I bought a very nice little white featherweight and didn't get any books with it and I feel so dumb because I can't get it to sew. I know it worked when I bought it but I put thread on the bobbin and try to bring it up and it won't come to the top. Does anyone know what i'm doing wrong? I guess I need to buy a book on ebay but i'm frustrated now, not when the auction ends and the instructions get here. Any suggestions? Thanks

http://www.april1930s.com/html/how_t...r_feather.html

try this website it might help?

Good luck,
Janet

This is very good info and has much better pics than the original manual(easier to see them).

Did you thread the needle from right to left?

Thanks for the quick replies! i put the needle in front to back because it didn't have a needle when I got it. So now I know what the problem is! Thanks so much!! And the site that shows the threading is great. I'll make a copy of it and keepit with my little girl.

I'm glad that you were able to figure out the problem! I highly recommend Dave McCullam's book, "The Featherweight 221 and I". It is down to earth and so easy to understand that even I can work on my FW and 301's without fear of breaking them :mrgreen:

Here is his website, in case you would like to check it out:
http://www.featherweight221.com/fwrx/index.html

i would love to get this book

I bought the book: Featherweight 221 the Perfect Portable and its stitches across history. It has the history of the FW and maintence info. Actually got it onsale at a LQS! It is a 'real' book, not just some xeroxed pages together.

There are quite a few online sites also about maintenance of the FW's.

ali

go to Singer Sewing Co. website and look up the manual by typing in 221 under model type. You can print it at home. There are a lot of resources for FW on the internet if you google it. One site even sells a maintenance manual that I'm considering buying in addition to the original manual. I also went to the local singer shop and bought a new belt which was easy to change. I then followed all the directions about places to oil and grease (there are lots) and now it sews like a dream.

Thanks, I just went and ordered Dave's book. I really appreciate all the input.