Singer featherweight, newer model vs. older model

you don't want the new FW. don't look at all like a 1950ish model, all
plastic. only common feature besides the name is their weight, I think.

Smee wrote:


Wait a minnit! There are NEW featherweights?? Where can I take a look at
them?

Smee


--
Dr. Quilter
Ambassador of Extraordinary Aliens
http://community.webshots.com/user/mvignali
(take the dog out before replying)

Oh. Thank you Roberta. I never thought of curtains. In fact, I never think
of curtains. Phooey. Polly

"Roberta Zollner" wrote in message
...
They must think we like to sew curtains or something :-p
Roberta in D, curtain fabric waiting in a bag, brain waiting for a mental
kick in the butt

"Polly Esther" wrote in message
link.net...
I'm puzzled about the need for speed too. My Bernina man says that the
1230
sews much faster than newer models. I wondered why anyone would care.
Inquiring minds want to know. Polly

"Sandy Foster" wrote in message
...
In article ,
(Beth Pierce) wrote:

I am getting involved in quilting classes at my local quilting store
and am considering a lightweight machine to take to and from class.
I've been looking at the new featherweights, and see that they are
10
lbs., which is a "workable" weight. The question I have is, does
anyone know how many stitches per minute the machine does?

Also, if you have an older featherweight, 1950's type model, would
you
happen to know the stitches per minute for that one? I am basing my
purchase on how fast the machines are. I could take my old Touch
and
Sew, but that one's a little heavy.

Thanks for your help!


I've seen one of the new FWs, and I didn't care for it. It didn't do a
nice stitch, like the old ones do. YMMV, of course.
--
Sandy in Henderson, near Las Vegas
my ISP is earthlink.net -- put sfoster1(at) in front
http://home.earthlink.net/~sfoster1

I took Goldie, my featherweight, to NY and actually made curtains for my
parent's bedroom. I flew and she was given a space in the first class cabin
closet. I explained she was 68 years old and deserved this treatment. I
did purchase a wheeled tapestry case that the entire case fits into. Not
once did I get asked to open it at security. I did tell them it was a
sewing machine. So I guess Goldie does remember how to make curtains even
though these days she just quilts.

--
Sugar & Spice Quilts by Linda E
http://community.webshots.com/user/frame242

(Beth Pierce) wrote in message . com...
I am getting involved in quilting classes at my local quilting store
and am considering a lightweight machine to take to and from class...

Thanks for your help!

Beth-
I have a Bernina Bernette 200, c. late 1980's and I have taken it to
LQS classes. I bought it used about 3 years ago and am very happy
with it. (I can't find anyone else that owns one, though.) It weights
about 17 lbs. I don't really find that to be too much to carry. I also
have a 1950's FW but I didn't get it to take to classes. I got it to
use at home. I see alot of talk about getting lighter machines for
classes, but I don't know what other people think is "too heavy". I
wouldn't want to lug any machine from the distant end of a parking lot
to a shop, but most of the shops I go to are located in areas that
allow for temporary parking while unloading. Also, quilters are such
helpful people by nature that I always see them helping each other
tote stuff. :-) BTW- I have thought it odd that none of the
manufacturers list the weight and dimensions of their machines in
their literature or on their websites. Both would be good to know up
front when shoppping for a SM no matter what you intended to use it
for. Has any one else had the same thought?

As for stitch speed I don't know the actual stitch speed mine does,
but I can't piece blocks or applique accurately at the top speed
anyway. :-)
Regina

On 27 Apr 2004 13:00:13 -0700, (Beth Pierce)
wrote:

I am getting involved in quilting classes at my local quilting store
and am considering a lightweight machine to take to and from class.
I've been looking at the new featherweights, and see that they are 10
lbs., which is a "workable" weight. The question I have is, does
anyone know how many stitches per minute the machine does?

Also, if you have an older featherweight, 1950's type model, would you
happen to know the stitches per minute for that one? I am basing my
purchase on how fast the machines are. I could take my old Touch and
Sew, but that one's a little heavy.

Thanks for your help!

Instead of a featherweight you might want to consider a Janome Gem. I
bought it on E-bay. It weighs 12 pounds and was quite easy to tote
around. And, it sews a very nice stitch. I have since donated this
machine to a fellow quilter who seems to like it.

There was a woman in my class at Asilomar who brought one over from
Hawaii. She uses it as her primary machine in addition to a travel
machine.

Mardi


Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot com.
____________________

My Quilting page: http://www.mardiweb.com/quilts/MardiQuilts.html
Paint Shop Pro tutorials: http://www.mardiweb.com/web
Low-Fat Lifestyle Forum: http://www.mardiweb.com/lowfat

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 23:24:43 GMT, Sandy Foster
wrote:

In article ,
(Beth Pierce) wrote:

I am getting involved in quilting classes at my local quilting store
and am considering a lightweight machine to take to and from class.
I've been looking at the new featherweights, and see that they are 10
lbs., which is a "workable" weight. The question I have is, does
anyone know how many stitches per minute the machine does?

Also, if you have an older featherweight, 1950's type model, would you
happen to know the stitches per minute for that one? I am basing my
purchase on how fast the machines are. I could take my old Touch and
Sew, but that one's a little heavy.

Thanks for your help!


I've seen one of the new FWs, and I didn't care for it. It didn't do a
nice stitch, like the old ones do. YMMV, of course.

The new FW's are made in Japan and from what I hear are a piece of
junk.

Mardi
Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot com.
____________________

My Quilting page: http://www.mardiweb.com/quilts/MardiQuilts.html
Paint Shop Pro tutorials: http://www.mardiweb.com/web
Low-Fat Lifestyle Forum: http://www.mardiweb.com/lowfat

Regina wrote:


BTW- I have thought it odd that none of the
manufacturers list the weight and dimensions of their machines in
their literature or on their websites. Both would be good to know up
front when shoppping for a SM no matter what you intended to use it
for. Has any one else had the same thought?

I hadn't but you are right.
I have 3 machines: a FW, a 1968 SINGER Fashionmate that weights a TON
and a Brother NX200 that is in between in weight.

--
Dr. Quilter
Ambassador of Extraordinary Aliens
http://community.webshots.com/user/mvignali(take the dog out before
replying)

Mardi wrote in message . ..
There was a woman in my class at Asilomar who brought one over from
Hawaii. She uses it as her primary machine in addition to a travel
machine.

Asilomar now has quilting classes? Or did she bring it to use when
she wasn't in class? I know where Asilomar is and wanted to go many
times.

"Kathy in CA" wrote in message
...

And yet this Kathy in California almost always sews at top speed. Just the
way I am.

Yes, I prefer to go "metal to the pedal", being from California (San
Diego). I guess it just stuck with me. I want to sew fast down
straight seams, but of course with applique and quilting, I'm much
slower. I have a Touch and Sew with a carbon pile (not electronic)
pedal and it "flies". I like to use it for quilting because of its
speed, but it's too heavy to take to quilting class. My newer Singer,
with an electronic pedal, just clunks along, but it's a little
lighter.

In article ,
(Beth Pierce) wrote:

Mardi wrote in message
. ..
There was a woman in my class at Asilomar who brought one over from
Hawaii. She uses it as her primary machine in addition to a travel
machine.

Asilomar now has quilting classes? Or did she bring it to use when
she wasn't in class? I know where Asilomar is and wanted to go many
times.

There is a series of quilting seminars by Empty Spools held at Asilomar.
They just rent the facilities from the state....
http://www.emptyspoolsseminars.com/

Also, I had a flyer from a lady who lived in the Hollister area and is a
quilt teacher. I know she runs weekend retreats at Asilomar for
quilters. If I can dredge it up, I'll post her web address too.

marcella