Congratulations and welcome to the FW club! They are very easy to maintain yourself. I love the David McCallum DVD Those Fantastic Featherweights and there is a bonus section on the wonderful Singer 301. Very good reference to learn from. Not affiliated just a very satisfied customer.

Watch out! They are addicting! I now own THREE...two blacks and a white. I never really went looking for them. People just know I love sewing machines and offer them to me at a great price! (I also have adopted 2 301s!)

thank you to for the site very informative. i just got my first featherweight last week a tan 1961. she is beautiful, run greats. the owner owns a quilt store and kept it running wonderfully. i hope to keep it up to someday give it to my 2 year old granddaughter. the machine is only 2 years younger than i am. lol

I have 2 featherweights and had them both cleaned and serviced by the shop that works on my new machines. I was glad I did and found them both to be in perfect condition except for the cord on the white. I use them both and they run/sew great--I would have them checked out once unless you are a machine service person.

The nice thing about a FW is you can easily become a "machine service person" for that machine. Sadly that's almost never true for the new plastic wonders. It's not hard if you can follow basic instructions and have a small understanding of gears. Of course, if you want it done now then you can take it to LSMS and they'll be happy to take your money and tell you it's in perfect working condition, I'm sure.

Congrats, and welcome to the club! Does she have a name yet-?

I own three featherweights and a spartan, plus numerous other machines, (lots were given to me), and I service the Singers myself unless I think something needs someone with more expertise than I have, down load a manual and check it out for yourself, if you don't feel confident, go ahead and take it to your service professional

You can download the manual from the Singer website I believe. Nope, just looked and they charge for it. Try this site~seems to be free. http://thefeatherweight221factory.com/page7.php

Congratulations!
My son and daughter-in-law bought me a Featherweight 221 for Christmas. I never thought I would own one, and am so excited!!! Seems to be in great condition. But, I need to know where to find the correct needles (side thread) and correct size bobbins. It only came with one each, and I afraid the needle might break, and not have spares. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Barbara

FW's take standard 15x1 sewing machine needles, no need for anything special there. There is no such thing as a "side thread" needle per se. It's just in which way you face the needle when loading it into the needle bar. Bobbins can usually be easily had at your LSMS or ordered online but they are specific to FW/301's. They're just a smidge bigger in diameter and thinner than a standard class 15 bobbin. Do note the way the needles face and the direction the threading goes. Otherwise you won't pick up a stitch. Happy sewing!