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Our Story

Launched in the 1930's, Singer's Featherweight 221 and 222 machines were truly something special. Light, smaller than most, and portable, they brought convenience and joy to home-sewists for nearly four decades. But their legacy far outlasted their production run.

Today, these wonderful vintage sewing machines have captured the hearts of generations of quilters and crafters around the world.

The Featherweight Shop exists in celebration of their charm and utility. We are a family-run business that provides everything you could ever need to use, maintain, service, and even restore your Featherweight machine—all with the friendly customer service of the olden days.


MEET THE FAMILY

It all started when April Henry began searching for the perfect sewing machine to make tiny garments and apparel for her two children. She was quickly smitten by the Featherweight 221; with its small attachments, accessories, and fashion aids, it enveloped her love of vintage-style clothing while providing a real sense of accomplishment.This fascination soon grew from a hobby to a way to supplement April and her husband Carmon's family income. When he wasn't working part-time at the local mortuary, Carmon would often service and maintain their Featherweight machines. Soon, Carmon and April were teaching others about their history, influence, and unique sewing techniques. By 2008 it became clear that Carmon's Featherweight expertise and customer service background were a central part of the family business. He left his job to become a full-time Singer Featherweight technician.

The company quickly grew—Featherweight enthusiasts are a mighty and plentiful bunch!—and today, the Featherweight Shop is run by Carmon, April, their children, Christian & Joy and Ruthie, plus an amazing staff.

Carmon, the face of many of the video tutorials, along with Christian who has achieved the technical mind behind maintenance and service, have together taught Featherweight classes and workshops all across the United States. Christian now wears many hats, from marketing to customer support, but his primary role is Featherweight Historian. He researches and compiles decades' worth of Featherweight manuals, articles, tutorials, and resources into our Schoolhouse so that customers can use and maintain their machines with ease.

Ruthie is the friendly face you'll see in many of our videos and tutorials, and Joy, Christian's wife, is now the eye behind much of our photography. As for April, she's the Marketing Director, and spends her days assisting Carmon, Christian and the staff as needed, planning the next Featherweight Shop sewalong, and collecting fabric for her next project.