solstice3

Lightweight and easy to take to classes. They don't take up much space. They sew a great straight stitch AND they are pretty! ;-)

JustAbitCrazy

I don't have a Singer FW, but I bought the Kenmore "Featherweight" (Model 1040). It has a more powerful motor doesn't weigh a lot (20 lbs.), and does zigzag stitches, too.

twinkie

I agree with Dunster. I have one that I use every day for all of my sewing on quilt tops and have for 5 years. It is soooo easy to mantain and I love the stitch it makes. Would't trade it for a brand new Bernina or Janome or whatever.

sewnsewsue

I do not have a featherweight but have 7 301s. They sew with any thread,stitch is beautiful, need only oiling for service, no belts, no timing issues and best of all, no motherboards!

sewnsewsue

The 301s can be found very reasonably. I have bought them from $30 to $100. I paid $200 for first one, a black long bed on ebay. Look on Craigslist or post that you aRe looking for one, you will get some responses.

reginalovesfabric

I have a collection of singers, don't have any 301's I have two featherweights and I love both of them. One was a gift and the other one I bought for a man I worked with you told me he had a little black sewing machine that had a side piece that folded up, would not sew that he wanted a $150.00 for, I looked at it, almost fainted, I knew what it was, told him I give him $140 for it, he said yes. The reason it wouldn't sew was it didn't have a needle in it.

Linda1

Now I am going to have to get my Featherweight out, oil it and sew on it today. It does make a beautiful stitch but my newer machines sew so much faster. lol

WMUTeach

Well, QB, I was ready to share my wonderful insights into "why a feather weight" but you have all be shared my ideas already. I was a hold out for a long time figuring the featherweight was just a fad and all about nostalgia. I must say that after seeing them and hearing the hum of a featherweight I was mildly hooked or at least interested if a good deal came along. I eventually purchased one actually just about 6 weeks ago. It is not perfectly beautiful, but it sews well, sounds quiet and "solid" and is small enough to travel to retreats and work days. What I like the most is it is simple. It stitches forward and backward. That is all. I leave it out in my sewing area and EVERYONE who come in asks something about it. Most want to know why I use the antique. I then can talk about my joy of quilting. How selfish is that?

Don't be pressured to buy a featherweight until YOU want one. Your life will be complete with or without a featherweight machine and if the machine you have serves your purpose, then sew on!

GranJanNM

I bought a Featherweight in 1952 at the local Singer store. Yes, Singer used to have their own stores even in smallish towns like ours. I then took it to college with me.
I wish I still had it, but I traded it in on a large Pfaff. I was married by then and had a dtr to sew for. Now she has the old Pfaff and I have 3 machines and a serger....but I still wish I had kept the Featherweight. I have learned it is OK to own more than one sewing machine!

QuiltNama

Love my FW and use it for classes, travel, and every day. Have 2 - 301's and still prefer my FW. Can't beat the stitch and it is easy to service.