Got 2 Singer Featherweights and Now What Do I Do ???
03-07-2012, 02:42 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 210
Got 2 Singer Featherweights and Now What Do I Do ???
Well last Saturday while at sewing store hubby saw a Singer featherweight and was intrigued by it. So since past this Saturday he has purchased 2 on eBay. They are suppose to be in good working condition and were made in 1937 and 1949. They are the 221 model. As I have only been able to sew on computerized sewing machines in the past 10 years (I kinda "stunk" at threading and tensions on mechanical ones).
So am I in BIG trouble ?????? I have no idea if I am even going to be able to thread thiese things (they both do have manuals). Where on earth am I going to start on these? Are these machines easy or hard to use?
Thanks for any help.
Karen
So am I in BIG trouble ?????? I have no idea if I am even going to be able to thread thiese things (they both do have manuals). Where on earth am I going to start on these? Are these machines easy or hard to use?
Thanks for any help.
Karen
03-07-2012, 04:40 PM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Karen,
First, do a happy dance. Woooo Hoooo!!
Then when the machines get here repeat this OUTLOUD ... "I am smarter than this machine." Repeat it until you believe it. Read The Manuals. Read them again. Follow the pictures. Do exactly how the instructions say.
These machines are a piece of cake to operate. Seriously, and I mean what I just said. They are easy, just different from the modern computerized ones.
Joe
First, do a happy dance. Woooo Hoooo!!
Then when the machines get here repeat this OUTLOUD ... "I am smarter than this machine." Repeat it until you believe it. Read The Manuals. Read them again. Follow the pictures. Do exactly how the instructions say.
These machines are a piece of cake to operate. Seriously, and I mean what I just said. They are easy, just different from the modern computerized ones.
Joe
03-07-2012, 04:49 PM
#4
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: New York City
Posts: 138
You'll need to use a 15x1 needle system (easy enough to find, as it's still in common usage) and don't forget to insert the needle "NFL," or Needle Flat to the Left. As another poster mentioned, the thread then goes through the needle from right to left.
Congrats on the machines, I'm sure you'll love them!
Congrats on the machines, I'm sure you'll love them!
03-07-2012, 05:17 PM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: MO.
Posts: 2,681
Your well on your way to a love afair. Hubby gets a really nice treat for getting them for you. If they don't have the manuals you can them from the singer site.
Afew links for you, I hope they help.
http://www.ismacs.net/free-sewing-ma...uals-list.html
http://www.sewingmachineparts.net/motors_parts.html
http://www.april1930s.com/
http://singeroriginalvintageproducts.com/default.aspx
They are easy to maintain.
Afew links for you, I hope they help.
http://www.ismacs.net/free-sewing-ma...uals-list.html
http://www.sewingmachineparts.net/motors_parts.html
http://www.april1930s.com/
http://singeroriginalvintageproducts.com/default.aspx
They are easy to maintain.
Last edited by valleyquiltermo; 03-07-2012 at 05:23 PM.
03-07-2012, 06:32 PM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 2,005
I bought mine on EBay and it workds great. We replaced the belt, bulb and green drip pad inside. I recently had trouble with my "real"machine so I have been using the Featherweight for everything. It sews like a trooper. I love it. It is from 1937 also. They come with the book. Not too hard to thread or wind bobbin.
03-08-2012, 04:58 AM
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 210
Thanks to both of you for telling me this - I had no idea of flat slide to the left and never even thought of different needles.
The first one is to be here by Friday and the other one next Monday. AND, I can't believe how he's on a roll, he just bought another one last night - he liked the box/case it came in (has a dome like lid - to me looks like a coffin), I think he bought this one because he wants to refinish the case. And he's already told me to make sure that these machines work when they get here -- boy do I need luck. Sure hope the tension is correct because I could never figure out how to adjust that in my 30 year old Kenmore that I traded in for computerized one years back.
Karen
The first one is to be here by Friday and the other one next Monday. AND, I can't believe how he's on a roll, he just bought another one last night - he liked the box/case it came in (has a dome like lid - to me looks like a coffin), I think he bought this one because he wants to refinish the case. And he's already told me to make sure that these machines work when they get here -- boy do I need luck. Sure hope the tension is correct because I could never figure out how to adjust that in my 30 year old Kenmore that I traded in for computerized one years back.
Karen
You'll need to use a 15x1 needle system (easy enough to find, as it's still in common usage) and don't forget to insert the needle "NFL," or Needle Flat to the Left. As another poster mentioned, the thread then goes through the needle from right to left.
Congrats on the machines, I'm sure you'll love them!
Congrats on the machines, I'm sure you'll love them!
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