{"id":7432,"date":"2020-03-03T21:42:15","date_gmt":"2020-03-04T05:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.road2ca.com\/blog\/?p=7432"},"modified":"2020-03-03T21:42:17","modified_gmt":"2020-03-04T05:42:17","slug":"featherweight-sewing-machine-maintenance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/03\/featherweight-sewing-machine-maintenance\/","title":{"rendered":"Featherweight Sewing Machine Maintenance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Featherweight Sewing Machines are very popular and very old!! To keep these machines working their best \u2013 despite their age \u2013 requires some consistent attention. <a href=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/17\/fun-facts-for-25-years-part-i\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"John Flynn, Road to California 2020 Judge, Teacher, and Vendor  (opens in a new tab)\">John Flynn, Road to California 2020 Judge, Teacher, and Vendor <\/a>offered the first ever Featherweight Maintenance Class to provide students with the basic knowledge to keep their featherweight machines running at peak performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-1.jpg\" alt=\"Featherweight Sewing Machine\" class=\"wp-image-7433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The History\nof the Featherweight Sewing Machine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the early\n1850\u2019s, there were four sewing machine manufacturers: Wheeler and Wilson,\nGrover and Baker, Howe, and Singer. They were all fighting over patent rights\nfor their machines and ultimately joined forces to form a \u201cpatent pool,\u201d\ncreating a monopoly on sewing machine manufacturing. Ultimately, Singer rose to\nthe top and after 1860, they had blown the competition out of the water by not\nonly offering superior machines (they developed an assembly line process before\nFord) but also new business concepts like trade-ins and payment plans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Singer began\nmanufacturing their Featherweight Sewing Machine on October 3, 1933 during the\nGreat Depression. It weighed 11 pounds and cost $125. These machines continued\nto be produced until 1969.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Askew6.jpg\" alt=\"Featherweight Sewing Machine\" class=\"wp-image-7434\" width=\"371\" height=\"278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Askew6.jpg 320w, https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Askew6-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 371px) 100vw, 371px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through the\nyears, only minimal changes were made to the machine in workmanship and\nappearance. The two most popular models are the 221 and the 222. The main\ndifference between the two is the free-arm sleeve and the drop feed lever. What\nhas never changed with the Singer Featherweight Machine is the ability for it\nto produce the perfect straight stitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The classic\nblack Singer Featherweight Machine was manufactured until 1961. From 1961\nthrough 1969, the machine was offered in two colors: tan and \u201cpale turquoise\u201d\nor \u201ccelery green.\u201d Today, it is known as the \u201cwhite\u201d featherweight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">John Flynn\nand the Featherweight Sewing Machine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flynnquilt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"John\u2019s engineering background  (opens in a new tab)\">John\u2019s engineering background <\/a>drew him to wanting to learn the basics of how each of the sewing machine systems worked. He set out to collect one of each system and has over 40 machines. His collection includes six Featherweight machines. \u00a0John noted that it would be impossible to make a featherweight machine today because it would cost too much for the accuracy the machine enjoys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John has\nfound that the featherweight machine has the best system for piecing quilts. \u201cPiecing\nis more accurate with a featherweight than with any other machine on the market\ntoday,\u201d remarked John.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"273\" src=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-3.jpg\" alt=\"Featherweight Sewing Machines\" class=\"wp-image-7438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-3.jpg 640w, https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-3-300x128.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Best Tips for using a Featherweight Sewing Machine <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"John and his daughter, Kate Flynn Nichols, (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/2014\/11\/25\/road-2015-faculty-spotlight-meet-this-dynamic-father-daughter-quilting-duo-john-flynn-and-kate-flynn-nichols\/\" target=\"_blank\">John and his daughter, Kate Flynn Nichols,<\/a> taught two, three-hour Featherweight Maintenance classes on Friday and Saturday evenings. Both classes were sold out \u2013 attesting to the interest of owners with this kind of machine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-4.jpg\" alt=\"Featherweight Sewing Machine\" class=\"wp-image-7436\" width=\"501\" height=\"376\" srcset=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-4.jpg 640w, https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-4-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 501px) 100vw, 501px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even a few of Road&#8217;s Staff  who are Featherweight Sewing Machine owners, couldn&#8217;t wait to learn some maintenance techniques. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-5.jpg\" alt=\"Featherweight Sewing Machines\" class=\"wp-image-7437\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the classes, John adjusted his own Featherweight Sewing Machine as a way to show students how to maintain theirs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"565\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-2.jpg\" alt=\"Featherweight Sewing Machine\" class=\"wp-image-7435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-2.jpg 565w, https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Fetherweight-Maintence-Photo-2-265x300.jpg 265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 565px) 100vw, 565px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John couldn\u2019t\nstress enough two important tips regarding Featherweight Sewing Machines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Consistent lubrication is the key to\na smooth-running machine<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Featherweight Sewing Machines are\nmeant to be used \u2013 not to be shown. The best maintenance for these kinds of\nmachines is simply to use them!!<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Road was\nfortunate to have John Flynn and Kate Flynn Nichols share their expertise on maintaining\na Featherweight Sewing Machine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Would you\nlike to see this popular class return in 2021?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Featherweight Sewing Machines are very popular and very old!! To keep these machines working their best \u2013 despite their age \u2013 requires some consistent attention. John Flynn, Road to California 2020 Judge, Teacher, and Vendor offered the first ever Featherweight Maintenance Class to provide students with the basic knowledge to keep their featherweight machines running [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7432"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7439,"href":"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7432\/revisions\/7439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/road2ca.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}