Featherweight Fanatics Archives
2004
Wednesday, February 4
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Featherweight Fanatics A Service of Sue Traudt's Valley Brook Botanicals
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Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 21:34:09 +0000
From: Graham Forsdyke
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics 2/3/2004
To BeBe who wrote
>I am looking for the green/white case for the "white" machine made in Scotland
>around 1964. Are these available anywhere?
Good luck with the search. These are very difficult to find as there
are far more fragile than those for the black machines. In fact tyey
are so delicate that we ship the box separately to avoid disasters.
To Gerald who said:
>
>OK folks does every one agree with this or is there any way to speed up a
>201?
>A good, loose 201 running correctly should sew about 1200-1400 spm.
>There simply is not much that can be practically done to increase this.
You could plug it into the 220 volt air con supply. It would go
faster but not for long
NB I AM NOT SERIOUS folks
To Robil who wrote
>I recently purchased a 1950 Featherweight at auction. It came with the
>original tube of oil. Can I use my Singer oil on it? The original oil
>is like a salve.
That's not oil in the tube but grease for the gears and motor. Yes,
use your oil for the oiling points shown in the manual.
Graham Forsdyke
Purveyor of fine Featherweights to the gentry
ISMACS London
http://www.ismacs.net
http://www.singer-featherweight.com
Bert's Vintage Repair Book Book:
http://www.singer-featherweight.com/bert/bert.html
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From: "Steve Ward"
Subject: machine problems
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 15:27:51 -0500
900 Futura instructions
Manuals are readily available from me or others for the 920, which was
the free-arm version of the Futura
Singer oil
The salve-like substance is actually grease for the motor and gears.
Regular Singer oil is widely available, even at W****M*****(I don't even
like to say the word) or I have some oilers with a long extendable spout
that are full of clear oil.
Steve
sewingdoc
Thanks to all who have patronized our eBay store "Vintage Sewing
Machines and Parts" and our new case cover replica for the Featherweight.
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From: Debette@aol.com
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 15:17:48 EST
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics 2/3/2004
In a message dated 2/4/04 10:03:04 AM, FWFanatics@ttsw.com writes:
> OK folks does every one agree with this or is there any way to speed up a
> 201?
> "A good, loose 201 running correctly should sew about 1200-1400 spm.
> There simply is not much that can be practically done to increase this."
>
Gerald :-D
Did you ever watch "Home Improvement"? Why does this bring Tim Taylor to
mind?!
Deb, LOL
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From: "Cynthia Garcia"
Subject: Ground zero quilt, + FW stuff
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 14:02:26 -0600
Hi Everyone!
A special thanks to Marian who provided the link to the fabulous Ground
Zero quilt to commemorate 9-11. The sad part is that they just had that
quilt on display in Naperville, Illinois for 3 days ending Jan 31st. I
wish I could have seen it in person. (Naperville is with driving
distance of my little town.)
Well, I have an inkling I'll get to use my fleet of FWs for an all day
sew-a-thon very soon. We are going to make costumes for our church's
Easter program. So, rather than getting talked into making them all
myself, (I've been dubbed the church seamstress), I figure we can make
a day of fun out of it. No use in letting them sit idle until next Fall
for another quilt class! I had several people asking if I'd teach
another quilting class right away, but I knew I wanted to work on
several hand-quilting projects during the snowy winter. And classes
given during the summer usually have poor attendance. Who wants to be
inside sewing and quilting? Maybe this Fall I'll teach a class with the
FWs, making small projects that will use up some of my extra pieces of
leftover batting. But, I'll use the best walking feet this time. By
the way, Glenn Williams says he has "the good ones" for $18. I will
have to try one out very soon.
Take care and God Bless,
Cindy Garcia
in snow-on-the-ground N/E Illinois
My webpage:
http://home.comcast.net/~mustbecyn/index.html
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From: PATBERGMAN@aol.com
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 14:35:16 EST
Subject: Oiling a Featherweight
That sounds like Singer lubricant to me. Yes, following the directions in
the owners manual, using Singer Sewing machine oil where indicated, and Singer
Lubricate where also indicated.
You should get many years of fine sewing following the instructions.
PatBergman
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From: PATBERGMAN@aol.com
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 14:30:49 EST
Subject: Futura 900
Dear Stacey,
I have owned a Futura 900, and they are definitely now a machine for a
beginner. I let my Daughter use mine, and it almost turned her off to sewing.
Fortunately, I realized what was happening and switched her over to Mother's old
301.
I will tell you the truth, I have been sewing for more years than I care to
admit, but I finally sold the machine for one simple reason, I found it very
difficult to sew with one hand and holding the manual in the other. I made my
first dress at the age of eight on my Mother's old treadle machine.
These machines have two strikes against them, First they are a bear to
operate, pushing down on this lever, turning that knob. Second they have nonmetal
gears and they had many gear failures.
If you would like to learn to sew, get your hands on a simple,
non-complicated machine that sews straight and zigzag, an older Singer would be perfect.
Learn to sew before you have to worry about how to make a machine do what you
want it to.
Sewing on a regular machine is not rocket science, and a relaxing hobby. Put
that Futura away, and once you learn how to operate a regular sewing machine
comfortably, then get your hands on a photo copy of the manual and give it a
go. A manual for these machines is not an option, it is a necessity.
PatBergman
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Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 12:27:38 -0500
Subject: Re: naugahyde sewing for 201 - to Gpccdrmr2
From: "Chester A. Symes"
Dear Gpc, My husband made a pattern to sew a grill winter protector for his car.
I sewed it on my 201 Singer and didn't have any problems. I did use a larger stitch, a
little smaller than a basting stitch and I used heavy thread on top and regular thread
in the bobbin - both cotton. It has survived 5 winters here in NH so that is the
testimony of Singer machines plus the ever Singerly yours fw Faith who sits admiring
the 40 degree snow thaw outside.
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From: "Laura Ward"
Subject: Foot controllers
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 09:16:07 -0500
Hi, I recently asked a question about a 301 case and got some good
advice, thank you. Now I have a question about foot controllers. I
have three and use them on a featherweight and a 301. Each controller
is different and the machines seem to be at their mercy. One knows no
speed but fast - makes me jump! One grunts and groans and moves
sporadically - very touchy. The other one I can really controll the
speed but there seems to be one wire that is not connected securely in
the plug and makes the light flicker and I know that surely can be
repaired. My question - what should I do about the other foot
controllers? Could I do something to make them better? =20
Laura
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Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2004 21:24:58 -0800
Subject: reversible zippers and reversible garments
From: karen c lang
Help. Anybody know about inserting reversible zippers in reversible
garments? Students want a lesson and I have no experience with this.
Websites to look at to get info? Any ideas? Thank you.
Karen C. Lang
WCCAE
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