sdhaevrsi

My Featherweight is my main machine, but I haven't had my treadle Singer 66, Electric 66, and now my 201 up and running long enough to know about them yet.

I have definitely caught the vintage bug!

Prim Quilts

I prefer my Singer 301 for piecing. I use my Featherweight a lot for piecing. Also really like the Singer 306. However, I actually have a lot of machines that do a really good job of piecing. Free motion quilting is another thing. Only a couple can do a really good job on that. I use to get really annoyed when trying to piece quilts with the machines bouncing around. Then noticed I don't have trouble here at home using a wooden table etc..., it's when I take it to a quilt shop or the library etc...to work. Those plastic tables are the culprit.

sdhaevrsi

What machines do you prefer for Free Motion quilting?

J Miller

That's funny .... "and a green one from the 60's that I use for the zig zag".....



As for the foot I use when piecing, I use a 1/4" foot with the built in guide if the machine will allow it, and if not I use a standard appropriate foot for the machine, with bed mounted fabric guide adjusted to 1/4" from the needle.

Joe

lswan

I do lots of chain piecing so my favorite machines are the 15-91 and the 301, both gear driven. I find the featherweight underpowered and with the belt, not as even in power. You have to use the machine that you can bond with for the long haul.

tropit

I love my Singer 403A for piecing. It has a lot of power and it's been my main machine for over forty years. In second place is the Singer 99K portable. I do not have any vibration issues with it...In fact, just the opposite. It runs so smooth and the stitch is just gorgeous. I know I'll disappoint some people, but for me, the featherweight is just too light. It jumps and slides all over the table when I'm working on bigger projects.

~ Cindy

ThayerRags

I don't do much quilt block piecing, but when I do, it's usually with my Handcrank Singer Featherweight.

CD in Oklahoma

purplefiend

I like my 1917 White rotary and Singer 201 treadles for piecing quilts. The White rotary and Singer 66-1 red eye treadles are set up in the living room.
Sharon in Texas

cricket_iscute

For precision piecing, when I need extreme precision, I use my Singer 221 Featherweight. My Singer 301 is my go-to machine for normal piecing (and it can be precise, especially with the quarter foot). Singer Model 15s and Model 15 clones come next. Pfaff 130 comes right along with them. (I love that Pfaff but the least bit of lint stops the machine cold.) Then comes Singer 201, which I love sewing on but must be vigilant about holding thread tails.

Low on the piecing list are Singer 401 and 500, Kenmores, Elnas, other Pfaffs. Other machines I have I would not use for piecing. I use a Singer 99 for paper piecing. I use the Singer 127 when the electricity is out. For some reason, I don't think of piecing on my Bernina; wonder why? I'm starting to turn to the Necchi SuperNova for piecing.

My best machines for fmq are the Singer 301 and the Pfaff 130.

J Miller

Cricket,
Could you elaborate why you won't use those machines for piecing? I've used the first three on my quilts with good results, so I'm quite curious as to your reasons.

Joe