding calif. andy typed in featherweight sewing machine and one came up with a rare sewing table just for featherweights..i believe it was 225.00... it sure looked nice from the photo.. first time i saw one...

The featherweight tables are more rare than the featherweights. If it's in good cosmetic condition, that sounds like a fair price for the table (assuming it also has the metal "cradle" supports that hold the machine in place).