The Featherweight Shop Celebrates 20 Years

Twenty years! It’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown since we discovered our first Featherweight in 2005 and embarked on a journey we never could have imagined.

To celebrate this special milestone, we’ve put together a timeline highlighting some of our favorite moments from 2005 to 2025. Join us as we look back on the memories that shaped our story!

And the celebration doesn’t stop there—throughout 2025, we’ll be featuring a different item each month on sale for 20% off, so you can join in the festivities all year long. This month, we're kicking off the celebration with 20% off the Sew Steady tables. Claim yours now!

2005

The Featherweight Shop’s story began in the summer of 2005 when Carmon and April Henry spent Saturdays yard-saling with their kids, Christian and Ruthie, hunting for treasures to sell on eBay. By fall, they had stumbled into the sewing niche after discovering a Singer Featherweight and attachments. That little machine sparked a passion—and a business—destined to grow!

2006

Inspired by a vintage Singer publication from the early 1900s, April dove into mastering the Featherweight’s attachments. The Edge Stitcher, Narrow Hemmer, and Buttonholer transformed everyday sewing into artistic and practical creations. Her enthusiasm carried through to their very first business cards, spreading the joy of vintage sewing far and wide.

2007

A chance meeting with Dave and Sharon McCallum at a local Featherweight workshop turned into a cherished friendship. Their encouragement helped solidify Carmon and April’s place in the Featherweight world, and their mentorship left a lasting legacy for years to come. Below is a photo from—flash forward—2015 when the Henrys and McCallums taught a class together in Spokane. (Spoiler alert: Christian grew up!)

2008

The launch of the first website, April1930s.com, was a milestone moment! April showcased Featherweight attachments and even collaborated with Oliver + S, test-sewing patterns for their children’s designs. Her contributions are still celebrated on their blog today—proof of her enduring creativity. To top off all the sweetness, this was the year little Ruthie began learning how to sew on a Featherweight.

2009

This was the year of their very first Featherweight Maintenance Workshop, hosted at Bluebird Quilt Studio in Idaho. Sharing knowledge and teaching others marked the beginning of what would become a core part of The Featherweight Shop’s mission.

2010

Carmon made the leap to working full-time with Singer Featherweights, transforming April’s hobby into a family business. Even Christian and Ruthie joined in, earning pocket change by helping clean machines and unwind bobbins. It truly became a family affair!

2011

The family packed up and moved to Kamiah, Idaho, embarking on a new adventure off the grid. From homeschooling to building a cozy shop heated by a wood stove, they laid the groundwork for a growing business—all while trekking two miles to the nearest mailbox every day!

2012

The first dedicated shop was built: a snug space with room for a workbench, sewing table, and even a loft for Ruthie to play. It was humble, but it was perfect for fueling the family's dreams during those early years. And in keeping with the rustic theme, the Henrys lived in an RV!

2013

Christian serviced his very first Featherweight under his dad’s watchful eye. Absorbing maintenance skills from Carmon and history lessons from April, Christian began learning the ropes to continue the family business and preserve the Featherweight legacy.

2014

A major chapter began when Graham Forsdyke retired and entrusted his UK-based Featherweight business to the Henry family. With Christian’s eagerness to learn and their shared passion for Featherweights, Graham’s legacy transitioned seamlessly into the hands of the next generation. April1930s.com officially became Singer-Featherweight.com.

2015

Big changes arrived this year! Carmon and Christian traveled to Missouri for sewing machine technical training with Ray White, expanding their expertise. Meanwhile, the business moved to a new shop, closer to town, and welcomed its first employee to help with the growing demand.

2016

A whirlwind of progress! From coast to coast, the family toured the country, teaching Featherweight maintenance workshops in 14 states. A brand-new website launched, Sew Retro Grease hit the shelves, and Wendy Graves joined the team as their new business administrator. Little did we know that Wendy would one day become one of the family, not just a beloved member of the business!

2017

Ruthie’s Featherweight case tutorial became a YouTube sensation, inspiring customers around the world. Meanwhile, a brand new shop was built, giving the growing business room to flourish and serve the Featherweight community better than ever.

2018

As the team expanded, so did their reach! They added more staff, embraced wholesale opportunities, and were invited to host Featherweight retreats with Missouri Star Quilt Company. Sharing the love of Featherweights with quilt shops across the country became a joy.

2019

This year marked their first-ever cruise: a Caribbean adventure with quilters and Featherweights! The Featherweight Shop also had the chance to collaborate with Lori Holt and host a memorable retreat in McCall, Idaho. The Featherweight Shop was growing in all directions!

2020

Despite the challenges of COVID-19 lockdowns, the year brought a bright spot: Christian married Joy, daughter of their business administrator, Wendy! (Told you that Wendy would join the family!) The Featherweight community also celebrated with their third annual Christmas giveaway, gifting the adorable Minty Mint Featherweight to a young mother who answered the call during labor. A true diehard Featherweight fan!

2021

Years of planning came to fruition with the release of The Featherweight Maintenance Handbook. This essential guide became a must-have for Featherweight enthusiasts, continuing the Shop’s tradition of education and expertise.

2022

As the world reopened after COVID, the Featherweight Shop resumed retreats and events, leaving lockdowns behind. It was a year of reconnection with customers, suppliers, and the joy of in-person gatherings, setting the stage for even more exciting adventures.

2023

A collaboration with Laura Coia of Sew-Very Easy introduced The Featherweight Shop to her vast YouTube audience. Her videos featured Featherweight products, inspiring even more quilters to join the Featherweight family.

2024

Featherweights set sail again—this time with all the machines provided, letting quilters travel light! From the turquoise waters of the Caribbean in 2019 to Alaska’s stunning glaciers in 2024, quilters enjoyed quilt kits with laser-precut pieces, ready to sew.

2025

2025 is already brimming with excitement, both at home and on the high seas. Quilters are setting sail once again—bound for the Caribbean in January and February, and Alaska in June. Back at the shop, the team is growing, and we’re making big plans for new products to delight and inspire our customers!