201 vs 301
 

What makes a 301 better than a 201? I love the looks of them, but wonder if the features of it are that much better than the 201. I have a 201, Featherweight, new Pfaff, and a Janome I just gave my daughter. Don't know if I need 5 machines in the house! What I want is another story! :thumbup: Just have to justify it for hubby. They go for $150+ here but I found one for $100 with attachments, manual, and case. Wish I could find one at sale for great deal like others have. lol

The 301 is a great full sized but lightweight sewing machine. I like mine better than my Featherweight. I am not familiar with the 201.
Colleen
PS-$100 is a really great deal with the case and attachments!

The 201 is significantly heavier and is a drop in bobbin. Many quilters prefer the vertical bobbin system of the 301 and 15 type machines for free motion quilting.

And the 301 is a slant needle machine -- makes for better viewing of the needle for me.

The 201 is a heavy powerful machine. If you want to take a machine to class, get the 301. I bought my 201 to mend coveralls and replace zippers in heavy duc work jackets because my Janome 6500 kept balking and growling at these jobs. The 301 is completely different and some people refer to it as the Featherweight's big sister. I have mine packed in a new sewing machine bag (original case was ok but musty smelling) ready to take out to our guild Community Quilt days.

201 has the most width from the needle to the pillar. 201 is called "the dressmaker head" for that reason (I believe). The 15 is "the tailor head." 301 is lightweight and very portable, and you can just grab it by the handle and take it with you.

The Singer 201 has a 8" spacing between the needle and the upright arm as does the Singer 66.
The White Rotary has a 8 1/8" spacing, the most of any vintage home machine.
See the chart on #38899.
Personally I love my 301 the most of any of my e-machines.

Cathy


.

The 201 makes the most beautiful straight stitch you've ever seen!

I love my 201 and use her the most. The FW travels well and so does the 301 but for just sitting and sewing a top together and DGD dresses, I use the 1941 15. Just something about the way she sounds.

I have a Viking Husquvarna for denim and anything heavier. She has an industrial motor.

The bobbin case for the 15-91 is on its way so we'll see where she fits in this menagerie. It I find a plate for the Viscount she'll be used for quilting and the New Home 556 needs new brushes, also on the way. If there was space I'd have one of those 1970s models set up for bobbin winding.

What was the question?

The 201 is a totally different machine than the 301. In reality the only similarity is they are both straight stitch Singers.

If you found a 301 with all the goodies for $100.00 go for it. That is an excellent price.

Oh, I'll bet your DH has more than 5 tools to use so you don't have to justify anything to him. If he gets cranky tell him to go cook his own meals and wash his own clothes. ;)


Joe