How to Straighten a Bent or Loose Spool Pin

If your spool pin is bent or a bit loose then this video tutorial will show you how to straighten and tighten it back down.  You'll need a very hard surface, a hammer, and a metal punch because you'll be flaring the pin from the underside of the plate.  

How To Replace the Electrical Components

This video tutorial will show you how to replace and rewire the light socket, lampshade, light switch, receptacle and motor on a Singer Featherweight 221.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.  Also, be sure to like and share this tutorial with your fellow Featherweight friend...

How to Align the +/- Indicator Ring on the Tension Unit

This quick video will show you how to make a tension unit post adjustment. If the +/- indicator ring at the top of your tension unit is sitting a bit off center on your Singer Featherweight 221 or 222K, then this tutorial will walk you through the steps for how to get it properly aligned again.

How to Disassemble and Reassemble the Tension Unit

This video tutorial was made kind of spur of the moment, but it has been quite helpful on the Singer Featherweight group on Facebook.  Learn how to easily disassemble, clean and reassemble the Singer Featherweight 221 and 222K Tension Unit.    

Motor Care & Conversion

Featherweight Motors The only part of a Singer Featherweight likely to deteriorate in use is the electric motor – and let's face it, many of these machines can be 50+ years old! Therefore, it is essential that you properly maintain and care for it. 1.) NEVER put oil in your motor.2.) LUBRICA...

Featherweight Shop Maintenance, Service and Repair

Featherweights need to be serviced annually, which includes oiling, lubricating and setting tension. On that note, we highly recommend that you do learn to service and maintain your Singer Featherweight yourself... yes, you can do it!  And, good news!! We will show you how!  The Featherweight Sh...

How to Adjust the Handwheel

If your Singer Featherweight 221 or 222K has a needle that won't stop going up and down and still moves when winding a bobbin, then most likely your handwheel needs an adjustment inside. This easy to follow video tutorial not only shows you how to fix the annoying problem but explains the process...

Foot Pedal Controller Speed Adjustment

  If your Singer Featherweight 221 foot controller (aka foot pedal) has only one speed (fast) OR is getting way too hot, then it might just need a simple adjustment inside. Watch this video tutorial for how to calibrate and make the necessary adjustment and to keep your machine operating safe...

How to Clean Under the Bobbin Case Spring

This is just a quick video we made for a customer who had questions about the bobbin case tension. This tutorial will help teach you how to clean lint out from under the bobbin case spring with a pin as well as how to do the bobbin case "yo-yo" test. This test is not foolproof and can sometimes v...

Replacing the Needle Clamp & Thread Guide

When replacing the needle clamp or thread guide, sometimes it can be a bit tricky to get everything aligned just right.  This video tutorial will help you learn how to easily replace the needle clamp and thread guide on your Singer Featherweight 221 and 222K.  

How to Fix a Stuck Hook Assembly

After removing the hook assembly screws on a Singer Featherweight 221 sometimes the assembly will still remain stuck on the shaft. This quick tip will help you remove it easily without damage to your machine or that expensive original part... just be sure to watch all the way to the end of the vi...

Featherweight Timing (and how to replace the Gib Hook)

In this video tutorial, Carmon Henry gives the step-by-step process for how to set the hook timing on a Singer Featherweight.  Timing is almost never an issue on a Singer Featherweight 221 or 222.  What that means is -- that it is virtually impossible for a Featherweight to get out of time just f...

How to Fix Terminal Receptacle Pins for Better Connection

How to Fix Terminal Receptacle Pins for Better Connection   A common question we receive has to do with the Featherweight plug being too loose in the receptacle. Watch the short video above to see what to do should this ever occur with one of your Featherweight machines. My Featherweight fri...

Fixing a Broken Motor Cap Screw

Broken Motor Cap Screw This Featherweight Hint has been provided to us by Brad Sawatwipachai.  Brad is a friend and Featherweight collector in Ontario, Canada.  He recently hosted his first Featherweight Maintenance Workshop and posted photographs of something he had to remedy while in his clas...

Good vs. Bad Bobbins

This Featherweight Hint is all about bobbins. What type do you have in your machine? After you read this post, it might be a good idea to double check your supply, or at the very least make sure you know the source for your Featherweight Bobbins. Some time ago, we had a machine come into ...

Putting Your Machine Away

This Featherweight hint is actually a simple one but could save you some heartache just by being conscientious and a little bit careful with your Bakelite Terminal Receptacle. Did you know there is a proper way to put your Singer Featherweight away into your case?  Indeed there is.  Time and ...

Learning About Motor Felt Wicks

There has been much talk about motor lubricating lately, including many that are advocating not lubricating the motor at all.  I am not sure where this advice started, whether it began because the later white Featherweight motors do not have lubricating ports, or if it was from those warning agai...

Featherweight Needle Direction

NFL – not the National Football League, but that does work as a good reminder. Needle Flat Left While today’s tip might seem elementary to some, it is the most common culprit to a Featherweight that has suddenly stopped sewing correctly. We get numerous calls from frustrated quilters who snappe...

How to Fix a Floppy Bed Extension

For today’s hint, we will be discussing a floppy Featherweight bed.  This remedy is quick and easy and will keep your bed from flopping down too fast. (Note: This only applies to black and tan Featherweight Machines.  Singer cut a few manufacturing corners when they made the White Featherweigh...

How to Change a Singer Featherweight Light Bulb

For those of you who do not have local access to a hardware store or don't want to drive all over town trying to locate the right tubing product, we do carry them in the shop as a convenience to our customers: Many of you have probably tried and found that the area where the light bulb g...

Is Your Machine Jammed?

Hook Assembly with Bobbin Case Base Removed April 7, 2020:  UPDATE & ADDENDUM, New Video Tutorial In September of 2014, we posted a Video 1 Tutorial showing how to remove thread from the hook assembly on a Singer 221.  Then, in May, 2018, we updated the video to add the tutorial for the...

Wobbly Rubber Bed Cushion Feet

What do your bed cushions look like on the bottom of your Singer Featherweight 221 or 222K?  Are they hard and brittle or are they pressed flat and full of lint and hair?  Either one is an easy fix and will help your machine maintain stability on the table as well as properly absorbing vibrations...

How to Thread a Singer Featherweight

Is your machine skipping stitches, or looping strangely after it was sewing just perfectly moments before?  Most all stitch problems on a Singer Featherweight have to do with the way it is threaded.  Unlike most modern machines and even a few older Singer models, the Featherweight 221 & 222...

The Importance of a Thread Stand on a Singer Featherweight

Learn about the various types of thread spools and why a Thread Stand is important for proper tension on a Singer Featherweight!   In the original days of the Featherweight, the only thread spools available were the wooden "stacked" spools, designed to spin as the thread was gently pulled strai...

Adjusting the Belt

Is your Featherweight a bit sluggish or does the belt slip when you sew? This quick tip for how to adjust the belt will help you remedy the problem in no time at all. The first thing you will want to do is remove the spool of thread as well as the bobbin case from the machine. Next, using a long...

How to Adjust Tension on a Singer Featherweight

Learn how to easily and properly adjust the upper tension as well as the bobbin case tension on your Singer Featherweight 221 and 222. Below is a transcript of the video above. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me. I am happy to assist anytime. If the video was helpful for ...

How To Remove and Install a Singer Featherweight Belt

We are sometimes asked when to replace a Featherweight belt as well as how to remove and install a new belt. This video tutorial will show you examples of some bad belts and what to look for, as well as the proper way for installing it.   Another thing to take note of is the motor pulley because ...

Motor Lubricant and the Proper Melting Point for Sewing Machine Motors

  Are you using the right motor grease and lubricant for your Singer Featherweight?  There are old, original tubes, new tubes and even some new kinds on the market... but are they properly suited for the Singer Featherweight?  How would you know?  Watch the video tutorial above and our old one b...

How to Clean & Lubricate Your Gears and Motor

Learn how to properly clean and lubricate your Singer Featherweight 221 & 222K sewing machine gears as well as the motor. Video tutorial walks you through each step for where to apply the lubricant.  If you do not have the right grease on hand, then scroll down below the video to order a tube...

How to Oil Your Singer Featherweight 221 Sewing Machine

Give your Featherweight a "Spa Day!" This oiling tutorial will teach you every step of oiling your Singer Featherweight 221 Sewing Machine and is geared more towards routine maintenance. HINT:  If you have discovered after opening up your Featherweight that the gear mechanisms are covered with ...