The Fantastic Featherweight

If you are a quilter, chances are you already know this title. Singer Featherweights are all the rage among quilters these days – and for good reason.  They are a sturdy, portable, easily maintained and competent little vintage sewing machine. 

We recently acquired a Featherweight for a fraction of the average pricing (around $200 to $600); it purrs quietly and has taken its rightful place in the sewing room.

Last year we began searching the net for information on Featherweights and other vintage sewing machines since we seemed to be collecting older Singers from 1946 through 1982 from local auctions. Today, I am amazed at the burgeoning websites and interest in vintage sewing machines – and sewing, even in the younger generation over the past year. Thread-banger websites are now popular among the younger folks and the notion of upgrading old garments into new ones is a blossoming idea.  With the economy in strained and increasingly painful throes of shrinking values, this idea will flourish and aid many people with additional inexpensive garments, as well as helping out our overflowing landfills.  

The fact that sewing and using vintage machines is spreading and growing warms my heart and reminds me of my grandparents' and parents' ideas during the Depression.  To my way of thinking, this mode of thinking is frugal and valuable during any economic turn.

We’ve found two books on the Featherweights, pictured below;

The Featherweight 221 and I , David McCallum

                        
Featherweight 221, The Perfect Portable, Nancy Johnson-Sebro

                                     

The former book is extremely detailed with clear and precise diagrams and appears to cover most aspects of cleaning, repairing and refurbishing Featherweights.  David McCallum and his wife Sharon, host a wonderful website, filled with available Featherweight parts and information.  Their blog contains tips and tricks with this amazing little machine.  They are both avid quilters and I can vouch for their amazing customer service and genuine caring toward their customers and their business.

The latter book is less specific about repairs and much more detailed on the history of the Featherweight. Nancy addresses some Featherweight myths and explains each of the particular Featherweights in terms of their manufacturing, here and internationally.  Nancy's books are numerous and she is well known in the quilting arena.

As always, our purpose here is to share, learn, support and enjoy the sewing arena.  If you have thoughts, suggestions, sewing stories or any related information you want to share, please leave a comment or reach us at daniellesimone0@gmail.com.

On behalf of Potholdersplus and all the lowly potholders in the world, remember…”there’s always room for one more.”

  

Easy Quilted Potholders: You CAN Quilt!

Are you are a frustrated quilter? Do you spend envious hours browsing expensive quilt magazines? Do you marvel at Eleanor Burns or Sewing with Nancy as they breezily run their quilt squares through their sewing machines, thinking that you will never be able to quilt? Well, do not dismay; think small...the lowly potholder to your rescue!

Do you have some old cotton skirts or blouses taking space in the back of your closet? Does your husband or your teenage children have cotton shirts they never wear? Any old washcloths, towels or blankets ready to be replaced? Can you sew a straight line with your old sewing machine? Presto! You have some potential holiday gifts ready for creation. Your friends will welcome some nice looking, new potholders to brighten their kitchens. And real friends, truly enjoy a gift that is handcrafted with care and thoughtfulness, no matter how small.

How you proceed from here, is totally up to your ingenuity, imagination, time and patience. I've surfed the net and found some quilted potholder sites that may appeal to your artistic, creative side.

http://www.lovetosew.com/quiltedpotholders.htm has easy, simple instructions, completer with clear pictures. You might want to 'stitch in the ditch' along some of the lines where the different fabrics meet. It's easy to do, just place some pins along the seams to keep the fabric from 'walking' which may end in a pucker at the end of your seam. Either use a 'walking' foot or just lower the pressure on the pressure foot to minimize puckers.

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/04/craft_project_simple_quilted_p.html gives detailed directions, also with clear, large pictures so you cannot go wrong. They do interesting quilting lines across the rail fence lines for a double-quilted look; quite nice.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/593629/how_to_make_quilted_pot_holders_with.html?cat=24 uses bias tape to finish the edges, which is a bit easier I think, than turning them inside out. Your particular sewing skill and comfort level will lead your way.

Have fun. Take your time. If you have 'mistakes', they can always keep company with your other potholders at home. Someone said to me at a craft show, "You can never have too many potholders!"

Don't forget to share your projects with us. Even a small tip from your experience, might give someone else the necessary confidence to finish their own project.

Happy sewing! Enjoy your trick-or-treaters.