I have FIVE!! I love the fact that they're small and easy to transport. They are workhorses and just last forever if taken care of. It sews a great straight stitch, there are many attachments that will allow you to do special things with it, they're cute and I think they're a good investment, just like any other antique. They decorate your sewing room when not in use and they just plain old make us SMILE!!

If I wanted to buy a featherweight, where would be the best place place to look? Our thrift stores around here very seldom have sewing machines. I want one but am afraid to trust ebay, etc.

I got one on ebay. After the trauma of trying to get the seller to send her to me and having to get payPal and ebay involved, she works great.

Got another one at a consignment store in town. Just found out I need to clean out some great from her gears and add oil instead.

So I guess my point is, you just have to take a chance.

They are lightweight so easy to take to classes and they sew a beautiful straight stitch. You will love it.

I have bought 2 on e-bay and have never had a problem. Check the sellers rating is my only suggestion. My machines arrived within a few days of the closing, packed perfectly and looked and worked as described on the e-bay site. Both sellers had high ratings.

We haven't used the one we got on ebay yet but I will say that the shipping was quick, it was very well packed and arrived looking better than the description and pictures had led us to believe. It was also less expensive than any I've seen on Craigslist locally.

I will say that the seller appeared to specialize in sewing machines which might explain the excellent packing job. If either the 128 or White had been as well packed (to keep from moving inside their cases) I'd have been much happier.

They are very sturdy! So, you can pack them up and take to a workshop or a retreat and don't have to worry that it will get out of wack by moving it around. They are not as expensive as a lot of the sewing machines make today, and are a lot more durable. You can easily get parts when you need them to fix the few items that are made to wear and be replaced. They are cute and come in such a cute case that holds everything you need! They (the older ones) come in black just like the Model A's that Henry Ford said 'that you could have any color you wanted as long as it was black'. Of course, there are pale turquoise and tan ones that were made later. They have LOTS of accessories that do a variety of specialty stitching (hem, pleat, etc). There are also zipzag attachments with cams and blind stitch attachment. So no matter what you have there are still other items that were made to go with them. I liked them so much that I built a business around them! www.thequiltgal.com

A few of our quilt board members have featherweights and on more than one occasion they have had tension problems and all they do is straight stitch. I just purchased a jonome jem it is also light weight and also stitches great even can do zig jag and button holes it has 3 straight stiches I think it will be just great to take to the guilds for sewing. I did consider featherweights but the price was far out for me.

Featherweights are fun and a good value if priced reasonably, but just as importantly, sewing on a Featherweight puts me in touch with the women who have gone before me. I love that feeling.

Did I mention that the oil smell reminds me of my dad (he was a farmer), and it doesn't get any better than that!?!

Dayle

any one got one fore sale ? suzieQ