I really think the FW that I have seen all you guys have on this board are really neat. I want to start looking for one but dont the best year and model to look for price etc. Can any of you all help I love to run my husband all over on a quest it keeps him busy.

I believe most of our featherweights are from the 1940s and 50s. You can find them at estate sales, thrift stores, Craigslist and on eBay. Prices vary greatly. Some people find them for $20 and others pay hundreds. Good luck with your search! It's good to keep the hubby busy. :wink:

If you find one you can afford, get it. It doesn't matter the date. The early ones are all the same. Worth thier weight in gold.

If u can find one on craigslist, freecycle that's great! eBay wants 100's of dollars. Try it out if u can. I found one locally but it was so beat up I was scared to buy it. I toowant one! Hope u fine one!!

A friend who cleans out houses found mine - after I let him know what I was looking for. He only wanted $25 but I gave him $40 and recently a baby quilt for his new little one on the way. It's in pristine condition and works like a charm. Made in the 50's. I check Craigslist daily for any variety of machines in any number of surrounding areas. I can't afford the $$ some folks pay for their FW's so this was a fabulous find for me. Can't tell you how much I enjoy it. BTW - made the baby quilt with the FW!

Add me to that list. It remains elusive.....

Thanks for the info. We have a weekly bargain magazine that comes out and it had some in it, but I didnt know what year or decade would be the best.

There are small differences in featherweights according to the year but a different style face plate or the light switch in another location will not affect the stitching quality. Most of the featherweights that I see lately were purchased new in the late 1940's and early 1950's which makes sense as many of these owners are now in their eighties and their machines are being sold in estate sales or before a downsizing move. I have noticed that featherweights are selling more reasonably these days. There were two listed on kijiji in Ontario today, one at $125 and one at $150. There was also one at $450 from a few days ago that hadn't sold.

I lucked out and got mine on freecycle. They guy advertized it as a old sewing machine in a black box. I almost fell off my chair and started screaching. I could only think of one machine I knew of in a black box. I still can get over he just wanted to get rid of it.

SCORE!!! :thumbup:

Hi Chubby Bunny: I love your pink FW. Are the ones , other than black , very rare? I have 2 black ones & really love them, but I think yours is so cute.

WOW!!! Girlie, you get the award today for the luckiest person on the board!! :D:D

The year it was made doesn't matter. They are fabulous machines!! :thumbup:

I still can't believe it. I cleaned it up and sewed with it. I think it sat round for years. The bottom of the case wasn't in the best shape but the machine and all the "do dads" where there and it lit right up when I pluged it in. Best part I had never seen a FW in person. Only online. (and in my dreams)

LUCKY!!!!

The pink is repainted. The only original colors are black and white/green (it looks white but sorta green I guess) and I think tan.

I lucked out finding mine. I went into a shop and she had just put one out a few days before. She was asking $175. I offered 125 and she sold it to me for $135. It worked perfectly there-I haven't tried it at home yet.

The pink (repainted) FW is cute! I'd love to just try a FW someday and see how they sew! I've never seen them around here - I'll have to start checking around - I love the way they look. It would be nice to luck out finding one - not sure about eBay.

I love your Hello Kitty sewing machine!

I have a white one made in Kilbowie Scotland.

Thanks! They aren't rare, they are non-existent. :-D Singer only made black, white and (I think) tan featherweights. The colored FWs are machines that have been refurbished and custom painted. My hubby bought mine for me on eBay last year. Her name is Bubbles.

I don't think there is a "best" year when it comes to Featherweights. Condition is probably the most important thing, but even then most any of them can be restored.

I have a black one and a green repaint, both are from 1936 or 37, I forget at the moment. I just love them both. I have been sewing on the black one a lot lately. It purrs like a kitten, so sweet.

I bought mine on EBay about 8 months ago for $182. At the time most of the FWs were going for well over $300. My FW is in perfect condition, works beautifully and came with a host of attachments. I LOVE IT. I feel it is worth what I spent for it.

Wow! How lucky for you! I had never seen one in person till I went to the Lancaster Quilt show. They had a booth selling them for $245 for just the black ones, had some colored ones but didn't look at the price. I suspect they were reproductions, looked too brand new. You couldn't get in the booth, so many people were there looking at them.

Just a quick question on Featherweighs- do you have another machine or is the Featherweight it? I have two Janomes, and wonder what the advantage (other than the weight and portability) one has over the other. Have never sewn on a Featherweight and do not know why they are sought so much. Can someone enlighten me to the differences between the older machines and todays? I know the oldtimers never really break down, but other than that - ?????

I feel the same as you. I have many machines, and really only use the newer ones. If you want a really STRAIGHT stitch you have to sew on a machine that only does a straight stitch. I have several old Singers and really like them, but rarely use them. I like the conveniences of the newer machines. You do have to keep the older ones lubed. They don't break down because there isn't much to them. Look at the underside of one sometime. I don't go to classes so have no need for a portable light weight machine.

EXACTLY!!! How many machines can you use at a time anyway? Besides, I do not have the room to keep them so I am happy with my Janomes. The only reason I have two is that my dealer would not take my other for a trade in as it was not worth it to him, but he did give me a good deal on the table it came in so I feel it was a good trade and I do have an extra machine if I need it and decide to take it in our camper.

FWs are wonderful machines. Some people have been so lucky to find them at incredibly dirt cheap prices. Unfortunately I have not, but I do not regret spending what I have on my two FWs. They sew great and there is not much that will go wrong with them.

My friend bought a Featherweight last week for $25, it looks brand new.

I researched the pink fw's recently and learned that they are custom painted and sold to raise money for breast cancer awareness. As lovely as they are, the one website I found was asking $500 for them (ouch!)
.

[quote=Late Bloomer]EXACTLY!!! How many machines can you use at a time anyway?


Well....in my little sweatshop...er sewing room....I can have two embroidery machines running doing embroidery and then a sewing machine for actually sewing/quilting....:)

I own two Singer featherweights. One is the 221 and my mom currently has it. The other is a 222K freearm and it's never leaving me. Handy little thing it is for collars, cuffs, sleeves...

I have two Singer 301's. One tan in a cabinet, the other a black longbed in a case. Don't ask. They just happened to get here. I like them too. They're fun to sew with and don't balk over seams of any kind so far.....

Then there are two treadles.....I like to restore them. Bought one very cheap at an auction and inherited another one a couple of days ago.

Have a Janome 11000 that I just love, and Janome 3160 QDC that travels to the trailer and classes with me, and Janome MB4 embroidery machine that is too much fun. Oh, and Janome 1600p on my quilting frame in the basement.

Also have a Babylock Imagine serger

Do I have too many machines? Yes. Am I getting rid of any of them? No. I like to collect them and I really enjoy the vintage machines. Note however, I do not have a large fabric stash. Guess I have a machine stash instead!:)

Anything other than the basic black, white (which may or may
not have a tint of green to it) and tan are refurbished and repainted.

Thankyou for all the info. That's very interesting. I'll just continue looking for a white or tan one.

I bought m ine on Ebay for $108.56 and with shipping it was like $134. I bought Betsy in January of this year. I love my FW. I too collect vintage machines and fabric but am beginning to downsize on machines simply for lack of space. However, my FW is not part of the downsizing!!!!!!

I have several Featherweights. I love them all. I must say I have never been able to purchase one for the low prices you guys have, but they are great all the same. I take one on vacation, have one set up at my mothers house. (She gave it to me, but enjoys still keeping it there. LOL) I also have one that I take to any of the quilting gathering.

I have a 1938 black featherweight that I bought at a local repair shop and I love her and use her all the time. Beautiful straight stitch. Also just got a white 1964 one off e-bay, Haven't used her as much, but I am hooked on them and am now looking for one that I can give my sister as a treat
PS I have been told if you have more than one sewing machine in a room, it is a studio----and you don't have to clean a studio. So I have them in the sewing room, living room , dining room, bedroom-----

I want one from 1935, the year of my mother's birth. They are hard to come by though and are expensive. Most of them are in bad condition and it's rare you can find one with good decals.

How about model 221 vs 222. As far as I can tell, 222 has an open arm and much more expensive. How often is an open arm featherweight important? Words of wisdom please? Thanks!

I bought both of mine on e-bay for less than $300. they were both in great condition and worked like a dream. No matter where you get your machine, I would take it in and have it serviced.

Don't overlook the 301. It's known as the Featherweight's big sister. I have a FW and my mom has a 301. If I had to choose just one it'd probably be the 301. Maybe it's a sentimental thing since that's what I learned to sew with. That being said, I'm not giving up my FW! It's just too darn cute.

You only have eleven machines? Not nearly enough!

Dana
[quote=LyndaK]

I have a 221 FW...love it..I just purchased a 1/4" foot for it; also am going to have the foot pedal changed...they (the shop) will keep the original 3 prong plug-in etc., but will make a new foot pedal (all one piece)...I will hang on to the original one...I am not fond of the original foot pedal..anyway, do love my FW though..:) I purchased it several years ago for approx $400..

i would like to have one too but haven't found one yet.