First, I mean NO offense to anyone. I'm just curious as to what the draw is to the old sewing machines. I think they are being called "featherweights."

While I love antiques and find them beautiful I don't understand what people are using them for. Many are missing parts and I've never seen one that I considered easily portable...

What am I missing?

(Again, I'm not trying to offend anyone - I'm just clueless.)

I don't think I have ever seen a featherweight??

I got a featherweight because I learned to sew on a Singer a long time ago. It wasn't a Featherweight, but it had the same humm that a FW has in a much smaller size. No other machine sews such a straight line with such ease.

I LOVE my old Singers. They sew a perfect strait stitch, are easy to maintain myself and the Feather Weight weighs 10lbs. It is very light take to class machine. I also like sewing with a machine that is much, much, older than I am and still is a real work horse.

Light and easy to take to a class and very reliable with a nice straight stitch :)

I got mine to have a 2nd one for both home and for taking to classes. It only weighs about 10 lbs, and yet it doesn't feel light-weight when I'm using it. all metal, and it sews beautifully.

http://www.tennesseequilts.com/cgi-b...Featherweights

Here they are, but don't be scared by these prices. There are better deals elsewhere.

I have one I found at a yard sale a couple of years ago for $10.00 and it runs like a gem. They are sew light, and sew cute. Very portable.
:)

Just curious... do they say 'Feather Weight' on the machine??

No. Is a Singer 221. I don't find mine light as a feather at all, but is sooooo cute.

They're cute, less than 12lbs (which is as light as the plastic prtables of today), sew a perfect straight stitch, can be serviced and maintained by the owner, have MANY attachments both vintage and modern for a myriad of applications including ruffles and buttonholes, they are cute, they represent an era of quality American and (Scottish) craftsmanship, they are reliable and can be repaired just about forever, and did I mention that they are cute? I don't mind folks who don't like them, more for me....

Thanks for asking the question I was wondering the samething. Though, I have my old Singer in cabinet that was my grandmothers it's all rusty and I'm sure not working. Maybe I'll take a second look and rescue it and tkae it for refurbish...

FWs only weigh 11 lbs and they sew beautifully. If you find one (or more) in pristine condition, as I was lucky enough to do, they will last forever. As the saying goes, they don't make them like that anymore!

I paid $50 for mine, had to do some cleanup on it, sews great and is so cute.

I don't have a Featherweight, although I would like to have one in my collection, one of these days.

I buy the old sewing machines because they sew like can't believe until you've tried it. :)

A big old tank of a Kenmore or Singer in a solid cabinet is pure stability when you're wrestling with a king-size quilt and trying to get it quilted.

So smooth - because they're so heavy! Think about how a Cadillac or a Grand Marquis just sails along and glides down the road. That's what the old sewing machines do.

I learned how to sew on a 1956 Singer and trying to find its twin is what got me started on collecting the old machines.

I've been learning how to refubish them myself and I only rarely have to resort to a repair shop - as when replacing the two internal belts inside my Kenmores - that's not a job for a home hobbyist without special tools.

I can strip the machines and clean them and put them back together and they're beautiful and nostalgic... and they sew! Oh, do they sew! And a few of them sing you a happy little song while they do it! :)

I wanted my Singer 301 after sewing with an old Singer and saw the perfect stitch. The Singer 301 has no belt ~ gear driven ~ feed dogs drop for FMQ ~ is portable ~ no computer ~ you can maintain and fix yourself (this is the best feature)! What more could you ask for?

Happy Quilting!

For me, the reason is the same one for my new machine being a Juki- all metal parts, you can clean and oil yourself, and if you care for them, they never die, unlike the newer computerized machines.

Featherweights, (Singer 221s) people like to take to classes. Most of the older machines are too heavy to lift easily. I am buying a 301, which is slightly bigger than a featherweight, but still portable. And my 15-91 will sew through absolutely anything without slowing down.

The old machines were designed for heavy use, and designed to last forever, unlike the newer machines. My Juki remains my go to machine, because I am spoiled by the thread cutter, but well made, easy to repair, and easy to operate are all worth having.

I dont have a FW, but I do have some vintage machines. I just think they are so neat looking, and I have gotten them for so cheap at rummage sales!

I have the white color Featherweight. It's so cute and sews a perfect stitch. It's a little smaller then the black Featherweights. I take it to classes and can easily sit it about anywhere and sew. Easy to maintain, just clean and oil, nothing to get out of whack and dependable. I have a Singer 301 and it's a workhorse. No tension problems, no stitch problems, sews with any type of thread, it sews smooth is how I describe it. I read and heard from many machine dealers the machine that get the title of the best machine ever made is given to the Singer Rocketeer model. It was the one I really wanted but in my search I was GIVEN the FW and 301 and don't need the Rockeeter, want one but don't need it. LOL.

now you know...when it comes to the famous singer FW it is more about style, portability and a bit of vanity...when it comes to other makes of machines is more about durability, ease of repairs, and affordability.

which leads me to another good thought/thread!

I don't have a featherweight and probably won't get one, unless I find one at an incredible price. That said, I do have some older machines. I wanted to find a treadle like my Mom and Mamaw used. Both of these precious ladies are gone and finding a machine was kind of like link to them.

The other old machines just drew me to them. I loved the look of a Rocketeer and found one in a cabinet in excellent condition for only $10.00. And my 301A is to use for FMQ. It has wonderful reviews and I hope to try it when I feel more comfortable with my quilting.

I bought my FW because it is so lightweight and portable. It was too much to lug my everyday machine to weekly quilting group. Also, I can do my own maintenance and have a lot of help in that area here.

I plan on what I take to the weekly group so I only have to straight sew while there ... or do some hand work type thing like trimming blocks or tracing patterns or such.

ali

i don't have a featherwgt, but I learned on an old singer. sadly the singer of today is not the same. the old singers lasted and lasted . miss my old one and regret getting rid of it.

The old machines are work horses and much easier to maintain. If my old 306W ever gives up ... I will try to replace with the same if I can find one. It handles whatever I want to put thought it and I have always prefered the knee control over the foot petal.
The old featherweights are legondary for there perfect straight stitch.
They really just don't make them like they use to !

Is one year any better than another?

I was looking on Ebay and someone posted that pre war were better as they were made with sturdier materials. I am not sure if that makes a difference or not.

I have old Singers because they remind me of my grandma and they are just so easy to use. I have two FWS for free because they were in a relative's shed and he wanted someone from our family to use them. They won't be sold, just used.

Why the old ones? Because no one manufactures a machine that sews a perfect straight seam while purring away. If only the replicas were anything like the originals!

People seem to be paying outrageous prices for Featherweights (221's). There are other very light machines out there by Singer around the same time period. Like the 99's...I just bought a 99-13 made in 1928..don't have it yet, but it's a 3/4 size machine, with the same very sturdy all metal mechanicals, and it's light weight also. I recently bought a 301a, and it is also not heavy, and it will be my partner for classes and guild meetings. I got each of these machines for far less than $100, and with a little "spit & shine" and a little oiling, they will both be working great shortly.

I don't have a featherweight, but I do have a treadle. I remember my great grandmother sewing on hers, and I remember that hers got destroyed with some house damage (fire? flood? I was too little when that happened).

I found one at what I thought was a reasonable price, and just went for it. They're slowly disappearing, and nothing is made the same as it used to be.

I just bought two, that is right two Singer 301A's today. Of course, I am just tickled pink!!! They sew like a dream, solid, light weight and easy to maintain. Goes well with my other old Singers!I have two new Janome's, won't buy anymore new ones.

I know people with purses that are bigger and weigh more than a featherweight in a case. They are truly portable and sew beautifully. When ever a bunch of us get together to sew at least two of us bring the featherweight. If you are piecing you don't need anything else.

The oldies are generally all metal construction as opposed to plastic. They were much simpler and you could service them yourself, all they needed basically was a good cleaning and frequent oiling and you were good to go. The new ones have a lot of electronics which you can't check out yourself. They are subject to ruin by magnets. The parts are plastic and they break. They are easy to get out of time. Now don't get me wrong, I have several electronic machines but these are the basic differences that I am aware of. I also own Featherweights and other old machines.

I would love to have one and a treadle as well. I learned to sew on a treadle machine when I was very little.

I don't have a Featherweight, but I have a 1934 Singer 15-91 that I FM quilt with. I love it cause it's POWERFUL!!!! And it has a large area for the quilt to fit in. And it's simple, no computer to screw up. And it's beautiful.

I don't own a featherweight, but I do own and use my vintage machines which are all in treadles for piecing and quilting.
Why own a vintage machine because:
they are easy to care for and clean
can be purchased for under $50
they make beautiful stitches
they are designed for heavy use, to sew through thick fabrics like denim
true horse horses
they have a large harp space which makes it easier to quilt a large quilt
they have beautiful decals and motifs
their cabinets are gorgeous, a piece of wood art
treadle irons are a piece of mechanical art
all metal, no plastics
And they never die- their previous owner may be long gone, but these machines just keep on living.

I was wondering the same thing. I have a small Janome for class. It does a lot of different things and only cost me $300. But-since everyone is talking about the featherweight I'm wondering if I'm missing something. I keep looking for one but haven't found anything.Wish I could find something reasonable so I could find out why they're so popular.

Don't have one, but I'm looking for one...Had one when I was 10-12 yrs. old. I agree they are cute and sew like a charm.

You took the words right out of my mouth! Vintage machines are tough and reliable and will take the thickest fabric sandwich. I have a Singer treadle from the 1920's and an electric White from the same era, both marvelous machines. I also picked up a couple of turquoise machines from the 70's and also a Montgomery Ward version from the same era. They all work better than the plastic version which sits under the workbench...broken.

Somewhere I read that the old straight stitch machines sew the best straight stitch because they don't have any zigzag capabilities. It seems that if they can zigzag, there is an ever so slight zigzag in the straight stitch, one you don't even notice, but the straight stitch is affected and it is not as perfect. I don't see so well anyway so I can't see it, but there may be some truth to it. I can tell you the Featherweight sews a fantastic straight stitch.