SherriB

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.

AliKat

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

karate lady

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.

Lori S

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 !

quilter1943

Is one year any better than another?

Divokittysmom

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.

tdgiffin

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.

redmadder

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!

jljack

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.

Jennifer22206

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.