Happy Friday! Today I want to share this travel set I made for the thrifted Singer Featherweight 221K sewing machine!


In case you missed it, earlier this year I had the thrift find of my dreams! I found a Vintage Singer Featherweight 221K sewing machine at my local Goodwill! For the full story, see this post: Thrifting a White Singer Featherweight 221K

As it happens, I already had a white featherweight of my own when I found that one. Obviously I didn't want to leave it behind, but I decided pretty quickly that I shouldn't keep it. Lucky for me, my Mom had just mentioned she was going to set herself up to sew in the living room and was going to use a little machine. So, I gave the thrifted featherweight to my Mom for Mother's Day!


Giving her this machine was the perfect excuse to make a travel set for it! I used my Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern, which includes a tote bag, extension table cover and a drawstring bag for holding the foot pedal and cord. For the main fabric I used this floral fabric that I found at the Goodwill Outlet store. It seemed appropriate!!


I took this project as an opportunity to adjust the extension table cover to fit the 221K's shorter table. I've updated the pattern to include this modification. The original table cover for the black 221 machines is still included in the pattern. I also just generally refreshed the pattern, giving it a layout similar to my newer patterns. I'm glad I took the time to do that!


On 221K machines the power cord and foot pedal are permanently connected to the machine. This makes the drawstring bag even more needed! We don't want them to scratch up the machine bed.


The accent and lining fabrics I used were all from my stash, all chosen to coordinate with the main floral.


This is the fourth travel set I've made! See the others here:
Nordika Sew Portable Travel Set
Dreamin' Vintage Sew Portable Travel Set
Sewing with Singer Sew Portable Travel Set

Pattern: Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern by me
Fabrics: thrifted quilting cotton, mauvelous pure solid by art gallery fabrics*, peppered cotton by studio e*
Notions: 1 1/4" cotton webbing, binder's board*, cotton twill tape

Happy Sewing!

Thrifting a White Singer Featherweight 221K

Happy Thursday! I was actually planning on another adventures in thrifting post for this week, but I had a once in a lifetime find this weekend that deserves a post of it's own!!


On Saturday I was on my way to the library and decided to make a quick stop at our local Goodwill. I checked out my go-to sections: glassware, art supplies, linens, kids clothes. As I was about to leave I decided to walk past the electronics. I spotted the case and knew right away what should be inside, but I couldn’t imagine it really would be…


To my surprise a vintage Singer Featherweight 221K machine was inside and the price tag said $24.99. I don’t really remember walking to the register, but I was trying hard just to hold it together! It wasn’t until I got to the car that I let myself freak out properly!!


According to the paperwork in the case, it seems to have been serviced last in 2015.


It's in beautiful shape! A few nicks to the paint here and there, but they've been touched up.


This machine was manufactured in Kilbowie, Scotland in either 1968 or 1969.


I was prepared to give it a full cleaning before oiling, but I don't think it's been sewn on since it was serviced last. Not a bit of dust or loose threads! It definitely needed oil though, so I gave it a healthy dose of that.


I got sewing on it right away! I'm working on a new vintage sheet quilt using my Side Braid Quilt Pattern. It stitches great! The stitch regulator level was a bit tight, so I took off the stitch length plate to be able to oil a few spots, which helped. I know stitching on it will help loosen things up a bit too. It's stiff from what seems to be many years of sitting unused.


Obviously I'm going to need to make a tote for it! Good thing I have a pattern for that!! I'll be using my Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern, I just need to decide on the fabrics.

I still can't believe that I found one of these machines at a thrift store. One can only dream of a find like this!! I'll be dining out on this find/story for the rest of my life!

Happy Thrifting!

Sew Portable Travel Set + Mat Tutorial

Happy Wednesday! This summer I have been trying to tackle works in progress and one of those projects was another Featherweight travel set! Shortly after I released my Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern last year, I started this set made from my Dreamin' Vintage fabrics. My original set is made with prints from Nordika, and is a perfect match for my black Singer Featherweight. For my celery/white Featherweight I wanted to use colors that were a little more summery.


The set features a sturdy tote bag with a hard bottom to carry the machine in. There is room on both the front and back of the machine to carry projects, which also helps protect the machine. The exterior is quilted, with a layer of canvas to add extra structure.


Heavyweight handles are made from cotton webbing and a double layer of quilting cotton. They're sturdy and wide enough so that they don't dig into your shoulder! I quilted the exterior with light blue thread from my Aurifil thread collection.


The second piece in the set is a drawstring bag! This is the everything size, which is also in the Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern. It holds the foot pedal, keeping it from scratching up the machine bed. For my last set I used the same prints for each piece, but for this one I mixed it up a bit, using different prints from the cool colorway.


The last piece in the pattern is the extension table cover. For this particular machine it's not quite as crucial because the table is half size and isn't at risk of hitting the screw on the machine head like most Featherweights. All the same, it still helps to protect it! It's quilted and has the same layers as the tote!



I made an extra piece for my set this time around. A small quilted mat to rest the machine on! It came together super fast! It also makes a nice little cover for the machine inside the bag too! Want to make your own? Here is a quick tutorial:

Finished size: 9.5"x12.5"
Use a 1/4" seam allowance.

Materials:
(12) 3.5" squares
(1) 16.5"x13.5" backing
(1) 16.5"x13.5" batting
(2) 2.5"x42" strips for binding

Lay squares out in a 4x3 arrangement. Sew squares together in each row. Press seams in one direction, alternating direction every other row. Sew rows together, press seams open. Layer backing, batting, and top. Baste, quilt, bind.


Of course I had to make one to go with my other set too! :)

You can find the Sew Portable Pattern as a PDF and Paper copy in my online shop. You can find my tips and tricks for sewing with a Singer Featherweight here.

Happy Sewing!

Weekly Snapshot

Tulips, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Let's try this weekly snapshot thing again! It's been a while since my last one, but I do like the idea, so here we go! I'm going to blame it on this winter we've had.  It's just been never ending. I'm looking forward to welcoming Spring as soon as possible. Until then, I've been splurging on fresh flowers.  I figure it's pretty cheap therapy!

Sewing Room Redux, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Lots has been going on in the last month or so.  We decided not to try to move, after having zero luck finding another place.  So instead, we made some major changes to my sewing room to accommodate a desk for Michael's computer. I'll take nice photos soon and share!

Orla Kiely Purse, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

I'm usually a handmade purse type of girl, but this Orla Kiely bag was just too perfect to pass up!

Late Night Sewing, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Sewing away, still loving my Singer Featherweight.  I've been using it almost exclusively for my piecing for a year now almost!

Runaround Bag, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

I finally made Anna's Runaround Bag a few weeks ago!  I remember when the pattern first came out (2010!), I wanted to make it so badly! For whatever reason I didn't get around to making it until now, and it's awesome! I love the way it turned out!

Finished Cowl, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

I also finished another hand knit a few weeks ago.  Just a simple squishy cowl using some super bulky Madelinetosh ASAP yarn.  I needed something similar to my Gaptastic cowl to wear that wouldn't get so dirty.  I've been wearing this cowl tons!

New Projects, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Working on a few smaller projects and trying really hard to finally use some of my craft books.  I'm terrible about buying books and never making anything from them, so I'm trying to change that!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

George says Happy (belated) St. Patrick's Day!

A Week Away in Ohio

Happy Labor Day! I'm excited to kick the day off with some thrifting and then it's back to work this afternoon.  I'm having a hard time finding a good routine these past few weeks, hence the lack of posts.  Something's got to give, and for a bit there it was blogging.  Hoping to get back into the swing of things this week.  Thought I better tell you about my lovely week in Ohio before it's too late!

Worked on my honey cowl in the car (it's about a 9 hour drive!), which I finally finished!


First things first, of course we went thrifting right away! We didn't do as well as we usually do, but we weren't going to have crazy luck every time.  I did manage to find another set of vintage Star Wars sheets for Amanda, another tin from a matching set and a vintage quilt for $5!


Here is a better look at the vintage quilt! It's so bright and pretty, but it's pretty thin.  The top of the quilt is in especially bad shape with lots of holes and such.  I haven't decided exactly how I want to fix it, but it's so thin I might treat it as a quilt top.  Give it a new layer of batting and backing and then do some really light quilting.  We'll see, I'll have more time this winter to work on getting it fixed up.  I obviously don't need more quilts but I just couldn't leave it!


I managed to pick up a few other goodies at the local antique mall.  Another Dansk Kobenstyle dish and a MINI Droste's cocoa tin! I couldn't believe my eyes, it's so cute!


I brought my featherweight with me and stitch up a quilt top with my Mom while I was away.  It was really nice having help getting it all put together!


I've been wanting to try out a few of Deedee's awesome recipes for a while, and this was the perfect opportunity.  We made the fried boccocini, which was so delicious! You can find the recipe here.


And of course we had to make Deedee's famous cheese danish.  So, so yummy.  Seriously.  Go make them!  You can find the recipe here.


We also finally ate at Melt! It's an all grilled cheese restaurant! I got a regular with bacon.  It was really good.  A crazy amount of food!


I got to see the kitties! This is Bobbie!


And Blackie, who was claiming all the yarn and knitting projects!


A few more vintage sewing goodies to take home too, thanks to my Aunt Karen! I also snatched up a couple bunny buttons from my Mom's stash! :)


It was a great week and we got some beautiful weather.  It's always nice to go home.

See you soon!

Vintage Singer Featherweight Tips and Tricks

Happy Wednesday! Today I want to share a few of my favorite resources, tips, and tricks for Sewing on a Vintage Singer Featherweight 221. I was very lucky to find a featherweight under the tree this past Christmas from my parents. It is in beautiful condition, and had been picked up with it's original case, accessories, and even the loan agreement. You can read a bit more about that story here.

I had it cleaned and serviced at my local sewing machine shop after I got it, wanting to make sure it was in true working order between I started using it. I don't regret having it serviced that first time, because I really felt like it needed to be seen first by a professional. However, since that first cleaning I've serviced and cleaned it myself. Now that I've been using it pretty heavily for the past 5-6 months, I want to share my experiences with you all!


Ever since my machine returned from it's first tune-up, I've been using it almost exclusively for piecework. Nearly anything that was just simple piecing, since March has been done on my featherweight. That includes the majority of the projects that I made for my Quilt Market booth this past Spring!

I continue to use my Janome Horizon 7700 for anything that requires a walking foot, like bags with interfacing, shirring and for all my quilting. I wouldn't trade it for those things for sure. But for pretty much everything else, I'm preferring the featherweight. It is so easy to use for piecing, and creates amazing stitches. In addition, it is so lightweight and it takes up such little space so it's great for traveling.


Two resources that have been really helpful for me is Featherweight 221: The Perfect Portable And It's Stitches Across History by Nancy Johnson-Srebro, and The Featherweight 221 and I by David McCallum. Nancy's book is all about the history of the featherweight, the different models and accessories. There is part of the original manual in it as well, but in general it is more of a commentary on featherweights rather than a how-to manual. It was really interesting, I read through most of it in one sitting!

David McCallum's book is a true how-to guide. It is a comprehensive guide to care and also repair. I turn to this book every time I need to oil my machine. It has very clear, easy to read diagrams for where to oil and how often each spot should be oiled. Only the front of each page is printed, so you can use the backs of the pages to take notes. I keep track of each time I oil my machine to make sure I don't oil it too often or not enough.

I highly recommend both books, but if you only buy one, buy The Featherweight 221 and I by David McCallum.


You don't need much to take care of regular maintenance on a featherweight. These are some of my favorite tools:

I always have compressed air on hand to use on all of my machines. It's great for getting dust and lint from hard to reach places, like under the needle plate and in the bobbin case.  I seem to keep buying this one by 3M, it lasts a while. Early on I picked up a non-abrasive car wax to protect the surface of the featherweight and keep it nice and shiny. This butter smooth wax has worked great and doesn't have a strong smell. Make sure to test any wax on a hidden place first.  I buff it on with a microfiber cloth.

Unlike most of today's machines, featherweights need oiling on a regular basis to make sure it's running smoothly. I oil mine after every 8 hours or so of use.  Not all parts of the machine need oiled that often though. Once you get used to your machine, you'll be able to hear and feel when it needs oil.

I really like the Zoom Spout Oil*. It has a thin spout that comes way out of the bottle, making it easy to get hard to reach places. You only need a tiny drop in each spot, and this oil makes it easy to control the oil. I use q-tips to clean up any excess oil. You'll also need Singer Motor Lubricant for the gears and motor.  Before you start sewing again, sew through some scrap fabric to make sure everything is running okay and to let any excess oil run onto the scrap instead of your project.

*Update: I recently started using this oil pen, which makes it even easier to deliver one drop at a time. I absolutely love it, and it's refillable!


Once the machine is all nice and clean, it's back to sewing! I use Schmetz Universal Needles in my featherweight. They work great in all my machines, I like not having to order anything special.  The needles go in sideways and you thread it from right to left. I only use Aurifil cotton thread in my featherweight. It feeds so smoothly through the machine, and it only seems right to treat it to the best thread!


Like all machines, featherweights have their own quirks when it comes to actually sewing. I like to use the stock foot that came with the machine to do all my piecing. It's super skinny which makes top stitching really nice and the 1/4" guide is easy to see. You can buy a 1/4" foot for your featherweight, but I don't have one for mine.  I don't ever use the 1/4" foot I have for my Janome, so I probably wouldn't use one for this either. I'm not sure why, I just don't like using them!

One of the biggest tricks that helped make things easier for me, was learning how to loosen the hand wheel so that the needle doesn't run up and down while you wind a bobbin. Before you start winding, hold the large wheel in place with one hand and turn the small wheel towards you until it loosens.  Wind your bobbin and turn it back until it locks in place when you're done.


I do have the original carrying case for my featherweight, but I decided to create my own set of accessories for travel and storage.  I wanted something cuter and also a little more functional. You can read more about my featherweight travel set here. Want to make your own set? Check out my Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern! I also have a tutorial for a patchwork mat to match!

I'm not a featherweight expert, but I've definitely learned a lot using it these last few months. I'm looking forward to stitching up lots more projects with it!

I hope this was helpful to some of you! Do you sew on a vintage machine? What are your favorite tips, tricks, and resources?