Y’all, I’d like you to meet my new-to-me but not-new-at-all Singer Featherweight.
Her name is Tina Turner.
I can’t take credit for the name, I posted a photo to instagram of this new beauty the evening she joined our family, and I was reminded as to why my college roommate, Shelby, always had me in stitches.
Seriously a treasure! You should name her Tina Turner …vintage, showy. Crazy good moves.
oh! And she’s a “singer” <– see what I did there?
Yup. No other names would even come close. Tina Turner she became!
Owning and using a Singer Featherweight to use to piece my quilts has been something on my wishlist for a while now. I had seen one sewing beautiful stitches and started researching why these little beauties were so sought after and loved. I knew I didn’t want to break the bank for one, but hoped one would someday land on my lap.
Like I often do, I obsessed and trolled ebay, craigslist and other sale sites for a Featherweight back in 2013. I found plenty of machines, but all of them way more than I was wanting to spend! So I stopped my search, and honestly kind of thought that owning one just wasn’t in the cards for me.
Enter Pittsburgh Quilt Market 2014. The dream of owning one of these little machines was sparked again, but again, I wanted one with a story…not just one I randomly found online. I told Andy that evening that I would love to find one with a single owner — not from a dealer or collector.
During lunch one day, I looked on Pittsburgh Craigslist and found two Singer Featherweights listed — one had beautiful photos and details and promised a working and cleaned machine. One had a terrible cell phone photo, was 1/3 of the price and lacked any and all details.
Of course I fell for the pretty photos and contacted the seller. Her price was firm. It was higher than I wanted to spend. Meh. Dead end.
The next day I decided I might as well try the other listing as well, what was there to lose! I called the phone number listed and as I was leaving a message, the number was calling me back.
The conversation was hysterical and awesome.
Turns out, this Featherweight was owned by one person, the seller’s grandmother. He told me, “she was one of those quilter types.” I started laughing, well, you might call me that too… as I look around, surrounded by quilts. I asked if it worked, he laughed.
Something felt right. He told me that if I could get there today, it was mine — a collector was coming the next day to buy it, but it was mine if I could come beforehand. He said the collector told him bluntly that he was selling it for far too little, but he told me, “I just want it to go to a good home.”
I promised him that I would take great care of her!
So Andy and Harlow drove out to pick it up. Andy said that when he suggested they plug it in, they laughed realizing that they hadn’t even done that yet. And wouldn’t you know, my little charmer, Harlow, had this grandma and grandpa so smitten that he charged us even less than what he listed it for.
You guys, it’s still threaded. It looks like it’s been used 2x. Okay, maybe 5 times. The lightbulb still works. There are little notes, stitching samples… a 30 cent package of sewing needles.
This machine is perfect.
So there is my little sewing machine gush-fest. :) Andy and I are planning on doing all the cleaning and maintenance ourselves, and I heard from many people that purchasing the handbook and DVDs from here was the only way to go. We are hoping to tackle it in the next week or so! I’ve been procrastinating a bit, because I want my first quilt to be the one I make for this baby boy (oy! I almost typed his name…yikes! This whole know-the-gender-and-name-but-keeping-it-a-secret thing is hard!) but I still haven’t decided on a design for him just yet!
Any Featherweight owners out there? Ever sewn on one before? eeks! I’m so excited to get her clean and running smoothly! Y’all, it still has the ruffle foot it came with — I can’t wait to use that thing.
I’d love to do something with all the memories kept in its case — any ideas for displaying the notes and things? Shadowbox? I’m hitting a wall, I’d love to hear your ideas!
xo
Great deal! Love your photos too. I’ve had a Featherweight for 12 years or so. It was given to me for helping someone clear out an apartment. Love it and the history behind them. I love sewing with mine, and I know you’ll love using this gem too! Enjoy!
AH!! I love that story — I might need to pick your brain! Any tips for me? I am so nervous I’ll break my sweet Tina – but I can’t wait to use it!
TINA TURNER. DYING.
Anyway, it’s really cool to see you capture something you love so much with photos. I really loved this post today–probably one of my favorites.
Kate. I would pay money to see you and Shelby telling jokes and hanging out – y’all would have me in stitches from the hilarity that would ensue. And seriously love YOU.
Brand New Old one ! I hope you’re gonna make a small video of Miss Turner in action ;)
YES! If i get over my fear and get her squeaky clean and working well! EEPS!
Love it and especially the Shelby shout-out! You should commission Jessica Dennis Bush to do an encaustic painting with the keepsakes–would look so lovely in a vintage craft room :)
OOOOOOOOH!!! I might need to do that — her work is so stunning. Oh goodness, you have the wheels spinning now, Kate!
You gave Tina a real welcome to the family. So glad you got exactly (it seems) what you wanted! I’m excited to meet her. If you need any advice, I have a sweet friend in the guild who collects them. Now I want one, between what you’ve said, and what she’s said.
She had quite the photoshoot, that’s for sure :) Andy’s been tasked with watching the DVDs during naptime tomorrow, so we can get’r cleaned up!
love your story…now I want one…I’ happy with my Elna and Jamone for now..but if you find another good deal let me or you mother know. Happy quilting your baby boy quilt!!
I’ll keep stalking craigslist :) I’m hoping to get her running smoothly, so I can bring her out when we come visit end of July!! But first I need to decide on a design for this baby boy’s quilt…. that’s the hardest part!
Kacia! I wish I’d known:). I have one. I have some accessories (a button attachment) and other things I’ve never used. I only use it for sewing straight boring lines:)
okay – DROOLING over your machine, Sarah. DROOLING. i cannot wait to come see it!!!
Love this post, but you might want to wait to use the ruffle foot. Most boys don’t like ruffles :0)
Bahahahahaha — good call :) I promise not to use it on his quilt. But a fun skirt for Harlow, perhaps!? Hahaha, I just need to get over my nervous-nelly-ness and get it cleaned up so i CAN use it!!
Shelby always kept you “in stitches?” But that sounds like a job for Tina! :)
hahahahahaha! TRUTH!
Love your story. . . I hope that one day I will run across one of these machines at a reasonable price and a good story too! I have not sewn on one but hear they are wonderful. I’d love one for taking to classes and for piecing. I am spoiled with my modern HV Sapphire 830 but it is fun to sew on something vintage too!