Love sewing on the 301!
 

I finally got the 301 lubed and working smoothly. I was able to stabilize the cradle fairly well. I've been sewing primarily with drop in bobbins and had a problem seating the bobbin. I thought maybe I'd forgotten how to use a bobbin like that, since it's been a long while since I actually used that style of bobbin. I pulled out the other 301 and couldn't get it to seat there, either. I kept thinking it was operator error. Turns out that it was a bad bobbin. Fortunately, I had purchased some new bobbins from sew-classic and they worked perfectly.

I made some masks on it yesterday. I love it. It's fast, quiet and smooth. It almost sews as nicely as a 201-2. It may crowd out the 401 for primary machine. I think it will be perfect for piecing.

bkay

Always good to hear another VSM is being used https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/thumbup.png I've toiled with the idea of owning a 301 but i really don't need another straight stitch machine. Enjoy.

I met a local sewing machine friend who said her 301 is her "daily driver" and her $3000 machine sits mostly unused. I don't own one...yet.

I let my neighbor Matt next door borrow my 301 early on to make masks for his extended family. His MiL particularly has health issues.

He's more of a carpenter type, but was at home after a shoulder repair when Covid hit. Anyway, he loved the 301 and my description of it as as power tool with needles.

I was lucky a number of years ago and snagged two at the thrift store for around $20 or so each. Both plugged in and went just fine, and after a cleaning (and ok, very limited use) are still going fine 20 or so years later.

I own two 301A's and love them. One for everyday use at home, and one for my sewing up at the cabin!

I have my mom's 301a that I learned to sew on and I love to piece on it. I've pieced several quilts in the last few years on that machine. It just hums along with no problems. Gotta love that.

So glad they are working so well for so many. and that light weight is a big plus.