RainydayQuilter

Just like at work everyone has their own tasks they excel at, so it is with my herd. For piecing its agent 99. For quilting its my 301, for portability and cuteness it's the featherweights. And for decorative stitches its my rocketeer. And last but not least the 15-91 excels at bindings.

SteveH

My 29-4 "Patcher" is my favorite Singer brand machine.

ArizonaKAT

If I had to save one, I'd be dragging my 201 out of the house. It runs quiet and steady. It's a workhorse for the heavy material and quilts and it has enough space to actually quilt a king size quilt with a little wiggling.

I zig zag with my 401A, but I really don't like the way she sews.

cricket_iscute

I have all the vintage Singers mentioned here except the 29-4 (and use all of them) and for my vote, it's the 301. They all have their strengths, of course. I have many machines and have used many more, and my vote is and probably always be the Singer 301.

Vridar

Boy (or Gal), the 301s are leading. I may have to try one. Is it lighter? Is it a better stitcher and/or easier to use than the 201? They do come on the market at reasonable prices ever so often.

Ron

jbj137

I have a 301A , a FW, & a 66-,
love them all in that order.

happyquiltmom

401A. Definitely.

JudyTheSewer

Hi Vridar, I live in an area where machines are fairly highly priced (Reno area of NV). Prices seem to be better in the larger cities (Minneapolis and Sacramento for example). I bought my black 301A in a trapezoid cabinet with matching stool for $125. That is the most I've paid for a non-Bernina vintage machine. A few months ago I found a mocha 301A in blonde desk cabinet with matching stool for $75. Both machines have attachments, buttonholers, etc.. But, I also went to a garage sale where they advertised a 301A mocha in a desk cabinet. When I got there and asked the selling price they said $400 - needless to say, I did not bring that one home.

The 301's are just nice sewing and nice sounding machines. They are a joy to sew on. They are aluminum and have a built in handle so they are light and portable. The cabinets have special cradles that the machines sit in. To remove the machines from the cabinet/cradle you simply depress a button on the cradle and the machine lifts right out by the handle. Easy/peasy for taking to class.

I do not regret for one minute buying these 301A's based on the comments from QB members. I will buy a third one (the mocha with white) if the price is right. I would say I like my vintage machines in this order: 115 treadle, 66 treadle, 301A's, 201, 403 (403 last since I don't have it running quite right yet).

csharp

Love to sew the best on my 66 for strip piecing....use the 15-91 for free motion quilting and it is great. Got a 99 I seldom use and 2 featherweights that I also piece on. They all make me smile and I keep different colored thread in them so they are ready to use if I need a quick fix on something. Now I want a 301 A but they seem pricey to me and have never seen one other than on ebay,, but I'll keep looking.

foufymaus

I love my Kenmore Model 50. LOL.