Using a Featherweight machine
 

I know a lot of you have and sew on a Featherweight machine. I am used to sewing on a Bernina 820. My question is, does the speed of the Featherweight bug you because it isn't as fast as newer machines, or is it worth it to stitch slower just to use a Featherweight?

I use my featherweight at retreats and sewing with friends. At home I use a Singer 15 or 301. My 2004 Singer sewing/embroidery machine is hardly every used. I love the oldies for piecing and I use the 15 for quilting on smaller quilts.

I like using my FW just because it sews such a great stitch. It's also good for taking to classes, etc. :)

I find that I don't like to speed sew, my 1/4 inch suffers. I am very content with the speed of my FW, (Francis). I usually slow my new (2013) Kenmore (Kathrine) machine for piecing.

I guess that I never sewed very fast on my Bernina so the speed of my Featherweight has never bothered me. My daughter gave me the Featherweight to take to quilting classes; but I use that machine every day for piecing. I love, love, love my Featherweight! My Bernina is now used only for quilting, machine appliqué, sewing on binding, machine embroidery, and heirloom sewing. When I first got the Featherweight, I did not enjoy servicing it. Because I use it so much, Thursday is my day to change the needle, clean, oil, and grease the Featherweight. Because I have done it so much, servicing now is a breeze and I love the way it sews on Friday. I cannot imagine piecing without my Featherweight.

I understand your question and yes at first it bothered me, but about an hour in you get the rhythm of the machine and you forget that it is slower than your newer machine. It is a lot of fun to sew on the older machines. Try it out and have fun, there is no rush.

Some Featherweights are faster than others. But, yes, that would bug me. Which is one reason I don't own a featherweight. I've serviced many Featherweights, but prefer my Bernina 230. On the other hand... it would be easier to take a featherweight to class than your Bernina 820. But then again, maybe you could get a Bernina 330 to take to class?

I go slow even on my Pfaff. More accuracy and fewer mistakes that way. :-)

Good question. I don't like to break down my Bernina and find somewhere to store it so that I can use my featherweight, but lately I have found myself missing my little precious, so I might do just that for when I sew the backing I'm ready to make and then sew my jelly roll race top that will be next. My FW sits on a shelf in my quilting room so I can look at it all the time. I know that's bad of me to do because it gets dusty but I guess I'll just have to clean & oil her before I start her up. I do love my cute little featherweight.

Hmmm I guess mine goes at a pretty decent clip. I don't tend to sew real fast for the most part, but while my FW was being serviced (and I had just started sewing) I really didn't notice a different from the newer Janome rental I had and the FW. I do get it going pretty fast when I wind the bobbin. The higher end brands and models may be in a class of their own with speed though, I don't know.

I prefer sewing on my Bernina to sewing on my featherweight. It's not just the speed. I like to use moleskin or other adhesive guide on the bed of my machine to help keep my seams straight and accurate. Can't put that on the bed of my featherweight because of the finish, which can be permanently marred by an adhesive.

The FW has only a .4 motor, so yes it's not speedy. But if a FW seems slower than it should the motor likely needs service. I have a Benina 830 but I mainly use that for embroidery and FMQing so the FW doesn't bug me. What bugs me about the FW is that the tensioner is right in my line of sight and kind of interferes with my view. I like the 301 and the slant shank better. The 301 doesn't have this issue and it has a faster and larger motor.

Prism, I imagine you're aware of it, but on recommendation from another member here I recently purchased a "Sew Straight" guide from Nova because I, too, didn't want to mar the finish. I haven't actually *used* it yet because I'm in the middle of a project, but I did put it on there and it seems to be a good substitute.

I have two featherweights and I use both of them. They make a excellent stitch. I piece quilts and make purses. They stitch through several layers of fabric and fusible fleece on purse handles with ease.

I had the opportunity to buy a white Singer featherweight but I thought that white wasn't a great color nor being busy with quilting for others I never had time to take classes. I regret it now since I found out a decade later that the white was are more rare and I am now searching for something very lightweight for taking with me to the church sewer's group. :(

I have one of the dainty white (green) FW. A straight 1/4 seam is the same no matter what machine sews it. Sometimes I just want to sew on my FW and sometimes I don't. My machines fit my mood.

I just got back from a week of camping in my 5th wheel trailer and used my featherweight to start the disappearing hour glass quilt! My husband loves the fact that my machine uses so little power that our solar power can keep our batteries charged when I'm sewing.

I primarily used my FWs for piecing and most general sewing. I love the accurate stitch them make and I do enjoy working on them. But the thing I love the most about them, and all my other vintage machines, is the sound they make as they sew. That click-click-click sound is so calming, like sitting beside the ocean, hearing the waves gently pat the shore. It's music to my ears. So, I don't have to sew fast. I'm retired. I can relax now and do things at a slower pace. I have about 15 machines in all, some are newer computerized, $$$$ machines but I only use them when I need that open arm space or I want to make a cute embroidery piece to embellish one of my grandchildren's gifts. The FWs go with me when I 'sew with the girls' or take a class. I love FWs so much that I have one at my summer place, one at my winter place, and I'm saving 2 more for my granddaughters when they get old enough. I'm a FW fan.

Thank you for all your comments on the pros and cons of the Featherweights. I do have a little Janome gem for taking to classes, as the Bernina is way to large to move around. I also have the old Singer my Grandmother learned to sew on, but it too is heavy. Will keep the Featherweights in mind.....

Skylark, thanks for the information about the Sew Straight guide for featherweights; I had not run across it. For others who may be interested, here is a link to it:
http://www.novamontgomery.com/shop/T...ight-Guide.htm

I have a FW...for about two yrs now...sewed with it hmmm, maybe 4 times...am not impressed....a good stitch can be had with any machine if you know how to adjust the tensions...anyway, the fact that this thing has to be oiled, greased quote frequently turns me off..I just want to turn it in, clean out any lint, change needle as needed and sew.....looking to sell the olde lady!

Accuracy is also more important to me than speed. I had a newer machine but got rid of it because I was unable to control the speed. I have noticed that they have begun putting speed controls on machines so I might look into a newer machine again, but my 301 and my 80's New Home are just fine with me for now.

I also have a Bernina. Speed doesn't bother me. Slower can be better to go straighter for me

I love the speed of my FW and use it daily. Since I got it a few years ago, I never use my main machine and don't often use the embroidery machine. The stitch on the FW is awesome.

I'm not a real speedy sewist even with my electronic machines so the speed of a Featherweight wouldn't bother me at all. Relax and sew!

would love to have a fw no matter what the speed

Speed + me = crooked. I'm not usually looking for crooked.

I also have Bernina machines and it really doesn't bother me to sew with the Featherweight's speed. I love using min for piecing and when I need to take my machine to a class.

I have 2 older Berninas, currently cannot pick them up due to should issues.
I have 3 featherweights, I like sewing with them. They can go pretty fast and the stitch quality is wonderful, speed isn't an issue. I am currently piecing log cabin blocks, I use a 1/4" foot and the seam allowance is nice.
Sharon

My FW came with a metal seam guide and a screw that I can adjust to any width seam I want. There is a hole in the bed of the machine where you attach the guide. I have other, older machines that came with a metal seam guide also.

I have the metal seam guides for the featherweight,my new janome 6300p came with one also. euro-pro has a foot with a adjustable seam control. DottieBug

I forgot to mention I also have a magnetic seam guide that can be used on any of our older non computer machines.

One of my FW's was really slow when I first got it so I made an adjustment inside the foot control and that fixed the problem.

There is lots of help, on the internet, so that they are easily maintained at home.