Singer Featherweight

[stash2quilt]

I have a friend who adores her Featherweight. Anyone else have one? I check on ebay occasionally but they can go pretty high.
I was astonished the other day at Sew Sunsational in Cocoa, Fl when one of the gals I was taking a class with admitted she had 50 :shock: machines! Yes, we all asked the same question...did you just say 15, or 50!... Amazing!!!

[RickyTims]

I have one Singer Featherweight and enjoy having it. I don't use it much, but I think they are great and I often see students bring them to class for piecing. Fifty machines? Now that's a collector!

[RickyTims]

Yes, I do love my featherweight, 1936, came from an estate sale....her name is Greta Pearl. It was quite obvious that the machine had been used lots and lots as family members told me when I bought it. Right now, it is a shell with all the parts in 23 labeled bags. My dh carefully took it apart making lots of notes. We had it painted and clear coated like a car is painted. The color is "corvette red". I have to say that the finished job is amazing. I can't wait for it be all together again, and hopefully sewing beautiful stitches. :wink: Dana

[RickyTims]

I have a Featherweight, too, 1945. I bought it off eBay a few years back. The best time to find one at not-so-huge prices is in January. Everyone's done in from Christmas and there's not so mcuh outrageous bidding. Don't forget to check yard sales and Goodwill!

Diane in Texas

[RickyTims]

I have a featherweight, and have to admit I didn't plan on buying one, but after much hesitation over a fairly high price I broke down... b/c, like dlquilter's, mine has a name, and her name is Florence! Meant to be mine I guess! :wink: But, since I got her, I use her at least 1/2 the time (after my Janome travel mate... no real prize, but I have the acrylic platform-thing that fits to make a larger quilting surface)

Be careful on Ebay tho b/c lots of machines are listed as featherweights that are simply Singer 221's. Ignorant or dishonest, I don't know, but be warned...
Florence

[RickyTims]

Hi Florence -

Featherweights are the 221's. I think you meant the 3/4 size machines, which are the 99's. They're smaller than the other black Singers and are often described as featherweights...but they weigh upwards of 20 lbs. I've got one, and though it's cute, it is still one heavy machine.

Diane in Texas

[RickyTims]

I have a very good domestic machine (not going to name names) and I love her - her name is Betty. BUT when I got my featherwieght (elizabeth) a few years ago, only because i felt like it was so beautiful and just wanted to have something that another woman had made some antique quilts on, I jumped right on it to start piecing with, and i have to say, I ALWAYS get a straighter and more consistant stitch on my featherwieght. I took it and had it tuned up at a local machine dealer, and when she tested it on some scrap fabric to show me shes runs great, she told me I had to take the test fabric home with me because it was better than her very expensive machines were doing! They don't make things like the used to any more - sometimes, when all you need is a simple straight stitch, then go the "old fasioned" route, it is worth it. I am hoping to buy one for my daughters to use (14 and 7) as they are much easier to set up and go than my digital machine.



Tina Marie Rey

http://www.tmrey.com
http://www.tmrey.etsy.com
http://www.tmrey.blogspot.com

[RickyTims]

Tina, what a good testimony! Makes me want a Featherweight really bad, although I have one of the fancy computerized machines, too!

[RickyTims]

I do all my freemotion on my fancy machine. I do all my zig zag and fun stitches on my fancy machine, but all my straight stitch piecing is done on my featherwieght - and i know many people that do the same.



PostPosted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:57 am Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post
I have a very good domestic machine (not going to name names) and I love her - her name is Betty. BUT when I got my featherwieght (elizabeth) a few years ago, only because i felt like it was so beautiful and just wanted to have something that another woman had made some antique quilts on, I jumped right on it to start piecing with, and i have to say, I ALWAYS get a straighter and more consistant stitch on my featherwieght. I took it and had it tuned up at a local machine dealer, and when she tested it on some scrap fabric to show me shes runs great, she told me I had to take the test fabric home with me because it was better than her very expensive machines were doing! They don't make things like the used to any more - sometimes, when all you need is a simple straight stitch, then go the "old fasioned" route, it is worth it. I am hoping to buy one for my daughters to use (14 and 7) as they are much easier to set up and go than my digital machine.



Tina Marie Rey

http://www.tmrey.com
http://www.tmrey.etsy.com
http://www.tmrey.blogspot.com

[RickyTims]

Where would a person start looking for a Featherweight? What's the price range? :?:

[RickyTims]

ip, you can find them at most quilt shows, there are lots of them online, just do a google search....mine came from an estate sale for $150.00, but most of the time you will pay at least $400.00 for one in working order. Some places rate them on a scale and the less scratches an wear that they have, the more they are....hope this helps. :wink: Dana

[RickyTims]

Thanx Dana! I've never seen a FW in person, but I remember my mother used to have an old black Singer she used for years. She would sew after us kids went to bed so I would fall asleep to the sound of her machine. I think that's one reason I find sewing so relaxing. Olive Branch, huh? I lived in Southaven MS about ten or eleven years ago. I understand it's changed alot. Thanx again! Sherry

[RickyTims]

I never particularly thought that I needed or wanted a Featherweight until I just happened to come upon one while cleaning out my FIL's garage. That's right! There it was! The little black box containing a Singer 221. I went running out to my husband, barely able to speak. Nobody else in the family knew its value nor wanted it for themselves so it became mine. I carefully hand-carried it on an airplane back to MD from CA. For $60.00 I had it cleaned and tuned up and I LOVE it. Now it is probably going back to CA to live at my son and DIL's house so I can sew out there when I visit. You just never know where a Featherweight will show up.

[RickyTims]

I found a "new" antique store in town last weekend, and put my name in for a Featherweight. The owner told me when the store first opened, they sold a green/white or turquoise color Featherweight 221 for $125! I've just GOT to have one!

Have you Featherweight owners seen the ad in the quilting magazines for the reproduction table for $247.50? The ad says "it looks exactly like the one Singer produced in the 1930's and 40's!"
http://www.jslyle.com
I guess this isn't news, as the link mentions the price of the table being less before Nov. of last year. Oh well, just in case!

[RickyTims]

If you keep an eye out, you may find an original table at a flea market or garage sale. I bought an original table and its matching extension table on eBay, but they were pretty expensive, since in very good condition. I love using one of my FW tables when piecing, since the work is at the right ergonomic height for comfortable sewing.