Featherweights
 

I've been hearing so much about featherweights lately. What exactly are they? Are they antique or new? Where can I find them and are they really as good as I've heard? Thanks to all.

My 2 are Singer antiques and not only are they the cutest, they sew a straight stitch like no other machine and are so easy to maintain/service, love my 1957 222K(Stanley, came from an old fella that sewed everything he could get his hands on)and my little 1968 white(Blanche).

I have the white (celery) color FW. It's a great straight stitch portable machine. The only con is the light cover gets very hot. Anyone know of a led bulb that will fit?

I am like you got to know about them recently. They are old singer machines and I think (someone correct me pls) they come in 221 model and 222 model and go back to the 1930s or 1940s. They are so darn cute. I bought two in one month but then sent out one to get it refurbished to like new (new paint and all) and it is a beauty. I have the other one which is in a perfect working condition if you are interested pm me as I only need one as decoration in my sewing room :D

Sorry have no idea how to fix the pic

I have a 221 that was built in 1936, her name is Rose.....and I absolutely adore this machine. I have a Bernina embroidery machine that cost twice what my last used car cost me that does everything but make dinner, and a Husqvarna that is a wonderful little work horse, but I just smile when I use the FW. These little ones have history, and they stitch beautifully. Mine cost me $200 (including case, booklet and loads of attachments, along with the book written about FW's) - and it was worth every penny.

A site that is a good reference for all things Featherweight is:

http://singer-featherweight.com/

I got my Aunt Betty Lou (the person who told me I could sew at age 3) from a pawn store for $250 and she's a beauty born in 1929. she's so cute. I want a metal toy one from the 30-50's next. tried getting one, but lost out on it. so sew sad:(

I've had mine for five or six years now. It has become my primary use machine. You will be hard pressed to find a machine that does a nicer straight stitch. It is also light weight and easy to transport if needed. I've used it mainly for piecing but have done stitch in the ditch for an almost twin sized quilt, plus used it to construct a full length lined semicircle hooded cape. Although it is a small machine, the harp size is almost the same as most new inexpensive machines because they have much thicker pedestals and arch across the top.

Lynnie, you must be mistaken about the date of your Featherweight. Featherweights were not introduced until 1933 and the last of them were made in the late 1960's. I once worked for a Singer dealership and the last brand new Featherweight that I saw sold was in 1970 and the owner of the shop had that machine in his store for some time before it finally went out the door.

My FW is a 1952. They are lite weight, so great for classes and sew beautifully. I use mine for paperpiecing. Beautiful little machines. I love mine!!

I love my little Featherweight. My husband bought it for me on ebay. It was made the same year I was born, 1947. My little 6 year old granddaughter loves to sew on it. It makes a perfect stitch!

I have 5 of them and love them-they are very well made and perfect stitchers.

I have six of the little cuties, 5 222, and one 221.

I LOVE my Singer Featherweight. I found her on ebay for $350. Be careful not to use anything like Goo Gone to clean your machine. It will take remove the lacqure finish and mess up your decals. I love this site http://www.novamontgomery.com/singer...-the-month.htm

I don't have trouble with the light cover on my white FW getting hot. Are you using the lower wattage bulb? For a LED light, I was seriously thinking about ordering this for one of my other FWs. http://www.cottonclub.com/cgi-bin/St...menu-1700.html

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Singer Model 221 Featherweights were manufactured beginning in the 1930s and into the 1960s. The original models were black, and there are also tan and "white" machines (I put quotes around white because some of them have a light blue or green color if you put them against a white background). I'm including a picture of my tan machine. Thousands of these machines were manufactured through the years, the main factories were in Elizabethtown, NJ, St. John, Canada, and Kilbowie, Scotland. Most FWs just have the plain Singer logo medallion on them, but there are machines with different World's Fair medallions. The best knows of those is the Centennial model.

The FWs do a straight stitch, forward and back. Period. However, there is a bottonhole attachment and a zigzag attachment that you can purchase. Most FWs come with a standard set of 5 or 6 feet, including a rolled hem foot and a ruffler foot. I found all of my machines on eBay, but you must read the descriptions carefully and decide whether to trust that the seller knows what he/she is talking about. All of mine were purchased from individuals, not dealers, and I got burned on a couple because I had to replace the foot pedal/cord set, which ran me an additional $25; however, I didn't pay more than $225, including S/H, for any of my machines. There are several people who specialize in FWs and if you purchase one from them, they will guarantee the machine is in good working order.

Three of my machines are named, three aren't. It just depends on if they "speak" to me.

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I have the opportunity to purchase a 1947 Singer Featherweight 221. The person I use to fix my machines just purchased it and is now looking to resell it. An older gentleman brought it in to his repair shop, as his wife who used it, passed away. He paid $400 for it and wants $550. He is going to go over it and make sure everything is working fine. He says it's a real beauty.....looks brand new with no scratches.....has a beautiful case....all the attachments......is black. After going over it, he's going to put a warranty on it for 1 year. I've been looking but don't know what they are worth. Is $550 too high to pay.

Very nice ones seem to sell around here for $300.

My daughter gave me a 1952 Featherweight a year ago. She got it for me to take to classes. I LOVE that machine! I do all of my piecing on it and only use my Bernina for things like machine appliqué and FMQ. When I got the Featherweight, I thought that oiling it was a pain; but I have oiled it so much that I don't even think about it now and oil it quickly. I've even learned to thread the needle with my right hand. (I am so left handed.) I love the fact that I can service it myself.

That price seems high to me. Mine was $400 and I've come to believe that was at the upper end of reasonable pricing. She was in great condition, both case and machine, with the original manual and box of attachments and had been completely serviced too.

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