Singer Portable 221-1

Congratulations. Your grandmother left you the best of both worlds. A working Singer treadle, and a Featherweight. Yes, it is a FW, the model number is 221, and it is an extremely useful little machine. If you take it to quilt classes or anyplace like that, guard the bobbin case. If you leave the room, put it in your pocket. There are dating charts based on the serial numbers at

and by calling Singer.

Bonnie as you've already found out you have a wonderful little =46eatherweight! I love your story and you're lucky to have both of your grandma's machines.

The FWs are small and very portable, great for traveling or taking to classes. They sew a lovely straight stitch and are darn dependable.

------------------------ Adult: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing = in the middle.

Thank you so much for confirming what I had hoped!!!!! I guess it shows that I have been out of the sewing world for quite a long time - nearly 30 years to be exact. I became a single mom when my boys were very young and it was all I could do to raise them and work full time so I had no time for sewing. I have since remarried and my two sons are grown so even though I still work full time I am trying to get back into sewing. So far I've just made toys and such for my grandchildren but I hope to learn to quilt and it sounds like my Grandmother's Featherweight will come in handy!

Thanks also for the helpful web sites. I have heard so much about the Featherweights but I never dreamed that I had one! I know that sounds odd, however no where on this machine or in the manual is it called a Featherweight only a 221-1. It wasn't until I was browsing through some sewing sites (that I discovered here by the way) and I saw a picture of this machine that the tiny little light in my head went on. I knew you wonderful and knowledgeable ladies here would be able to tell me if it was the same machine.

Thanks for responding. I don't post a lot but I read all the posts and everyone here has sure been helpful to me since I've gotten back into sewing. I don't know what I would do without you all!

Bonnie

Bonnie as you've already found out you have a wonderful little Featherweight! I love your story and you're lucky to have both of your grandma's machines.

The FWs are small and very portable, great for traveling or taking to classes. They sew a lovely straight stitch and are darn dependable.

Thank you for the url's! I am now researching this machine and these sites are very helpful! I only wish my Grandmother and/or Mother were still around to share a bit more information about the history of my particular machines. I am discovering now that I feel even closer to them through my re-involvement in sewing.

I still have some doll clothes and a doll quilt that my Grandmother made for me and they mean so much more to me as I get older. I am now making dolls and doll clothes for my Granddaughter and I hope that one day she will feel the same way and maybe someday do the same thing for her Granddaughter.

Thanks again!

Bonnie

If the machine has the flip up table and half size. it is a FW. if not probably a 99 or 66. It should be marked on the front near the Singer Badge. I have never seen a FW that was not market. Even my white and green ones are marked 22l and the free arm is marked 222. I have even seen Spartans listed as Featherweights. No flip up table and certainly not light weight. Mine did come in a drop in black case, and apparently this was the case in England for the Spartan. Even has the accessories tray that fits over the machine in the case. I got all the accessories includng the walking foot for $7.50 Canadian, but my 301 is still my favourite quilting and portable machine. It does a better stitch than my FW and seems to have a stronger motor too. The Spartan is great for holding down the Rotties leash..........

It will - they are wonderful for piecing, but a tad small for quilting! Come over and join us at rec.crafts.textiles.quilting - it's where I learned to quilt! Very friendly group, a bit rabid against ads, just like here! ;)

Flounder? ;) You're welcome! I've been sewing steadily for 40 yers, and I STILL learn new stuff here!

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 21:03:47 -0600, "forgottenmuse"=20

Bonnie,

Singer used the word "Featherweight" in the ads for the machine early on, which it said was 'light as a feather." The word itself did not appear as a name on the manual (it was never on the machine) for several years. That's one of the main reasons many people (including the elderly woman I purchased mine from) never realized that their 221 was the famous FW.

I can so relate to your story. I was out of sewing for 25 years while raising my family. Two years ago I decided to get back into it, mainly to sew clothing/gifts and quilting. I'm so glad I did...I know you will, be, too.

------------------------ Adult: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing = in the middle.

Yes. The name "featherweight" as applied to Singer sewing machines refers to the models 221 and 222.

Need to know the serial no. to give you a date of manufacture. There is a lot of info available online re Featherweights; they're beloved by both collectors and quilters.

: ) I have been subscribed to that group for a little over a month now and very much enjoy reading the posts and visiting the websites with photos of quilts! If I don't watch myself I will spend hours just looking over the creations of others! That is a very busy group and I find it difficult to read all the posts but I sure try and keep up as much as I can. I am hoping to take a quilting class soon because so far I have not done any quilting at all. I've been making dolls and doll clothes for my granddaughter so I have a feeling my first quilt attempt might be a doll quilt!

Even with help I definitely have those moments where I flounder! It is great though to be able to read and share with everyone here and it certainly is a lot of help, especially since I went so long not sewing.

Bonnie

My machine does have a flip up table and is the smaller size. The machine and case look exactly like the one pictured on this web site:

getting the model number off the machine I have discovered it is aFeatherweight 221-1 manufactured in Elizabethport, NJ sometime between1948-1950. That corresponds with the approximate time my Grandmother boughtit. I have the manual in good condition and it only calls the machine the221-1 and never mentions the word featherweight. I even weighed the machineand it weighs 11 pounds which matches up what I've read on some web sites.I am just sick that I no longer have the original wooden fold up table forit which I did have at one time. I was so foolish when I was younger! Your 301 machine sounds great! I only wish I had more room for sewing machines and accessories! Still this little machine I have has much sentimental attachment for me and would even if it didn't work!

Bonnie

Thanks Ann! I got the serial number and did a little research and have narrowed the date down to 1948-1950. I've really enjoyed the Featherweight web sites that have been posted here. I think it is so funny that for the past year I have been reading what people here said about their Featherweights and did not even realize that my Grandmother's old portable was one! I used to sew on it when I was younger and knew it was a good machine but then packed it away when I started using the newer machines with more variety in stitch type. Now that I'm getting back into sewing I will be cleaning it up and using it again as a second machine.

Bonnie