What's new in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - October 2024

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items. Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have procured in our personal collection. This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all ...

What's new in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - September 2024

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items. Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have procured in our personal collection. This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all...

What's new in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - August 2024

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have procured in our personal collection.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for al...

EH Series 221 Machines, 1951-1953 - Stepping Into the Vault

Take a step into the Featherweight vault as we analyze the differences between six special Featherweights - one from each serial number series within the EH prefix. Detailed first are some features that are standard for Featherweights with an EH serial number. After that, the distinctives of eac...

What's new in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - July 2024

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have procured in our personal collection.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for al...

What's new in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - June 2024

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have procured in our personal collection.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for al...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - May 2024

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have procured in our personal collection.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for al...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - April 2024

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have procured in our personal collection.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for al...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - March 2024

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have procured in our personal collection.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for al...

Singer Featherweight Certificate of Ownership

The Singer Featherweight sewing machine emerged October 3rd, 1933, capturing hearts with its compact design and exceptional functionality. A few Featherweights today still have their original receipts and guarantee certificates; however, most machines have lost all documentation connecting them t...

February 2024 - What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we receive. ...

January 2024 - What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we receive. ...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - December 2023

Here at the Featherweight Shop we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we get in.  S...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - November 2023

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have procured in our personal collection.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for al...

The Register of Original Featherweight Manuals

Finding a matching, original manual to each machine is important to Featherweight collectors, and this register lists all 221 Featherweight manuals that we have recorded and the variations that we have observed between each of them.   Determining the date of a Featherweight manual is rather easy!...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - September 2023

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we receive. ...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - July 2023

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we receive. ...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - December 2022

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we receive. ...

What Is The Correct Way Of Identifying A Singer Walking Presser Foot AKA?

The Singer Walking Presser Foot, also known as "The Penguin" due to its adorable waddle while sewing, is one of the most sought-after Singer accessories. 'Penguin' is not an official Singer name, rather it was a cute descriptor applied by a Featherweight collector in the early 2000s. The all-me...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - February 2022

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we receive....

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - January 2022

Here at the Featherweight Shop, we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we receive. ...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - July 2021

Here at the Featherweight Shop we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we get in.  S...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - May 2021

Here at the Featherweight Shop we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we get in.  S...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - Apr. 2021

Here at the Featherweight Shop we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we get in.  S...

The Purpose and Timeline of the Featherweight Light Switch

The Featherweight's light switch changed slightly throughout the years in both placement and style, but it's one purpose never changed - turning the light off and on.  Most new machines have an actual power switch on them, but the Featherweight's switch only operates the light.  You will find tha...

A History and Modern Use of the Corduroy Case Insert

If you have a Featherweight made from 1937-1940, you might find this original, rare, and practical addition to your case.  Little is known about the corduroy case insert, as we have never seen any original marketing literature, but it is probable that one of the theories below speaks to the rarit...

Why is My Needle Not Centered in the Needle Hole?

A common question among Featherweight owners is, "Why is the needle not centered in the needle hole?" Although it may be quite concerning, the answer will put you at ease! Find out why here.

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - Jan. 2021

Here at the Featherweight Shop we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we get in.  S...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - Nov. 2020

Here at the Featherweight Shop we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we get in.  S...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - Oct. 2020

Here at the Featherweight Shop we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This series of blog posts brings our collection out for all to see what new items we get in.  S...

A Concise History and Timeline of The Featherweight Bobbin Winder

Below is a photo of the 8 different bobbin winders that Singer made for the Featherweight.  Each one is unique, and while they are all interchangeable, preserving the originality of your machine with the historically correct winder can be important to the machine's value.   #1 Solid-Wheel Unmarke...

What's New in The Featherweight Shop Vintage Collection - Sept. 2020

Here at the Featherweight Shop we have quite the collection of vintage Singer items.  Due to our remote location, very few customers have had the opportunity to see the many rare Singer items we have.  This new series of blog posts will be bringing our collection out for all to see what new items...

The Singer Tools of Yesterday

The improvements in tools have changed dramatically throughout history - from arm-strength, weights, and pulleys to the electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic tools of today.  How have the tools used for working on sewing machines improved?  What did they look like in the past, and what can be used t...

A Peek into The Featherweight Shop's Singer Collection

The entryway to our little Shop has become a display area for our collection of Singer items, and we are always happy to share it with those who stop by.  We don't get many visitors as we are out of town and miles from any big city, so we have decided to bring some of the collection to you!  Belo...

The Design of (and how to use) the Featherweight Foot Controller

The Singer foot controller used with most all Featherweights have quite the peculiar design! With most every other sewing machine in the world having a lever or wide pedal to be pressed by one's foot, Singer does seem to go against the grain, and many are unsure why.  Singer's thought with this s...

What part did Singer play in the success of D-Day?

During WWII, when order L-98 was issued by the government in June of 1942, all production of family sewing machines came to a halt.  This order deemed production of items like sewing machines as unnecessary or non-essential.  As a result, Singer shifted very quickly into making much-needed parts ...

Working for Singer

Looking back at books, magazines, and historical records it appears that Singer was a great company to work for.  They provided many benefits and great facilities for their workforce.  Singer wanted their employees to be able to state proudly, "I work for the Singer Manufacturing Company."  So li...

How to Store the Featherweight

One of our most popular questions is, "How should I store my Featherweight?"  We do know that the Featherweight is a very hearty machine, as many owners have retrieved them from the attic, basement, or closet where they have been kept for many years - to pull them out and use them without complic...

What Shank is The Featherweight?

All 221 and 222 Featherweights are Low-Shank.  It was Singer's most common configuration for their household sewing machines.  The term Shank refers to the position and height of the needle bar and presser bar.  Below is a comparison of the four common machine shanks used by Singer. The Low-Shank...

Are Some Featherweights Harder to Find Than Others?

Some Featherweights are certainly harder to find than others, but how much harder?  In certain areas all Featherweights may be "scarce", but internet sales have made standard Featherweights much more available.  This post will address not only how many Featherweights were made each year, but also...

A Closer Look at Featherweight Drip Pans

The drip pan wouldn't be considered a mechanical piece of the Featherweight, but it does serve a few purposes.  The metal drip pans hold the felt drip pad liners, which collect excess oil and grease that drips down from the moving parts in the machine.  Together the drip pan and felt drip pad ser...

A Look at The Differences Between The "Flat Prong" and "Round Pin" Plugs

For the black Featherweights, Singer had two different connection types.  They aren't interchangeable, so this article can be a reference when checking the compatibility of the machine and cord.   Round Pin Plug and Terminal: The round pin terminals and plugs were used exclusively in the USA, but...

A Concise History and Timeline of The Featherweight Light Housings

Many Featherweight light housings have the same shape, but they often vary cosmetically, and they can be a quick reference to when a machine was made.  There were a total of nine different decals used to mark the Singer Featherweight light housings, and there were four different light housing con...

Featherweight Marketing Through The Eyes of Singer

  Take a step back in time and view this trove of original Singer advertisements featuring the Featherweight!  See ads from all over the world marketing the Black, Tan and White Featherweights as well as the 222K.   The Black Featherweight 221:   This is possibly the most concise advertising pa...

What To Look For When Buying a Featherweight

"Is this a good price?", "How do I know if anything is wrong with the machine?", "Are some Singer Featherweights better than others?", and "What do I look for when purchasing a Singer Featherweight?" - these are all common questions we receive from those on the hunt for their first Singer Feather...

A Timeline of The Featherweight Motor

The Motor is one of the most vital parts on the Singer Featherweight.  It is likely to be the first part to display signs of age on almost any machine, so it is important that the motors are properly cared for.  When a motor does wear out, it can be replaced by any original Featherweight motor.  ...

How Does The Featherweight Compare to Other Singer Machines?

  When Singer introduced the Featherweight in 1933 it was vastly different from most all sewing machines on the market.  This article will compare the Featherweight to the other common Singer machines of its era.   First, to be considered an actual Singer "Featherweight", the sewing machine must ...

Original Featherweight Tables and Cabinets

Singer tables were what any 1940s homemaker would have wanted to accompany her machine: an adaptable table for sewing or hosting!  Below is a cute ad from Singer, marketing the different ways one of their tables could be used... Pinochle anyone?  Today, some of the most collectible sewing machin...

A Complete Guide to the Variations of Featherweight Hook Assemblies

The hook assembly can be considered the heart of your machine, crucial for timing and stitch formation. Singer did update the design of the hook assembly a few times over the years, and the precision engineering involved means these parts are not interchangeable. This guide is not only a historic...

A Concise History of the Featherweight Case

For Singer, the number one selling point for the Featherweight was its portability with the lightweight design of the machine unique and desirable.  For the Singer Featherweight to truly be portable, however, it also had to have a lightweight and compact case - one that would hold the machine, co...