I bought one a few years ago and they're not expensive. Can't tell you where I got one so I'm not much help.

I paid about $400 for "Ivory" w/shipping. She has been worth every cent. My BFF's mom has a black one that she got when she got married. I get to buy when she's done with it. Unfortunately she hated the folding table that came with it and doesn't have it any more.

Google the site April 1930's. They have all accessory feet for the Featherweight. Enjoy your baby.

They do have plates to cover the feed dogs that are original & you can get a darning foot also,but isn't orginal but all you have to do is order a low shank darning foot & they work great. I can tell you waho to get in toouch with a man who sells the. Just email Glenn Williams at [email protected] & he can heip you.

They do have plates to cover the feed dogs that are original & you can get a darning foot also,but isn't orginal but all you have to do is order a low shank darning foot & they work great. I can tell you who to get in toouch with a man who sells the. Just email Glenn Williams at [email protected] & he can heip you.

Yup, I could have told you.

I just got my first FW this week. I remember well the one my grandmother used (and my @#*$#& aunt threw away!!!). Mine is a newer model (1951), but has all the same features. It arrived Tuesday, and I will be putting the finishing touches on the first quilt made completely with it this weekend. I am going to try a card on the feed dogs -- I remember my grandmother covering them up w/ a trimmed playing card when she used the machine for darning.
Congrats!! This is the start of a very long and beautiful relationship.

Linda[/quote]

...
One question: there's no darning foot or feed dog cover included: does anyone know if I'm likely to be able to obtain them?[/quote]
My buttonholers came with feed dog covers, and they are generally available for reasonable prices. I even found one at a garage sale for $1.00!

My best friend who by the way in NOT a quilter. In fact I'm not sure she can even thread a needle, but boy can she grow things. Anyway, recently she gave me an old sewing machine that her mother had. He mother died a few years ago. I thanked her, we hugged and I put it in the corner beside my treadle machine. I started seeing posts about featherweights on here and never paid much attention.....until I saw a picture. Well, so far I haven't told my friend what a treasure she has given me. I'm afraid because then she'll want something big from me LOL. I know I have to tell her. I'll let you all know how that goes......LOL

I found a featherweight recently on shopgoodwill.com. It's set up like ebay. I got mine for a great price. I haven't had the chance to use it yet. Good luck in your search.

I got the 1/4 inch foot for my FW at my local Janome shop. It wasn't expensive and they told me that any low shank foot will work with it! Love that machine

You mean so many of you ladies are buying these OLD machines and using them instead of your modern ones, or do you just use them for certain things?

Definitely, keep searching ebay, they are not too hard to find. It helps to make it a saved search that will notify you when they are listed. Goodluck :-D

Once you have tried a featherweight for piecing you will be hooked! They make a truly wonderful straight stitch. However they are a little small under the arm for quilting whole quilts, but QAYG is fine.

I may have to get me one and see what all the fuss is about. But first, I want the longarm!!

Look for an auction that ends after 11:00 at night. They go for less money. I've bought three from ebay for less than $300. The prices have actually dropped in the past year or so. Also check the Goodwill auction site. www.goodwill.com

I have ordered several accessories from a gentleman online who goes by Featherweight Poppy. He's honest, dependable and fairly reasonable.

I love mine.

The man that owns that website is wonderful to do business with. I've ordered many parts from him, always been pleased.
Sharon W.

I have 3 featherweights currently, at one point I had 5.
I love to sew with them. :-D

The featherweight makes a beautiful straight stitch, so much better than the modern zig zag machines. I really like the featherweight or one of my treadles when I'm piecing triangles; the points don't get eaten.
I have 2 fancy computerized machines, but the featherweights get used more for piecing quilts.

I bought my first Featherweight (black) a few months aago and fell in love with "sweet Caroline." I just bought a White Featherweight on E-Bay and can hardly wait until she gets here!

Has anyone tried sewing with the small machine that is for sale at Hancock fabric stores? I was thinking it would be a light weight, small machine........price wasnt too bad (less than a hundred dollars)...could this work like the feather weights, and yet be much cheaper?

Thanks for all the recommendations for stockists. It looks as if all I'll need for now is a feed cover, as I've checked and my Janome feet fit the FW.

I am now piecing all my tops with my FWs. I still use my Bernina for applique and until I find a walking foot for the FW I am sewing my bindings on the bernina. If it weren't for the stitch I use on the bernina for applique then I'd probably sell it. I absolutely love my FWs and I'm not easily impressed. The stitch quality is superior to anything I've stitched on or seen. I was blown away by the beautiful, perfectly formed stitches. I have 10 and they ALL perform the same. And the Motors.....very strong and fast and I can't imagine burning one up as I've done on newer machines.

ME TOO!

look into buying a buttonhole attachment for the featherweight- sometimes they can be had at a decent price- and they have a feed dog cover in the kit that you can use for darning (and FMQ)
I saw some on ebay for as little as $20 this past week

I keep saying it, but this spring I am buying me one. Would love the green one, but will settle for a black one.

I love my FW too. My 5 year old GS has been sewing on it since he was 3. Sew glad you are enjoying yours. Smart choice!

The machine you are wondering about from Hancocks may or may not be a great machine.

However, IMHO, a true FW has the quality of workmanship done before the 70s and 80s on machines... all metals parts and such. The hum of a FW is like none other. Their stitches are straight. I have always wondered why this is. My idea is that it pulls the fabric in straight as it sews. But, I may not know what I am talking about.

My guess would be that the machine from Hancocks does not have all metal parts. Although, it may work just fine too. If you have a friend who owns a FW ask them if you could try theirs. Hope this helps. $250 is a very reasonable price for a FW but often people find them for less in the most unusual places!

I just joined the quilting board after receiving the blog for a long time.
I have a Featherweight I love as well. If I need parts I go to:www.221parts.com. You can click on Attachments and you will find the feed dog cover for a reasonable price. I believe they also have the darning foot. It's a great site and an excellent resource for Featherweight stuff! :-D

i have 2 featherweights, Brooks and Evelyn, named after my aunt and mom who owned them before me. i learned to sew on evelyn before i was in school, as did my two sisters. everything from dollclothes to formals! they are both black and i never knew they came in colors. that red one is GORGEOUS! mmmmmm, i'm in lust! i never would have guessed the fw has such a strong following.

While I agree the colored FWs are gorgeous, realize these have been repainted and generally cost quite a bit. The advantage is they've been completely gone through so they are like a new machine inside too. However I've seen quite a few on ebay that had the paint chipping or flaking off. So maybe some are better at repainting then others.

Singer only sold FWs in Black, Tan and White/Celery. There are a few times I've been tempted to purchase a refurbished one. Besides the red, another I've seen is "root beer" color and oh is that one rich looking.

Thought you all would like to know i found a website for the feed dog cover for our featherweight 221 that's only $8.95 w/ free shipping. Here is the link: http://www.april1930s.com/html/embro...feed_cove.html

I ordered a walking foot from them last week. I'm waiting for it to arrive. I also ordered a 1/4" foot, free motion foot and feed dog over from www.221parts.com. I'm excited to see how well they work.

There is no comparison in the old ones with all metal parts & the ones they make today in my opinion. I tried buying one of those new ones & took it back & bought an old featherweight. At the time I did not know anything about either one, but my husband told me that the old one was the best in the first place. Don't you hate it when your man is right?