My son got me a featherweight !
 

My son got me a featherweight from an eBay auction. I guess he's heard me talk about one so much! It doesn't have a case or any accessories. It hasn't arrived yet, so I'm hoping it works and he didn't get ripped off. My question is, what sort of accessories came with a featherweight or are available for one that I should be looking for ? Also , I'm going to be looking for a case. Thanks!

What a wonderful gift and you have such a great Son to get it for you. Have fun with her.

I don't have one, but lots of my friends do and somewhere they get the accessories they need. LOL Someone on this board will come along who knows where. Good luck, hope it is all he wanted for you to have. Hugs, T-Annd

What a sweet son!!

Featherweights didn't come with that many extra feet and most of the original ones, you probably wouldn't use anyway. The original list included the foot hemmer,adjustable hemmer,binder,edge stitcher, gatherer and ruffler. The zipper foot and buttonholer were not included and had to be purchased separately. If you really want these attachments, you can often pick them up at local thrift and second hand stores if your store has a craft/sewing corner. I bought a whole box full for $2. Your Featherweight can use short shank attachments. For today's sewing you probably will want a 1/4" foot, a zipper foot and perhaps a buttonholer depending on what you want to use your Featherweight to stitch. Bobbins are often available at your local sewing machine store as Featherweights are a popular machine. My Janome dealer has them ($1 each) and hasn't sold Singer machines in years.

What a dear sweet boy! Bobbins are available as are the few accessories available on line. If you check out FW accessories on google, I'm sure you'll find anything you might need. You're going to love your FW. I'm presently up to three and wouldn't trade them for anything!!

Congrats! Your new baby will take any low shank foot, old or new. Easily found on ebay and at antique or thrift stores. If you are looking for an original case, I am not sure where to look. Just beware that lots of the original cases have horrible musty odors. My case was so smelly that I opted for a padded case made for the FW's. I purchased the padded case from http://www.featherweight221.com and have been very pleased with it.
You are going to love your new FW!

Thanks! I can hardly wait for it to get here!

Congrats! My FW case handle broke as I walked in the front door of our house. Rther than fix it, I bought a soft case with a shoulder strap from 221parts.com. Love carrying my machine on my shoulder, having hands free for everything else.

If you go to http://www.april1930s.com/ she sells anything FW including attachments, cases, needles and bobbins as well as repair of original foot controller (be sure to check it because the wiring in old ones can come loose and be a fire hazard and the bakelite plug can be cracked). They can repair or replce your foot pedal. I have bought several things from them and she and her husband are good to work with and make exchanges with no fuss. She also sells copies of the original owner's manuals as well as the service manual, which is a real help, plus belts, lights and even replacement motors if you ever need one. She also sells the oil and motor lubricant.

What a neat surprise! Hope he got a great deal for you!

If you don't "need" a featherweight case or tote...I found a generic case by case logic at a local thrift store for $2. Works great for my machine that came with "nothing" except the power cord and foot pedal. I found a set of attachments in the original box for $14 with shipping on E-bay.

A wonderful son! They do tend to listen once in a while. LOL

I have also ordered bobbings from april1930s.com and found the service very quick.

sew classic.com has all the accessories you will need. I get all my supplies from them and have had great service.
There are sites that have reproduction cases for about $40...do not have the site names but just google it.
Have fun, I have two and use them at quilt camp and classes.

I only use basic foot on mine. And, even though mine came with a case, it now lives in my Tutto bag, very mobile, lots of pockets. Super user friendly to take to classes and monthly sit and sew.

What a wonderful gift and such a sweet son. Enjoy it when it arrives!:)

Wow, what a loving and kind hearted son! That is just the nicest! Enjoy!

You have a wonderful son to go to the time and expense of finding you a featherweight for Christmas! I have to agree with the others about the case. Since you will more than likely want to display the small machine to show off to others what a great son you have, the case isn't that big of a deal. The older ones really do have a distinct odor due to the glue that was used to make them. I have one of those totes with wheels so I can keep an extra pair of scissors, thread, etc and just put in the machine and go. It turns out my button hole maker and zig/zag attachments from my 15-91 work with the FW. So figure out what attachments that you will use - you can no on-line and find the manual for free and then visit thrift stores from time to time. But I would recommend you oil it up first. If you are used to the machines made today they don't require any oiling. I found that the previous owners of mine were fairly good at oiling, but failed to clean the lint from the feed dogs.

They are such hearty little machines so I hope enjoy it.

be sure to post a photo when it arrives

Yep, april's will have what your are looking for. Enjoy your new baby!!!!!

You are a lucky lady! Hopefully, you won't have to do much cleanup, but it's not hard to do - I've done 9 of them. The old cases do have an odor that's hard to get rid of, but somehow I don't mind mine because I know it's old. Also, you can find attachments anywhere. I buy by the box when I can find them and resell what I don't need - and buy new bobbins - online or from JoAnn's. If it doesn't have a manual you can get one online free. It tells you what attachments will work with your machine and how to care for it. Most important - clean, oil and lube. I use Singer oil and lube from JoAnn's. Good luck and happy sewing.

What a wonderful gift and a wonderful son!

I have a FW 221 and I bough the best book for cleaning and maintance from Glenn Williams. Web site is I think featherweight221.com But he is so good and I bough a lot from hiim and everything is nice. Get the book it is well worth the money I also bough the cd that goes with the book.