umm...i am probably gonna take some classes and my machine is too heavy to carry around....sooo...is this a good "deal"...TIA


http://cgi.ebay.com/Singer-Featherwe...item3cb5b99d3f

SEE ANOTHER LINK BELOW

This one will probably be in the shop more than on your sewing table. They just don't have the durability as the older ones do.

I have to agree with Sharon, I would put a little with it and get an older Featherweight. You would not be sorry. They are almost undestructable...

Yeah, I would go with the older version or maybe a 301, which isn't much heavier than a FW but has a nice handle right on the machine.

ok...thnx...guess i will keep looking

ok so scratch the first one...i did see a 301...but i think i like the looks of the 221 sooo much better...kinda classy...i luv it in black but does this white one sound ok? TIA




http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...13#description

I myself would love one of these. I don't know what your price range is but this auction still has 5 days to go. Being a Featherweight and white I see it going way out of my price range. There is a nibbler bidding on it. If you decide to place a bid, bid at the last few seconds of the auction and put in the max you will pay. Don't do an even amount of money either. (Example- $293.86) You would be surprised at how many auctions you can win by pennies :D If you start bidding now, all you are doing is raising the price. Sit back and watch. Get it at the very end if you can. :thumbup:

She looks lovely, but I betcha she won't go off for the $100 she's at now! Are you gonna bid? I've got one already and I'm just beginning to play with the accessories. I made a buttonhole using the buttonholer and figured out how to get the original penguin walking foot on. They are just such fun :lol:

I used to follow them more and have seen them go off for around $200, $250 in really good shape with cases. Not sure now, but I would check completed sales and see what's going on.

If you want a newer light machine the Janome Gem has proven to be very good. However, you can't go wrong with a Featherweight. I'm a proud owner of 5 (to some that's not very many!) you will really enjoy using the older ones.

I would visit Craig's list in your area that way you can see the machine and hear it (and hopefully make a deal!). I have a White and I was told before I bought one that they would be a little louder than the black ones and they were right. It's not that obvious but the black ones just hummmm! They are so sweet! You will find the perfect one for you-just be patient.

I agree, it still has 5 days to go and already has 12 bids on it. I love to watch, this kind of auction, in it's last few minutes (even though I'm not bidding) to see how fast and furious the ending bids are.

Keep looking, you'll be sure to find one for a decent price on eBay. Just be careful of how carefully the seller is going to wrap it. Some people don't have a clue as to how a sewing machine should be protected for the journey.

I don't think because Singer is calling this machine a featherweight necessarily means it is of the quality of the antique ones everybody pays big bucks for. I saw it on ebay as well and thought that it was just another cheap Singer machine that they decided to name featherweight. Its looks plastic, not metal. There are plenty of lightweight machines out there that weigh less than 12 lbs. This one is not the same as the black or white ones from the 1930's to 1964.

I would pass on it and pick up a cheap Brother machine for classes.

I think there are 12 bids because people are thinking it will be of the same quality and as collectible as the others.

That one is pretty too. But it still has 5 days to go on the auction. You can bet it will go way over 200.00 when it goes.

ok...guess i will pass on the white ones...

i kinda like the looks of the black ones better anyway...

i didnt even think about craigslist...duh!

i will def keep my eye open...there are a ton of 221 listed on ebay...so might be posting another couple links...

Be sure you see haw many days are left on the auctions. Most of them go for over 200.00 unless they are all dinged up.

Don't necessarily pass entirely on one of the older white Featherweights. They are not as common as the black ones, and would be a sweet find. And actually the one on e-bay looks to be in good shape with its case & accessories, not a bad deal. Of course as others said, the auction has 5 days to go so the price could really go up by the end. Just keep your eye out & check all sources. E-bay, Craigslist, shopgoodwill.com. Post a ISO (in search of) in the classified section here. There's even some FW for sale here once in a while. PM Billy (Lostn51), our resident vintage machine guru. He may be able to help you find one.

Hope you find one. They are sweet little machines that run & run & run. I've had my 1947 model since I was 12 years old. Which means it was already 26 when I got it, 65 now. It still runs just as good as the day I got it, and probably the day it came off the factory line. I love using mine for quilting classes. Easy to lug around, doesn't take up too much room on already crowded classroom tables. And it gets oohs & aahs. :)

ok heres a third auction...TIA

can you tell im excited...lol

i cant see any reason noone has bid on it yet...what do you see?
also...is it still considered a featherweight if it weighs 19# in the case...because if thats the case then might just as well haul my machine around with me to a class or two...it weighs 21# lol

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

If you are looking for a nice little lightweight machine, try the Kenmore mini ultra 3/4 machine, made by Jenome, I read. It is a cute little machine and easy to use....and carry. They can be gotten very reasonably.

That one looks really nice. I would try to get a FW if I were you. You WON'T regret it :thumbup:
But the 19 pound description confuses me. They don't weigh that much. But it IS a FW. hmmmm................

Take the same amount of money and purchase a used small machine with metal parts. Those new cheapies usually cause lots of headaches. If you can find a Featherweight (maybe with some scratches or damage to the decals so it looks a little rough) you would certainly have a much better machine. There is also a Elna Grasshopper which is a light machine and it sews wonderfully, but the case is heavy. Be careful that you get an actual grasshopper as sometimes they label a larger model as a grasshopper and they are heavy. I have several small machines that I purchased off E-bay and any of those would be suitable for classes and I didn't pay a lot for any of them.

It says 19 lb with the case. is the case 7 or 8 lbs? I have never weighed mine (with, without or otherwise).

This one is actually a light green color, per seller. Jem Golds from Janome, have one and love it. But I do have a beautiful old FW.

The white machine is already over 183.00. It's still going up.

What about the featherweights advertised in the quilting magazines? They are refurbished and come in various colors. Has anyone bought one of those?

I think they are fine but substantially overpriced. You can buy a good one on E-bay for a lot less, unless you want a custom paint job. Most of the ones in the quilt magazines are purchased from an auction site in bad shape and then refurbished with new decals and bright colors. Doesn't make any difference to the sewing ability. These little machines are basically indestructible and there are plenty of repairs available so I have purchased four of them from e-bay and had one repainted and new decals put on it. The others just needed cleaning and adjustment.

I love your Avatar!!!!! Do you live on a farm?

Thanks for the information.

I would venture to say that the "white" Featherweight will go for at least $300 and possibly higher, as they are much scarcer than the black.

Be aware that on the white machines that the "cord" does not detach from machine.
Should you need cord you will need to take in for repair.
Black one you can just order new cord on ebay and plug in.

If you want a 3/4 size more modern machine I would highly recommend the Janome Jem Gold with the kit for quilting.

I have several vintage sewing machines and I would take the Janome Jem over the others as I can do everything on the janome Jem while many of my vintage machines do only straight stitch. Both my husband and I sew on the vintage machines and we both pick the same machine Singer 301, the big sister to the Feather Weight. She is bigger but not much heavier because she is all metal but not cast iron. It has a nice built in handle. Excuse the picture. That is how she looked when we picked her up. We have several Feather Weights too.

Check out HSN today, they have a days special value singer and they also have the industrial singer on sell with free shipping.

Check out HSN today, they have a days special value singer and they also have the industrial singer on sell with free shipping.

You would think that after all these years that when Singer manufacturers a Featherweight II that they would want it to have the quality, engineering and machining to be equal to the original FW's, otherwise they are squandering their reputation.
Does anyone know anymore about the quality of the FW-II or used one?

[quote=OmaForFour]I love your Avatar!!!!! Do you live on a farm?



I used to live on a farm...however extenuating circumstances forced me to sell out...dreaming of another tho

I have a white/cream Featherweight and the only thing I do not like is that it is "hard wired" with no way to unplug the cord from the machine. I did have it rewired for safety but it just bugs me a little.

It's over 200.00 and it still has 5 hrs. They don't go cheap.

ALL new machines seems to have a lot of plastic parts and are therefore not so hot for heavy use as those parts do not last as well as the metal parts in the old machines and they are not as heavy duty. I have both new and old machines and if I am going to do a lot of heavy work I will use the old ones because I don't think the new ones will stand the abuse.

I agree. those are not what you are looking for. I bought one & took it right back. They also had a doggy looking featherweight & my husband told me that was what I should have,so I got the old machine & boy I sure was glad that i listened to him. BE patient & you will find the perfect one.
Glenda

I made a buttonhole using the buttonholer and figured out how to get the original penguin walking foot on. They are just such fun.

What is "original penguin" walking foot. Can they be purchased now? I have two, one generic low shank and one Singer low shank. Neither of these will work.

This is just advice from someone who works and deals in sewing machines.
The newer Singer Featherweights surprisingly have a 1 amp motot a vintage has .4 amps. Because the old motors are made better they can handle often more then a new larger amp motor. A vintage featherweight has a small bed between the needle and right pillar and the tension knob is directly in your line of sight. Check with your repair shop on the newer versions before buying and ask them about what they see most. Kenmore also made a version of a feather weight- it is a compact green model with a fold out end, straight and zigzag and blind hem- have not worked on it but have on both the old and new singers. Vintage featherweights have their appeal but the question is is cute your need or versital work space to manuver in. If your just looking for something lightwieght, you can find a inexpensive machine like at Target, almart etc. They will last for a while as long as you don't run them heavy. Almost all new machines are made so cheaply the cost in repair is more then the original machine or the parts can't be gotten.

does anyone know if a Singer Model 15-91 is a fw?