Thursday, March 31, 2011

New/Old Sewing Machine# 2- My Featherweight

featherweight
Did you wonder if there was a #2 (new/old) sewing machine? Why, yes. When my mother moved to a smaller apartment, the idea of having three sewing machines seemed ludicrous.
featherweight
This Singer Featherweight is identical to the one she grew up sewing on, my grandmother's. My mom bought it for parts and as a back-up. Now, it's living with me! When I mentioned that I might need to bring some portable sewing machines to Squam, my mother was in the process downsizing. Timing is everything, isn't it?
featherweight
And now it's official: I am a collector of sewing machines. This featherweight makes my grand total:  five machines... but whose counting, right? If you're going to collect something that takes up space, it certainly seems more justifiable if it's useful and will be shared by others.
singer 4
Oh, and I've rarely mentioned the fifth... my old Kenmoore is up in the attic waiting for a tune up and my daughter's readiness. Thanks for your Elna tips yesterday. They were excellent! I guess I'll be researching Featherweights, too. Pin It
Posted by mayaluna at 12:45 PM Labels: ,

17 comments:

  1. DianeMarch 31, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    You may already know you can go to the Singer website and look up the serial number from the bottom of the Featherweight to see the year it was "born" at the factory. This is a beautiful machine.

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  2. JessieMarch 31, 2011 at 1:32 PM

    I'm so envious, what a beautiful machine!

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  3. calMarch 31, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    she is lovely! and so is the Grasshopper! i think i have about 5 machines too; since we teach sewing i don't think it counts as excessive ;n)

    recently i came across this site that seems to have a lot of info, parts and accessories for featherweights:
    http://www.april1930s.com/

    did you know there is a rare TAN model???

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  4. ResweaterMarch 31, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    I love my featherweight! I recognized the case immediately.

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  5. KitchenCounterChroniclesMarch 31, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    So pretty! Love the craftsmanship and design that went into older sewing machines. Simply beautiful.

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  6. LaurenMarch 31, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    I have my greatgrandmother's featherweight and I use it all the time...well when I'm not letting my Mom borrow it. I love it!

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  7. ellenMarch 31, 2011 at 4:27 PM

    I have a Featherweight too and I just love her. She is a darling little workhorse.
    I am so happy for you!

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  8. VivikaMarch 31, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    Yes, the featherweight is beautiful, but I have to say, I love the funky fifties grasshopper the best! You may have inspired me to look for one of my very own...

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  9. TaraMarch 31, 2011 at 7:46 PM

    Beautiful sewing machine. I never thought I would say that about a sewing machine.

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  10. StephanieMarch 31, 2011 at 9:43 PM

    Oh, she's a beauty! I love my featherweight (don't know anyone who has one and doesn't love it!). I collect sewing machines too. Never planned to, it just happened.

    Pick up a copy of "Featherweight 221: The Perfect Portable" by Nancy Johnson-Srebro. It's a great handbook/guide to the FW. I have a bunch of FW websites bookmarked that I'll send you.

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  11. mayalunaMarch 31, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    Thanks everyone!
    Stephanie- you are AWESOME!

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  12. MargretMarch 31, 2011 at 10:06 PM

    oh she's beautiful :)

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  13. Cindy CarawayMarch 31, 2011 at 11:12 PM

    Singer Featherweights are the absolute BEST sewing machines ever made! Every woman in my family has one (I think my Mom has several!). NO, they can't do any fancy-schmancy stitches but they will run forever and never let you down. What a prize! :)

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  14. conveyor solutionsApril 1, 2011 at 1:40 AM

    The design of the machine looks really good. It has been a while since i used my sewing machine . thanks for sharing the pictures

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  15. CloverCatApril 1, 2011 at 7:46 AM

    Yay! I have two and just officially gave my 9 year old daughter hers, and it was a breeze for her to learn.
    Definitely do what Stephanie said and pick up the Featherweight book. It almost reads like a biography!

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  16. thezenofmakingApril 3, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    Goodness, it's in such great shape! I live in a tiny Brooklyn apartment, and recently tried to part with my oldest, clunkiest machine (an avocado green Kenmore), and I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Alas, even with only 3 machines, I seem to be well on my way to becoming a collector too!

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  17. Child of PossibilityApril 7, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    I inherited my mom's old featherweight as well. I love that old gal cuz I can pull her out and work on the dining room table... and not feel bad when I fail to put her away for a few days. She's like art. And I'm with you on the machine collecting. I've become the person who inherits the machines from the women in my family when they pass away. So now I've got about 6 working machines around the house.

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