Okay....I get it...I'm in love....With my Featherweight!
 

A while back I posted and wanted to know why people make such a big fuss about featherweights. I asked if I should get one and there was an overwhelming response of "YES." So, after a few unsuccessful bids on a popular site, I secured a 1950 machine for a very reasonable price.

So, bottom line? I am here to say, "Amen" to all the ladies who encouraged me to get one. I am obsessed. The hum of the machine, the beauty of the shiny black metal as it glimmers in the light and the simplicity of using it are attributes that make it so special. And even better, is the fact that you can add feet for a very reasonable price.

Thanks to all who encouraged me. I'm in love!

I am slowly being lured into trying one also. I have several friends who love theirs. Enjoy your new machine!

Congrats on your new machine! All the vintage machines I've played with are fun. Careful though, you may end up with a collection. :)
Rodney

I started with a FW, and now I have another addiction!

I have the white FW. I wanted a black one but was given the white so I'm very happy with the white.

How could you not be in love with a FW??? I have several and I love them. But I also have a few 301a's and a 15-91
and several ol singers, Love them.

I have had my FW since the late 1980's and I love it. So great to take to classes, and I really like to PP on it. I keep her cleaned and oiled myself and have never had a problem.

I have the FW I grew up with. She is so smooth and dependable! It's the one I use for buttonholes and quilt classes. I can hear my mother's voice when I sew on her.

I learned to sew on a featherweight in the 60's. When my mother was downsizing and asked her 9 kids what we would like, both my brother (he doesn't sew) and I both mentioned the sewing machine. We decided to play a card game to see who would get it. He took it home. :(

He he and his wife (a quilter) have it out on display ALL the time. I love to see it.

i think all the time about getting my own, but I'm afraid it would not be used. I have a Janome 7700 and 3160 for class. I need some help on how I can justify it. :D

Do you need to justify it? Here goes...
1....it is like having a beautiful painting on your wall...you don't have to use it...just admire the beauty of it...
2....it is like your fabric stash....do you need all that fabric...and will you use it all?...but isn't it nice it have???
3...You are worth it...treat yourself...
4...you can always sell it and you won't lose $$$
5...you only live once...


I have seven 221 featherweights...one 222 featherweight from England...one 99k...two 301 Singers and other old machines...I love them..don't really use them much...take the 222 to classes...and the others are on display...

I have 6 of these wonderful little beauties!!!!!!!

Wonderful reasons, which I agree with, but you left out the most important one. It sews great! I have 6 -- 1 white, 1 tan, and 4 black (1936, 1950, 1952 and a Centennial). The white is my travel machine, and I take it with me, even when I take my Bernina to class. It usually lives in the trunk of my car and is with me wherever I go, just in case I need a machine. When I get my sewing room organized, the Centennial will be my display machine. The 1952 is my "birthday" machine. The serial number on that one was released on October 8, 1952, and I was born on December 5, 1952. I am seriously considering getting it painted (I know, FW purists will consign me to the depths for defacing it), so it will then become my travel machine and the white will be retired.

I always take my FW to classes and retreats, even if I take my Bernina. It never hurts to have a backup, just in case. I leave it in the trunk so it is easy to get to.

I want one, but it's not in the budget right now. :( Someday!!

I am just jealous of you all. I stopped on a whim yesterday (I really shouldn't do this) at a pawn shop. Just to see if they had any sewing machines. Low and behold I looked up (not what I wanted) and there was a Phoenix 83, German made. $60.00 with just about everything to it. It's still there and if it's still there after Christmas, I may go back. Just not what I really want. I really want to save my money for what I want. Oh well!

Enjoy your new toy!!

My daughter gave me a Featherweight to take to classes. It was not in prime condition and came with only one presser foot. That was fine with me. I've easily purchased the presser feet I need and extra bobbins. I love the fact that I can service it myself. It sews like a dream! I do all of my piecing on it now. In fact, I use it almost every day. Now, I wonder how I ever got along without it. I'm so glad you have a Featherweight!

I so love my Featherweights. I have three. One was my husband's grandmother's on his mother's side. Another was my husband's grandmother's on his father's side. The third I picked up in a shop that sells all sorts of stuff - sign outside reads "we buy junk, we sell antiques". I was actually looking for a table for my front porch that day and found the Featherweight back in a corner under some other stuff. I am so grateful that I have them and use them all the time. I have two homes so they are split between the two. Awesome machines!

I have a featherweight that had been my MIL's machine. She hated it because it wasn't big and heavy; it was brand new when I got it even though it had been purchased in 1960. It is well used now! I also have a Singer 401A that I purchased in 1959. I would give up my newer machines before I would give up these vintage machines. I really love them. I do like the newer ones-but...you know how it is!

I bought one and I like to look at it but have sewn on it about 2 times. I have 2 Janomes and I love the needle up and down and also the automatic thread cutter. I think the featherweight is cute but I like the conveniences of the new machines.

Lucky, lucky you.

Congratulations on owning a FW. You will enjoy using it and the ease of carrying it to classes. Merry Christmas!

I have one my dd gave me. I've been using my Brother with the up/down needle/auto thread/thread cutter/start/stop button BUT when I started on Clue #3 of Bonnie Hunter's mystery I just couldn't see where I was sewing. NOW I'm sewing on my little Lynn and she sews sooooo good and I can use my magnetized seam guide for a perfect scant 1/4" seam. Think I'll keep her out more. I have the black box in perfect condition along with all the attachments and a boat load of bobbins.

Waiting for my 1955 to arrive and I'm so excited!

I have the featherweight that my parents gave me for my 16th birthday. I'm not 71. I taught my 2 granddaughters to sew on this machine. They love the machine so much I bought a second one this year. It was manufactured on the same date in 1955 as my original one. We call them the twins.

they are wonderful gems

I have 2 Featherweights and use them both. Have fun with your new machine.

I hunted for an affordable FW for a few years. Walked into a little Habitat for Humanity a couple years ago and there sat a beautiful little FW in pristine condition! It was $300, and I just didn't have it. Then the lady said "But...it's 50% off day!" ...Needles to say..... I bought it!! As we were driving home my friend made the comment that steals like that only come along once in a blue moon! We'll...that very night it WAS A BLUE MOON!! So, I named the machine "Blue Moon" It's a 1956, and it sews like a breeze!! I had it serviced right away and the man said it was like brand new inside. It just purrssssss like a kitten when I use it. Best class machine ever!!

You will have a love affair with that machine once you get to know it. They all have unique little personalities...

Stupid question? I go to sales and charity stores looking for FW - see many OLD Singers - do the FWs actually say "Featherweight" on the machine? If not, how do you know that's what you are getting?

The ' white ' one is actually green if you look closely enough. Don't EVER get rid of it because in order to restore the dinged ones, the color match isn't a fun thing to do. I've restore a few of the black ones and they are a piece of cake comparatively.

NO --- you will not find the word featherweight on the machine. Look for 221-1 ( or at least 221 ) under the badge. Another featherweight is the 222 ( numbers in the same location ) The 222 is a free arm. If You find something that you suspect is a featherweight and it does NOT have a fold up extension table attached to the machine, (221) it ain't a featherweight.

Thanks for the info about the numbers for FW!

Good for you, so glad you were able to get one, they are lovely, aren't they? I have two.

The women I used to gather with loved their FWs. My husband surprised with a beautiful 1953 FW. I'm not really loving it. It's okay but I like my newer machines better. I do take it when we go camping for an extended weekend. I don't want to disappoint my husband. My mom's 1950ish heavy singer (maybe a 301) has a much stitch.

I have one, purchased last year.......just the other day opened up to use. First, the case w/machine weighs a ton...the machine itself is light, but not that lite w/case. Anyway....although this one is in near pristine condition, I am not excited and asked myself why??? I have other machines, more modern ones so this one is like an oddball. Don't get me wrong, I have an old singer treadle in beautiful, workable condition and actually learned to sew on my moms treadle.....and when first married thought a sewing machine was one of the must appliances in a household....but today I like the "almost do everything" of the new machines.......Evolution? I am thinking of selling the FW...let someone who will love it have it!