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BROWSE SCHOOLHOUSE

| Posted by Carmon Henry

How to Replace the Felt Drip Pad Liner on a Singer Featherweight

Today at The Featherweight Shop, Carmon and Ruthie will be showing you how to change the Felt Drip Pad on your Singer Featherweight properly! The felt drip pad that is underneath absorbs excess oil and, if heavily saturated, probably needs replacing.  Not only will it take care of a simple routine maintenance for your machine, but it can also help eliminate some of the old musty odors that tend to collect from having been in storage for many years.   Old Felt Drip Pad Felt Drip Pad Replacement Video Tutorial: Felt Drip Pad Replacement Tutorial Tools: 1. Putty Knife 2. Latex Gloves...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

Thread Guide Replacement Tutorial

Welcome to The Featherweight Shop. In this tutorial, we are going to take you through the steps to replace the Thread Guide (as pictured below), which is located right above the tension unit. Thread Guide Featherweight Shop Thread Guide Replacement Video Tutorial At The Featherweight Shop, we commonly receive Featherweights that are badly damaged with corrosion or physical damage. Corrosion on Featherweight Physical damage on Featherweight Although these machines are severely damaged, they still have value in that they have usable parts on them. What we do is take the serviceable parts off of these Featherweights and use them on your Featherweights...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

Tension Unit Post Removal Tutorial

Learn how to properly remove the Tension Unit Post or stud in this step-by-step video tutorial by Carmon Henry from The Featherweight Shop.  The transcript of the video tutorial, as well as all products needed to follow along are below. Please contact us with any questions or comments. Enjoy!   There are a few reasons to remove the Tension Unit Post.  These would include:  performing a deep cleaning to the machine, preparing the machine for repainting, or if the Tension Unit has been damaged. The first step is to locate the set screw that is holding the tension unit stud in place. To do this,...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

Superbelt - An Improved Belt for the Singer Featherweight

The old belt on a Singer Featherweight has a technologically advanced improvement!  Softer, faster and better for your Featherweight motor performance.  Learn how to install and adjust the Superbelt in the video tutorial below. Update!  One of the advantages to the Superbelt is its superb grip to the handwheel.  In the two years of testing, though, we have discovered that there are a few handwheels that may have a slight variation in their original manufacturing, and because the belt grips so well, it is possible that this will cause the belt to climb slightly to one side.  No worries at all if...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

Featherweight Motor Brush Replacement Tutorial

Today, we are going to be learning about Motor Brush Replacement. Although they are frequently overlooked, carbon brushes are a critical element of an electric motor. Not only is it important to be aware of the motor brushes in a Featherweight motor, but knowing what to look for in a replacement can help with your motor's longevity, too.  So, let's dive in! NEWSFLASH!  We now have the exclusive Motor Brush for your Singer Featherweight 221 or 222: perfectly sized, shaped and with proper carbon density for optimum motor performance... just like the vintage originals! CARBON MOTOR BRUSHES  The carbon brush,...


| Posted by The Featherweight Shop

Bona Fide Hand Crank for the Singer Featherweight

We are so excited to announce the newest addition to the Singer Featherweight parts lineup - the custom made Hand Crank! Below you will find background information, parts description and a step-by-step tutorial for everything you need to know about the new and bona fide Featherweight Hand Crank. Click here to order the bona fide and new Featherweight Hand Crank A Little Bit of History on the Featherweight Hand Crank While a sewing machine hand crank was never an original accessory for the Singer Featherweight, these newly crafted hand cranks are meticulously patterned for function and design after those that...


| Posted by The Featherweight Shop

Motor Removal Process on Your Singer Featherweight 221 & 222

Learn how to safely and properly remove the motor from your Singer Featherweight 221 & 222. You will find a step-by-step instruction with pictures and video tutorial to walk you through the process.


| Posted by April Henry

How to Quilt with a Walking Foot on a Singer Featherweight

Learn to Quilt on the Singer Featherweight! For quilting, the easiest and most economic option is to use the Walking Foot designed for the Singer Featherweight. The teeth on the walking foot align to the teeth on the feed dogs so this will eliminate any unnecessary shifting and allow for more even feeding during the quilting process. To begin quilting (this applies to any quilt) you will want to layer your project in what is called a "quilt sandwich".  It will layer like this: Bottom Layer:  Backing Middle Layer:  Batting Top Layer:  Quilt Top For a full-size quilt, my long-arm...


| Posted by Christian Henry

How to Adjust Tension on an Early Singer Featherweight Model

Learn how to easily and properly adjust the upper tension as well as completely disassemble and reassemble the tension unit on an early non-numbered old style tension unit.  This style is from the very early days of the Singer Featherweight 221. Christian will walk you through each step showing you how to align all the parts, the spring, the take-up spring, releasing pin, disks, tension stud, etc. You will need the Mid-Length Maintenance Wera Screwdriver for this task.   *********************************************** In the video Christian talks about setting the bobbin tension first.  Click here for the tutorial on how to set...


| Posted by Christian Henry

Maintenance Screwdrivers for the Singer Featherweight 221 or 222K

These are the Featherweight Screwdrivers that everyone has been talking about from our Singer Featherweight Maintenance Workshop Tour of 2016. VIDEO #1 VIDEO #2 BELOW From Germany, this Wera Screwdriver is, by far, the best screwdriver we have found for use on the Singer Featherweight sewing machine -- even better than any gun-smithing tool set! (We have tried many and most tips bend or break or strip the screw.) What makes these particular screwdrivers different from all others is the superior quality in the manufacturing, composition, and the proportionately long shaft. Moreover, the handles were designed with a mold that...


| Posted by Christian Henry

How to Smooth a Burr or Rust Spot on Hook Assembly, Tension Disks, etc.

Watch Video Tutorial below . . . Is your machine skipping stitches and you've tried every possible troubleshooting suggestion?  Do you feel a small burr on your machine's hook assembly or or loop guard?  Do you see a rusty corroded spot or two on the tension disks?  Well, this simple but useful tool is one of our Featherweight Shop secrets and a necessity for any sewing machine maintenance and service kit.  The Rubber Honing Stick is a tool is used for cleaning rust and burrs off parts like the Featherweight hook assembly, the bobbin case, and the tension discs.  The...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

How to Easily Remove the Handwheel Collar Bushing

If thread or debris gets pulled behind the handwheel, it can lodge around the shaft behind the handwheel collar / bushing.  This can greatly slow down your Featherweight by causing undue stress on the motor.  The handwheel collar is actually pretty difficult to remove and damage often occurs when doing so with improper tools.  Following the video tutorial below, Carmon will show you how to easily remove the handwheel collar bushing as well as show you our newest tool to help you do so. Tools needed: Long Wera Maintenance Screwdriver Handwheel Collar Puller / Remover 6mm Allen Wrench from any...


| Posted by Christian Henry

Capacitors - Why Did My Featherweight Start Sewing By Itself All of the Sudden?

Many Featherweight owners have asked, "what are these silver cylinders inside my foot controller?"  For several of the Featherweights manufactured in the UK, capacitors were added inside the foot controller, motor, or the machine itself.  The purpose of capacitors was to cut down on electrical feedback with old TVs and radios.  We no longer have this problem with present-day electricity, and nowadays the capacitors end up being quite the nuisance, if not potentially dangerous.  We often get contacted by frightened customers exclaiming that their machine just started sewing all of the sudden without the foot controller being depressed at all.  The cause?  Those capacitors! ...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

How to Apply Decals to the Singer Featherweight

Are you restoring a Singer Featherweight?  This video tutorial will show you how to easily apply the Singer Featherweight waterslide decals to the painted surface of the machine.  Decals are available in a gold "Celtic Knot" for Featherweights made from 1933 - 1937, 1937 - 1953, and the paperclip style from 1953 - 1961.   We have received many requests over the years to offer special decals for those venturing into the process of repainting their Singer Featherweight, and we are very pleased to have found a supplier and make them available!  Please note, however, that this comes with a caveat:...


| Posted by Christian Henry

How to Repair a Speedy Clamshell Style Foot Controller

A few years ago we posted the tutorial for how to adjust the original bakelite foot controller and since then have received many requests for how to do the same speed adjustment on the "clamshell" style foot controller, most often seen on white Featherweights, but sometimes with the black Singer Featherweight 221 & 222 as well. If your foot controller (aka: foot pedal) seems to only have one speed - FAST... Then the following video tutorial will show you how to make that adjustment so you will have full range of speed.  From sewing slowly and carefully to speedily sewing...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

Troubleshooting Stitch Problems (Skipped Stitches, Thread Looping, etc.)

This is Singer Featherweight Stitch Formation 101!  If your Singer Featherweight is skipping stitches, not stitching at all, won't pick up the bobbin thread or perhaps the thread is looping or causing an awful thread mess on the underside of your fabric, then this video tutorial will show you the easy tips for what you can do to fix it and save you a trip to the service technician. If your machine is actually jammed, the handwheel won't turn and the needle will not go up and down, then see our other tutorial on the Featherweight Schoolhouse for How To...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

Removing the Presser Bar Lifter

If your presser bar lifter is broken or you need to remove it for paint preparation/restoration, then this quick video tutorial will show you how to do just that.  It's a bit tricky, but after receiving the question from a customer on our Singer Featherweight facebook group, Carmon made this impromptu video to show her how.


| Posted by Christian Henry

How To Remove a Singer 222K Featherweight Bed Extension

If you have a Singer 222 free-arm Featherweight and the bed extension does not slide off easily, then this video tutorial will be helpful in showing you how to remove it.  Sometimes you have to give it a hard tug and other times the bed will need to be tapped out from the side end.  Watch the tutorial below for some quick tips and learn which screw you want to make sure is always tight!  


| Posted by April Henry

Threading a Singer Featherweight (Getting to Know Your Featherweight, Part 4)

Today, in part 4 of the Getting To Know Your Featherweight Series, you will learn how to thread a Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine from start to finish.Suggested Products:1) Crosswound Spool of thread: Aurifil or Presencia2) Thread Stand or Thread Post3) Schmetz Needles4) Thread Cutterz or Thread Snips5) Super Easy Machine Needle Threader6) Singer Featherweight Instruction Manual 221 or 222 To begin, you will need to turn the handwheel (which is technically called a “balance wheel”) towards you until the thread take-up lever is at its highest position.  Turning the handwheel in the proper direction is something important to remember!  You always, always, always want to turn the handwheel towards you and not away from you. ...


| Posted by Carmon Henry

How To Refurbish a Singer Featherweight Case

In this video tutorial, our young daughter, Ruthie, will show you all the restoration steps for how to clean, polish and refurbish/restore a Singer Featherweight case.  This process will work on all black Singer Featherweight cases. On our Singer Featherweight Maintenance Workshop Tour this past summer, she became known at each class as the one to teach this portion of our workshops.  Step-by-step, she will show you the process of bringing that old, worn-out-looking case to a new luster -- giving it new life again!   Towards the end of the video, she and I will also show you how...


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