White Singer Featherweight

Hello

Just before Christmas my sister asked me to keep an eye out for a Singer Featherweight for her daughter Amy so I started searching EBay.  My Dad and I bought my sister her black Featherweight in April 2012 and I soon spotted that the prices had increased so the Featherweights are obviously getting more popular, in the States they pay a fortune for them.

I missed a real bargain Black one that went for £51, fell asleep on the sofa when I should have been bidding Doh!  So more searching, went after a black one but got outbid in the last second.  The same seller had a white one but the bidding ended well past my bedtime so I left a bid on it and to my delight, the next morning it was mine.  The white ones seem to be rarer than the black ones so have been making much more money but this one was a real bargain.  I paid for it straightaway and the seller sent it by courier and it arrived on Christmas Eve morning - how cool is that.

The white ones come in a two tone box which is smaller than the black ones as it doesn't have extra space in for storage.  I just love the colour.

The machine is in excellent condition, still with its original white belt which you can't replace nowadays, there are none available only black ones.  I don't think that it has been used much, I gave it a service, there was hardly any lint under the throat plate, it didn't run very smoothly at first, I think that it has been unused for so long that any lubricating oil was long gone  so out came my oil can which made it run quieter.  The belt was very tight so slacked that off a bit which made a huge difference.

There are quite a few differences between the white and the black machines. The white ones have foot pedal and power cables which don't unplug from the machine itself where the black ones unplug which makes it easier when packing it away, its very easy to chip the paintwork with the plug end especially on the motors, the white motors are just black ones painted up so it the paintwork does get chipped it shows up.  The white foot pedal is different.  The black motors need Singer motor lube putting in the lubrication tubes every 6 mths (don't use the Singer oil for this, you will ruin your motor) but the white motors don't need this and have no tubes.   The hinged sewing platform is shorted than on the black one.  Underneath the black ones have a metal drip tray with a felt lining to catch any oil, the white one just has a cardboard bottom tray to it.  Inside the white one has a rubber belt where the black ones have rods and gears.  This white one was made between 1962 and 1964.

Amy was delighted with her Christmas present from her mum so another family member with a Featherweight, hopefully she will love using hers as much we love sewing with ours.  They are great machines.

cheers

Sharon

Homemade Christmas presents

Hello

Now that Christmas is over and everyone has their pressies that I made, thought I would share them with you.

For my big sister, I made an ironing pad with matching pin cushion for her lovely new sewing room.  The fabric is a Moda fabric and has acorns and oak leaves all over it which matches her new oak framed house.  I found some vintage Singer machine needles on Ebay to fit her Featherweight as well.

For my friend Lesley, I made some hand quilted pot holders with lovely pansy fabric finished with a vintage mother of pearl button with ribbon hangers.

And more pot holders for my lovely customer Wynne together with a gardening pinny

Santa brought me a 1/4 inch quilting foot all the way from America for my Singer Featherweight, how great is that!  Sooo no excuse for wobbly seams now.

Cheers

Sharon

Pin Cushion Doll Fairy

Hello

I have been collecting Pin Cushion Dolls since the early 80's.  I have amassed quite a collection and display them in a case but its getting crowed in there so they have started to escape.  Some in my kitchen and some more in my sewing room and one has changed into her fairy outfit!

Here are the rest of them, I think that they are jealous cos they don't have skirts and glittery fairy wings!

I've also been making some patchwork tree decorations, lavender filled hearts and fabric birds.

Took Buzz to work with me this morning to see his girlfriend Rosie the collie, he's now on the settee worn out!

Well, I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year - lets hope the sun shines more next year and rain goes away.

Cheers

Sharon

Singer Featherweight Working Hard

Hello

Well over the last week, my Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine has been hard at work, might have to give it a defluff and oil soon.

Here a couple of  Xmas pressies that I can show you

A hand quilted cushion made with vintage Laura Ashley fabric, this pattern is ideal for hand quilting as the outline of 4 shells make up a perfect diamond pattern.  I used vintage Sylko cotton in the same shade of crimson as the dots in the fabric, its not as bouncy as the modern quilting thread so doesn't knot up as much.  Sylko cottons are no longer available which is a shame as my Singer sews much better with 100% cotton preferably on a wooden reel.  The machine has its little quirks but I overlook such things cos its sooooo pretty and shiny.

 I have had a commission to make a "Gardening Pinny" for someone, these short pinnies that don't get in the way when gardening even when kneeing, they are ideal for keeping garden pruners and garden wire in, I use one all the time when I am working, everything is at hand and I don't leave my tools in my customers gardens now!  The   fabric is vintage Laura Ashley with denim  for strength.

And last but not least, cos I had time, I made a couple of lovely pincushions with pockets in the side.  These are going on Ebay to test the market! They are made from good quality 100% cotton quilting fabric and are part filled with dried split lentils to give them weight so they don't topple over when storing sewing bits and pieces in the side pockets.  The first one I made was stuffed with just polyester stuffing and it won't stay upright when there was stuff in the pockets- Doh!

Cheers

Sharon