Does anyone own a Singer Featherweight?

[adirondackgal]

I inherited one from my MIL. It was her mother's and was made around 1936. Her mother was in WWI, and used it, and my MIL was in WWII, and used it. If I ever get to go to a quilting class I would like to bring it with me instead of my heavy Janome.

[calicokatie1]

I've always heard such wonderful things about them and I'd love to have one but from what I've seen, they're pretty pricey.  Enjoy every stitch you sew with it.   The family history makes it even more special.

[farmchix]

I have one. Sometimes you can find one on CL or at a yard sale for a decent price. They are very easy to maintain. I love mine! Her name is Flossie.

They are absolutely divine for travel.

[dw]

Oh, yes, it was a wonderful gift for myself. I bought a refurbished one...pricey BUT my investment in machines are minimal. I sew almost daily on a 306 that I paid $50 and my treadle cost $25 so it was okay. It sews like a champ and weighs nothing!

[Deleted]

Congratulations on your Featherweight! I have two of my Grandmother’s machines (White VSIII Treadle and a Singer 404). It’s nice to have a family machine.

My wife and I have “his n’ hers” Singer Featherweights. Hers is a 1952 electric model, and mine is a 1957 handcrank model. We bought them both at just under the normal going price. Mine looks like it got caught in a flood (last serviced in Biloxi MS, so I’m guessing hurricane) and the motor was bad, so I set it up as a handcrank. We piece quilt blocks at remote locations on both of them (motel rooms, quilt show booths). She uses a Singer 301A in a cabinet as her main machine, and I use a Singer 319W Treadle for most of my sewing.

CD in Oklahoma

[manygoatsnmore]

I found one in a Goodwill Outlet bin, so I got it for .89/lb. It was missing the foot pedal/power source, and I wasn't even sure it was salvageable. I sent it home with my sister who collects them. She did a lot of work on it, cleaning, oiling and greasing, and she bought a part for it for under $30 (still needs a foot pedal), and she says it sews like a champ. Of course, she wants to buy it from me now, but I told her I want to use it for a while before I make any decisions on keeping or selling it. I really don't want to sell it - it's like the one my mom sewed on for years and that I sewed my first stitches on. But I feel guilty for all the time she spent on it...

[pinfeather]

My MIL volunteers at a Cancer Society thrift store and bought a Featherweight for me. I bought a month membership in a sewing lab and they taught me how to clean/oil/thread and otherwise get the most out of the machine and I love it more every day! The case was in pretty bad shape so I bought new rubber feet and metal closure for it and decoupaged it with an old Farmer's Almanac. Now the whole thing (machine and case) is pretty and it works great! Thanks MIL! Best gift I ever got!

[Deleted]

I have two. The first was bought on Ebay 15 years ago and was pricey to me then, the second my db found last year in an antique type store for $24. I could hardly keep the smile off my face till I got out of the store. The case for it has a few issues, but the machine was pristine.

[lindym]

Feb 26, 2016 11:19:24 GMT @lilredrocker said:

I have two. The first was bought on Ebay 15 years ago and was pricey to me then, the second my db found last year in an antique type store for $24. I could hardly keep the smile off my face till I got out of the store. The case for it has a few issues, but the machine was pristine.

That reminds me of my 2nd Featherweight story about 8 years ago. It was a buy-it-now on Ebay, the guy's picture had it sitting on the seat of his motorcycle in his garage, not much of a description because he probably didn't really know what it was, and a $37 asking price. I bought it! As I recall I was just doing a random search on sewing machines as I don't think he knew the name so it wasn't in the listing.