Sunday, July 22, 2018

Quilters' Toys

I've always kind of wanted a white Singer Featherweight machine but wasn't really in the market for one until I saw an ad listing it at a reasonable price. So I grabbed it up. Isn't it the sweetest thing??



This little baby was made in 1964 and she's almost ready to go. I've had fun reading about featherweights on The Featherweight Shop website and learned a great deal from their wonderful tutorials. If you're looking for info, parts or accessories, this is the place.

You see a lot of vintage black Featherweights out there but Singer made many more of those. The white ones seem to be rather rare. I already have a vintage Singer machine but can't really use it because it needs a base or box to sit in since the cabinet was damaged when I bought it. After I took it out to be cleaned and serviced I never wanted to put it back inside. It does not sit flush on a table without wobbling so it needs a base. Another thing on my to-do list. 



I bought her a few years ago at a local Goodwill for $11.00  It was sitting in the closed cabinet above and apparently everyone else walked right past it. (Can't imagine why . . . . ) A hidden gem for sure. 


It's a beauty - in very good condition and made for the 1951 Singer Centennial. It sews beautifully.



Hope to start sewing on my new little sweetie soon! I like that it's portable. I ordered a 1/4" foot attachment last week and am just waiting for it to arrive.  





21 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

aren't these little old machines great! Recently I got my old featherweight (1954) working again after it had been sat aside for awhile not working - now it works perfectly again and all hubby did was adjust one thing. Also recently I had found a Singer Red Eye 1911 for only $41 it works perfectly and I love it so much that I have barely been using the Babylock that I won last year!! I much prefer these old machines - I don't know why I just do.

Frankie Brown said...

I have a black Featherweight and use it for all my piecing now. It sews a lovely straight seam and is a joy to use. Have fun with your new machine.

http://thankfullga447 said...

One of our church member has a few of them & she brings it to quilting, it work great on all fabrics.

Auntea said...

Oh I am so happy for you! A featherweight is on my wish list too. The white is so beautiful!

Linzey Joy said...

I just took a FW class at Quilter's Quest in Woodridge! It was taught by Chris Moline! She taught us how to maintain the FW. It was the BEST class!

Ada Plouvier-Kopitopoulou said...

I love this old sewing machines. Your black one is beautiful and the white one is very cute. I would like to have one too. Should start looking!

DreamNT said...

It is very interesting information.








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Kathy O in GA/AZ said...

I have my mother's white featherweight that I learned to sew on in the 60's, hope to teach my granddaughter one day (maybe her mom will even get interested?)

sporter said...

I just secured a tan featherweight and she is a beauty!

WhiteEagle said...

I have a black featherweight that works greater. Now I need a working treadle MA Hine for when we lose power. I had one but the guy I took it to to be restored stole it. It had a scotch thistle on the face plate which I had never seen before.

quiltgrannie said...

Congrats Kathy, she's a cutie for sure!! Love my black one, but would love to have a white one.

Anonymous said...

Love the white Featherweight! I didn't even know they made any white machines!
I have a black Featherweight that, according to the serial number, and the chart on the website link you provided, was commissioned on April 20, 1948. My mother bought it new in the year I was born, which was, coincidentally, 1948 .... It is the machine I learned to sew on, and I still use it to this day! It is a workhorse, for sure, with a perfect straight stitch!! I do have a new Babylock machine purchased earlier this year, but you just cannot beat the old machines!! My Featherweight has a card table that has a panel that can be pulled out and the FW fits perfectly in the opening, providing a flat sewing surface. I don't use the card table much anymore, but it is a great "accessory".
Have fun with your "new to you" machine!!

Sandra B
scb304@juno.com

Anonymous said...

Sorry about my reference to a website link! I actually did a search for manufacture dates just after I read your post!!
Pardon the "oops" moment !!

Sandra B
scb304@juno.com

sue bennett said...

sure is a cutie for sure. Hope you get to sew on her soon. What is her name.

SueB

Deborah said...

I have a 1951 centennial machine. I was born in 1951,so it make it even more of a treasure. Mine was gifted to me by a friend who doesn’t sew.

NancyS said...

Love your newest addition! I have a black one made in 1949, which is my birth year. I treasure it!

Marian said...

Kathy, what a little treasure, i bet it was love at first sight!! You're going to love sewing on her, i'm sure she will purr just like my little FW. The first thing i did was order a 1/4" seam foot.. works a treat!

Judy said...

Kathy, I purchased my little white Featherweight new in 1965 at the Singer store in Inglewood, CA. Love, love it. Do you have the little cream and mint green case for it? Mine still smells new after all these years. Congratulations!! Also love, love your blog.

cityquilter grace said...

she is a cutie...i love mine...the great thing about singer machines is that they fit every singer cabinet, no matter how old...great american workmanship gone the way of the dinosaur....

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Nice Singer 66 you found. Most of the cabinets I come across have water damage, from plants sitting on top of them. My hubby learned how to make bases for me, for my machines. Simple to do. Email me, and I'll send you some links to how they are made. Have fun with your new Featherweight. The white one's were only made at the very end. They were the 'economy' model (cheaper production costs for Singer, but still sold at the higher end prices).

Lizzie P said...

Love your blog, Kathleen!
A down-sizing friend gave me 2 Featherweights a while ago, one black, one white. One was in great condition, but the other was completely seized up from four months over-wintering in a garden shed - not my friends fault, I hasten to add! Like you, I found the Singer Featherweight Shop and used their brilliant, well-illustrated instructions to take the poor little thing apart. It's all back together now, with no orphaned screws or washers and everything working well. Aren't Featherweights lovely!

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