FIRST: One of our dear Sofa Sisters needs your prayers today! I received a text from her yesterday and she has been diagnosed with Uterine Cancer and is having surgery today. She didn’t ask me to do this, but this is what sisters do… we pray for each other. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers throughout the day. I will give you an update from her son when I get one.
About 6 weeks ago, I received a message through Etsy from someone asking for my email address… I “sort” of recognized the name, but wasn’t 100 % sure. We went back and forth a few times and she mentioned enough things and a few people that I was feeling a little more at ease but then she asked if I had a Paypal account! Uh… big red flag again! She told about us going to some place north of town and another lady who went with us and knew about this bridal fabric outlet where you bought fabric by the pound. She said she ended up picking out evergreen velvet for the bridesmaid dresses she told me “I” made! Rebecca was her flower girl and I had made her dress too! (she was 6)(???) Well to make this long story shorter, she told me how much I had made their wedding day so special by everything I did and never asked for a dime. (I still can’t believe I can’t remember those dresses!) Seriously, anyone who sews on VELVET, remembers it! Then she sent some pictures, and I recognized her right away and felt kind of silly for not having remembered.
Anyway, she told me how she had been an ungrateful, self centered college student back in 1996 and didn’t understand how selfish she had been all these years and how she wanted to make it up to me. Then she asked for my Paypal address and said she’d like to give me a gift! I guess I was still in shock because I went back to my computer and sat down, and in just a few minutes… my Paypal account pinged and I had been paid VERY WELL for something I did 27 years ago! I could NOT believe it! I still can’t believe it! She paid me for something I don’t even remember doing!
Isn’t that the best “belated payment” story you’ve ever heard?
Well, here is the rest of the story… Remember when I went to the Quilt Show in Paducah, Kentucky a while back? I saw something there I was intrigued with… so I began doing a little research and tried to find out as much information as I could. I looked online and joined a forum about this particular thing… hoping it might help with making tiny doll clothes. I asked questions and felt more sure of myself to make a decision… and then I took the plunge… on Ebay… searching for just the right one…and I think I found it! I used some of my money to buy it…
Here was the box the day it arrived! Oh, be still my heart! :o)
I started opening it…
Anyone know what this is yet? No, it’s not a projector! :o)
Anyone know now?
IT’S A SINGER FEATHERWEIGHT SEWING MACHINE… and she’s beautiful!
This is what I saw on so many of the vendors tables at the Quilt show… they are very tiny in size, only weigh 11 pounds and so easily transported, and take up very little table space… mine happens to be particularly shiny, like a mirror reflection… :o)
The forum I joined that I learned so much on, was called Singer Featherweight 221 and 222 Sewing machines. This is the 221, and what’s REALLY SPECIAL about her is… on the bottom of the machines are serial numbers and that tells you when your sewing machine was manufactured… AND mine was manufactured February 27th, 1956… the year I was born! I knew that before I bought her, and that’s why I wanted her! Lots of ladies try to find their birth year for their machine. I got her the last 4/100ths of a second before the auction ended. Don’t ask me how that happened!
She has a bed that can be folded up when not it use so it takes up even less space. She’s 15″ long when unfolded. So tiny!
This is how she folds up…
The man I bought her from said he was a good packer… and believe me, he WAS… the bubble wrap, styrofoam, cardboard, bubble rolls, and the machine was wrapped in clear wrap like Saran Wrap… probably 20 feet or more of it!
She came with a few attachments and the manual and some extra bobbins. They are very easy to work on and you can do most of the work yourself! There are videos and blog posts showing just about anything you might have a problem with… some people even go to retreats where you take your machine apart and put it back together again. I learned how to oil all her working parts yesterday… I felt a little bit like my hubby, who is QUITE the handyman… he is pretty intrigued by these little machines.
The day I received her, I couldn’t resist giving her a quick try… the Featherweights are known for their straight stitching… and I wasn’t disappointed!
I haven’t had much time to play around with her, but I have decided one thing… I’m going to name her Kathryn…after my mom. She always bragged on my sewing and was my biggest fan. I miss her coming over and asking what doll dress am I working on now!
The other day I received a card from Charlotte and look what was on the front! It’s not a Featherweight, but a treadle, but I GAVE a BIG SMILE Charlotte! :o) (bigger than that!)
Anyone here have a Featherweight?
Well, I’m all out of surprises…
Have a nice Friday,
Blessings, Jeanne
First of all, yes, indeed, I will pray for our sofa sister, also for her family, and wisdom for her doctors.
Second of all, what a lovely surprise from that young lady who has become retrospectively appreciative of all you did for her wedding those years ago!!
Third of all….yup, I knew from the third picture just exactly what it was you had gotten!! I do have a Featherweight–mine is from 1948, two years after I was born, but I bought her because I saw another lady who had bought one from the guy who does machine repairs, and I asked if he might possibly have another one (his wife had passed away, and I guess she’d had several), and he did!! I don’t know about yours, but mine positively sings when she sews!! It is a beautiful sound!!
In Idaho (I think it is) there is The Featherweight Shop; look online and you will find it. Or here: https://singer-featherweight.com/ You can sign up for daily emails, look at tutorials, purchase extra bobbins, etc. They also have a FB page, if you do Facebook. No affiliation, just thought you might like to know.
I’m glad you liked the card I sent you! I don’t remember where I got them; there were several different ones.
Congrats on two bids, now, on Sunflower Charmer!
Wow, Jeanne! What a couple of surprises for us today, and I guess for you when they happened! How lovely that something you did long ago just for kindness turned out to be rewarded so many years later! You do surprise me sometimes!
Now wait a minute, that’s a REAL sewing machine, and not just a little dolly display piece to pose them with? That’s what I thought it was, but then to hear you are oiling it and used it to make straight stitches, made me think it was actually something for you to use! Now THAT looks like a sewing machine that I would not be afraid to use, unlike the contraptions with buttons and computerized numbers to push! I love my good old fashioned Singer from the 60’s, but then I don’t use it anywhere as often as you do with your sewing.
Your new machine looks like a work or art, so pretty and shiny! Are you planning on using this new machine for the next doll dress?
That is a lovely card from Charlotte! I have a treadle Singer sewing machine from my grandmother that I learned to sew on. I love it to pieces, although it doesn’t run anymore, due to needing a new belt, plus other things, but it keeps my grandma in my memories every day I pass it by.
Linda, you comment about modern sewing machines with bells and whistles reminded me of Memorial Day when my son and his family were here. We got Jaiden a plain vanilla sewing machine for Christmas but it seems I’m still getting repair jobs from their household. Dionne had a pair of shorts she needed the pocket fixed and Skyy had a pocket coming off his jacket. I figured I might as well get it done so Jaiden went in while I set up to do it. I turned on my machine, a Husqvarna Viking Ruby machine that does everything and I love it. Jaiden asked me what “that noise” was and I told her it was my machine booting up. I told her it was computerized. The look of surprise on her face was priceless.
Barbara, I’m scared to death of those fancy machines! I just feel that I have no control over them whatsoever! I’m glad you find them so useful and can figure them out!
Oh my, I forgot to mention, that I will surely be praying for our Sofa sister today that God guides her surgeon and that she has a good outcome!
Congrats on your Featherweight! Wish I would have known you were looking for one. I have one but it is from the 1030’s Bought it for a Quilt Group I joined but even taking it instead of my big machine is quite the hassle so I don’t use it any more. They are so darling and sew like a charm! I had never listed it because I thought shipping it would be hard on it….now at least I can see how to pack it🤔😉
Will surely add the Sofa Sister for prayers!
Thank the Lord we finally got RAIN. Even may get more today! May was the driest EVER RECORDED. Hope all the dry plants can recover.
Have a fun time using your new Kathryn🤗👏
What a wonderful surprise for Jeanne. A blast from the past and a surprise windfall payment. The third pic was a dead giveaway. Of course, I have a featherweight. Why wouldn’t the keeper of the family archives have one? I practically trip over it everyday. It belonged to my grandmother and aunt, and as I remember, since I haven’t opened the case in a long time, that it was an after war model. I’m thinking 1946. Now, I’ll have to look again. I did not know there were groups that had information about it. Might have to look into that. Thanks for reminding me that I need to add that to the long list of things that need to be done. 🙂 I vividly remember my father asking about the machine when we had a garage sale years ago. I assured him that I still had it. Being an engineer, I’m sure he thought the mechanics were superb. He could sew as well, and often mended tarps, tents, or whatever was in need.
So with the new, sort of, machine, will Jeanne begin a new quilting frenzy? All the quilters I know have one. 🙂 And seeing those bobbins, I now know which machine the ones I own go to as well as that unusual screwdriver thingy. 🙂
Sorry to hear of a blog reader’s illness. Sending positive thoughts her way for a swift recovery.
Love Charlotte’s cute card. Like Linda, I too have a treadle machine. Not an heirloom, but given to me years ago. 🙂
Warming up here, so will be out sprinkling my newly sprouted seeds early. Last day of school for the grands is today. Here comes summer. 🙂
I forgot to add that I had a successful doll delivery yesterday. With our regular guy being out and later than usual mail delivery, I thought that there was no way I could successfully bring a package inside with other person awaiting the mail. We were making lunch when we both looked up and saw the substitute mailman already on the porch and putting mail in the box. I sprang towards the door so other person could not get there first. Opened the door, pulling it mostly closed behind me and saw the package propped up against the wall under the mailbox. Blocking the view below, I opened the box and retrieved the mail and pushed the box slightly over with my foot so it couldn’t be seen so easily. I hopped back inside before other person had a chance to even get to the doorway. I closed the door leaving the package on the porch. Now what? I handed the mail to other person and we finished making lunch. Then, the wait began. We watched the noon news and ate lunch. Would other person ever move from his comfortable position on the couch? After at least 45 minutes, with me all the while trying to figure out how to get that box inside, he got up and headed to the bedroom. Moving quickly, I popped open the door, grabbed the package, and quietly closed the door. All the while hoping that other person wasn’t about to return. Tiptoeing through the dining room over the squeaky floor boards, I made it to the family room where I could deposit the package for later opening. Poor little Sara, is still in the box right now, but I’m hoping for some free time later. I really can’t wait to see her. And she definitely needs a Ginny doll size dress I think. Thanks for listening. 🙂
Definitely sending prayers for my sofa sister in need that she will have a good outcome from her surgery and no further problems down the road.
It is always nice to have a financial windfall, even if you can’t remember for what purpose. Sounds like that young lady grew into an amazing, thoughtful woman. Wish she had sent a picture. I would love to see the dresses. Since Rebecca was in the wedding, maybe you have a picture.
Sigh…. I don’t have a Featherweight. and now I want one. But I did find out the last time I had my piano tuned that it was made in 1946, the year I was born. It’s always fun to have something from a special year. I do have a treadle machine though. David bought it for me at an auction. I told him no matter what I was going to be able to sew, power or no power, so he got me one. I also bought extra belts (you can find them online) and a repair manual. My grandmother gave me her treadle machine when I learned to sew, but she had it electrified. It was still like the old treadle machines though. It only went forward and to backstitch you had to turn the fabric around. It had no bells and whistles. My mother eventually gave it away to a neighbor who did not have a machine and did all her sewing by hand. She did beautiful work, but she liked the machine because it was faster.
I just heard from my daughter, Andrea, yesterday that she had won the Colorado Governor’s Award for Arts and Social Change. She is the Director of a non-profit called Mirror Image Arts. She has a degree in theater and started the non-profit to promote anti-bullying using theater arts through school and parks and recreation events. They have been very successful in their endeavors and it was wonderful to see her win this award, especially since she will be leaving the company in a few months after she moves to Maine.
Wow, co granulation’s to Andrea, Barbara! What a wonderful accomplishment!👏🏻
Jeanne, I really enjoyed your post today, especially the story and pictures of your Featherweight machine. There is a wonderful fabric/sewing machine store close to where I live, called Mulqueen Sewing Center, and they have a huge collection of Featherweight machines from many different years for sale. Recently they had a raffle to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes, and the prize was a Featherweight. I didn’t win but I had a lengthy conversation with their technician who repairs sewing machines and he told me so much information about the Featherweights. Maybe someday I will be able to get one, but congratulations to you!
And prayers to the sofa sister for what she is going through.
Hi Terri!
I bought my now unusable embroidery machine from Mulqueens! It does beautiful embroidery, but needs s DOS OS system to work, 🙁
I’ve been schemeing to buy a new “used” embroidery machine lately