Saturday 28 February 2009

A new toy (185)

I've bought a new toy. I found this Singer Featherweight 221K on e-bay, bid for it and won it for a surprisingly low amount - let's hope there's no catch. I'd made enough by selling some books on Amazon to cover the postage, so I felt justified!!!

I've spent a merry time this morning cleaning it up, oiling it (in about 20 different places!) and trying it out. Once I'd sorted out the correct needle for the thread - it seems much more sensitive to this than my modern machines - it went like a dream. I had fun getting all the old thread off the bobbins, the previous owner just wound new thread on top of old. The pad of post-it notes next to the needle is to give me my quarter inch seam. I hope to take this to workshops in future, much easier to lug around than my big one. I need to find some new rubber feet for it but that's about all.

I've not done much else today, as I'm pretty tired. Yesterday Alexander was moving out of his flat into a new one, and we went down to help. He lives up three flights of stairs, and was moving to a new flat up three flights of stairs! It took two trips in the car to move all his stuff, plus a trip to the dump. By the time we eventually got away at about 8 o'clock (having arrived at about 1 o'clock) I was tired, cold, thirsty and hungry, so came home, had a boiled egg and went to bed.


12 comments:

Lynn said...

How wonderful for you - I'm a little envious - I'd love a featherweight. I'm glad that it works well. My aunt had one (originally my grandmothers) and although she had more modern sewing machines over the years - she kept returning to her singer.
Sounds like a long day of moving. That I don't envy - in fact I have one of those coming up in a couple of months and already I'm dreading it.

Amelia said...

With two machines you can turn out twice the amount of work...LOL.

I bet you were tired after climbing all those stairs multiple times.

Take it easy for a day or two!

Gretchen said...

Oh your new toy is great! I am sure you are going to have many happy sewing times together. I love my little Featherweight and take it to class or sew with it at home. I purchased a 1/4" foot for mine and it sews beautifully.

Julie said...

She's a beauty. I have three of them and love each one so much. They are fun little machines.

Kay said...

Wow, Amanda! That is so wonderful! How lovely to have an elegant older machine that still works so nicely. It will probably last you another 100 years since they made them to last back when.

Clare said...

You lucky thing! I've been trying to find one over here, but no luck. Perhaps one day (sigh).

Candace said...

They are just so cute, congratulations. Hope you're feeling more rested.

Becky said...

Congratulations on your new toy! It took a bit of adjusting to my Featherweight, but it now sews like a charm. I found a 1/4 inch foot for it which makes pieces much easier. There is a Yahoo group for Featherweights that is very informative. There are also some books. Enjoy your new little one. It's a great machine. Have you given it a name yet?

Amy said...

Oooooo FUN Amanda! The bad news: now you've got ME thinking of heading to eBay to see what I can find. !!!
Have a great week.

Gina said...

What a great buy.

I hope you're not too tired from the moving. Have a nice rest this week and play with your new toy.

Love and hugs Gina xxx

Anonymous said...

Hello Amanda, what a darling little machine.It certainly looks to be in good condition.Well done, I bet your are pleased. Regards Lyn

Tanya said...

Do you know, I have no idea how to oil a sewing machine. I even looked at some sewing machine oil today but bypassed it thinking that even if I bought it I wouldn't know the right places to oil. Poor machine!