Originally Posted by
csharp
Read everything you can about the 221 and especially look at the pictures and check to see if your bobbin area is "right" there is a special place for the bobbin holder to fit in a groove, AND do you have the needle in facing the right direction and threading from RIGHT to left. Good luck...you will enjoy this machine when you understand it and get it going.
I've only found a few reasons why a FW won't stitch.
Make sure your needle is in correctly, it needs to be snug up in there. You'll know that's the problem if every time you try the machine you have to rethread the machine.
Make sure your threading the needle correctly (opposite from most)
Make sure the bobbin is threaded correctly
Make sure the ear on the bobbin case is embedded under the feed dogs in the little slot and it can't move at all. If you can move that ear around you'll never get a stitch.
You can do a search on google and get a PDF manual for the FW which will help you a lot.
Good luck and enjoy