considering a featherweight...
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 13
considering a featherweight...
i've been thinking about getting a featherweight, does anyone have some links to some great sites with information about them? some of the stuff ive read has made the whole thing sound pretty intimidating...
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 1,663
Here you go.... and yes, it is intimidating!! I finally bought one and have made some mistakes doing so. If I had it to do over again, I would have spent MORE money on my featherweight and bought it from someone who restores them completely. Mine has been work, work, and more work, and I'm not quite done yet. All because I "cheaped out" and bought my featherweight from the wrong person. I have no affiliation with the site below, just have learned quite a lot from it. Be sure to check out her "Tip of the Month" archives.
http://www.novamontgomery.com/index.htm
http://www.novamontgomery.com/index.htm
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 174
From what I've been reading, try to find one with the original bobbin case - apparently the reproductions don't work too well.
For some basic information:
http://www.planetpatchwork.com/fweight.htm
http://www.singer-featherweight.com/
For some basic information:
http://www.planetpatchwork.com/fweight.htm
http://www.singer-featherweight.com/
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,198
Nova Montgomery is a great source for FW information and she sells machines. She has visited our guild 3 times and I enjoy her presentations.
There is a Yahoo group for Featherweights that is very informative. I believe Graham Forsdyke is the moderator. He is located in the UK, but he sells FWs to the US, too. Google 221 Parts (a very good site for parts & accessories); April 1930's (sells FWs, parts & accessories); David McCallum (they are retiring next month so will no longer be selling,but he has a great book/DVD combo on the care and maintenance of FWs); and Glenn Williams (parts & accessories).
FWs are the least intimidating machines you could ever hope to own. They were built to last and to be easy to operate. They only have a straight stitch, but they are wonderful to work with. I hope you find one.
There is a Yahoo group for Featherweights that is very informative. I believe Graham Forsdyke is the moderator. He is located in the UK, but he sells FWs to the US, too. Google 221 Parts (a very good site for parts & accessories); April 1930's (sells FWs, parts & accessories); David McCallum (they are retiring next month so will no longer be selling,but he has a great book/DVD combo on the care and maintenance of FWs); and Glenn Williams (parts & accessories).
FWs are the least intimidating machines you could ever hope to own. They were built to last and to be easy to operate. They only have a straight stitch, but they are wonderful to work with. I hope you find one.
#5
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,426
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,847
Try turning it around with the button facing away from you. Then rest your foot on the platform. That's the way I use mine and it works much better for me.
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Mabank, Texas
Posts: 8,780
I have one that looks great, came in the original carrying case with several attachments, the original FW manual and was purchased at a very reasonable price. It's a mid-to-late 40's model and sews like a dream. It now sits in a closet where it has been for several months and is never used. I wanted it so bad until I got it and then I realized I really didn't want the machine, I just got caught up caught up in another person's dream of owning one. I would sell it in a minute if I could do so without hurting my husband's feelings but he was so happy that I was able to find such a nice one after looking for a long time. I guess what I'm trying to say is that "I wish I had looked ahead before I leaped" and given more thought to what I was going to do with it before I bought one.
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