VTT is here again so slip on over to coloradolady's blog & see who else found some sweet old things to display.
I have one prized possession to show today my green [the company calls it light turquoise or something!] Singer Featherweight 221, manufactured in Clydebank Scotland, I believe.
I had coveted a FW for years & casually scouted eBay & talked to my friend about it,
I knew she had one, didn't realize that she had two!
Leslie's Mom was a prolific quilter, into her 90's [I never ever saw a house stacked with so many completed quilts] & she owned not just one but two FW's. After her Mom died Leslie decided to keep one FW & had thought to list the other on eBay but wanted me to LA a few quilts for her so we did some trading & I ended up with this little beauty for my very own! I think that I got the better end of the deal.
Because it belonged to Leslie's Mom, it was beautifully maintained & sews like a dream. I'm not crazy about the foot pedal so I am looking into a different one.About 6 years ago when I was teaching GS #1 to sew on my electronic machine he kept complaining that it was making the wrong stitch-turns out he's a boy, he was playing with all the bells & whistles- so I pulled out the little FW & he had no more strange stitches because there are none, just a perfect straight stitch. Here's the patriotic quilt he made with the FW- he sort of thinks the machine is his now!
For years I said this machine was white & a friend said "no they are green" & lo & behold she was right, it is very pale green when you see it against white. Very funny huh, I'm a quilter & I promise you I'm not even close to color blind though I do have two color blind sons!
The original carrying case is also in A1 condition, it's definitely green, lol, & I have the books & a few tools too, though I think that silver tube of grease has seen better days-at least I think it's grease?
I love the fact that I have provenance on this machine, that it was used by a great quilter, the mother of a good friend, & it is all the more special for that.
That's all for this week now hurry on over & check out Colorado lady & the rest of the VTT gang!
19 comments:
i love your sweet little FW..i'd love to own one :)
Enjoyed reading about your Singer Featherweight. I am now the proud owner of my mother's old featherweight machine. She purchased it in the 1940's (she told me for $97.00) and I remember her using it for years. She taught me how to sew on that machine. The machine isn't in the best working condition now but I have it displayed in my studio (I have a picture of it in one of my earlier blog posts). My 80 year old mother has since gone through a couple of other sewing machines and is still sewing everyday.
What a vintage and interesting machine you have. Making it even more special, it belonged to someone special in your life. My sister has my mother's old machine, but it was nothing like this.
I wish I had a machine like that. The old ones are so cute and easy to use. My "new" machine is one I bought new in 1974 (which makes it vintage now), and I never liked it.
That is so cool, and I love the case for it, too!
I hope you'll check out my book giveaway. I've got some great summer reads for all tastes.
Ros, love those featherweights. My hubby bought my first one from a friend. No history, I believe she had it from ebay. I have since bought another from ebay. Like chocolate kisses I am never happy with just one! LOL. :)
I love the green. Mine are black. I do have a 185 that is that color.
What a beautiful machine. I have been reading a lot about featherweights, looked at a few on ebay, they are really getting pricey. I will just wait and see if I come across one, I am sure they sew like a dream. Have a great VTT!
Hi Ros! Love, love, LOVE the singer! I've never seen one that color. I have my Grandma Butcher's black singer in a cabinet - - - I'll show it one of these VTTs
Sigh..I envy a REAL quilter...I am just a wanna be...stop over to see my start of a memory quilt...and PLEASE let me know if you have any suggestions...Oh..and lol...when can I come over and sew...oh for the love of a vintage machine!
A well-loved machine and now it has a wonderful new home. I will be down in your neck-of-the-woods (or closer at least) the week of the 23...house hunting.
What a wonderful machine and even better that you know the history and love it as did the original owner. I learned to sew on a Singer treadle machine..and still regret not having kept it. It was in perfect condition and sewed like a dream. I was, however, determined to have a "new, modern, great" machine..*sighs.
Happy VTT..have a lovely weekend.
I'll bet this little machine exudes warm feelings every time you look at it. What a treasure!
Did I miss your GS's patriotic quilt somewhere?
This is a cool sewing machine! I love how you have everything still together. BTW, My son is color blind too! Did you know it is rare for a female to be colorblind? My dad is colorblind and so I guess I carried it to my son.
OMG - how wonderful you have this FW, Ros! And the carry case and tools! I know this a dream machine for many - and I've heard the white one is very special! A friend has quilted for over 40 years on nothing but her FW! Thanks so much for showing this!
Cheers!
That's a great looking machine, and quite a pedigree, having made so many quilts! Such a great story how you got it, and I love the case too!
Oh, Ros! How lucky you are! I love your machine and its great history.
woweee what a super cool machine! to know it was made in UK in 1941, is even cooler! great post!
The old sewing machines just have something the modern ones don't, and often the stitch is absolutely perfect!
It's nice to see an old machine like that so well taken care of, I've never seen an FW here in Iceland but there must be some around somewhere.
I have a very colorblind hubby, not as bad as his granddad though, but my MIL has trouble seeing difference between like colors, (f.e. two blues) especially if they are dark.
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