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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine Auction

I don't know about the rest of you, but as I sit here in the dry, beautiful prairie of central Illinois with no catastrophe upon me from hurricanes, rain, flooding, trains colliding, or serious, pressing health issue for those I love, I'm feeling just very lucky and much blessed! My heart goes out to any of you affected by Ike and all the bad weather. To raise funds to donate to the American Red Cross for disaster relief, I've decided to let go of this wonderful little Singer Featherweight Machine that I found at an auction this summer. Though I've always wanted one - my soul knows I really don't NEED it, and that I should use it to the benefit of others.
Sew... Here's the deal: I will sell this machine to the highest bidder - with careful shipping arranged between us and at the expense of the bidder. The Auction will END at 10 pm Central Standard Time - Monday, September 22, 2008. I will send a check to the American Red Cross for all funds raised over $350. A machine like this sold for $625. See Below.
You place your bid this way:
1. Go to this link: http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Store_id=398&page_id=23&Item_ID=6315
2. To 'Bid' - just put your bid in whole dollars (starting bid is $325) in the QUANTITY BOX
3. Check out - selecting 'FAX ORDER IN' for your payment method and submit your order
4. As 'bids' come in, I will update the current bid in the Description box.
5. If you have ANY questions, about the process, or the machine - just email or call me. Remember, the auction ends at 10 PM, Monday,September 22, 2008. I will be 'out' at a dental appointment most of Monday afternoon, so just know updates cannot be made from about 1 - 4 CST.
6. Please do not bid unless you intend to follow through with payment, which can be MC, Visa, Discover,or Pay Pal. Winner and I will determine safe shipping method, and shipping expense will be added to the winning bid.
I need to get this shipped out asap after the auction ends, as I leave for the Novi Show on Wednesday morning. If details can't be worked out before I leave, I will ship it after my return Sept. 30.


Super Condition 1951 Centennial Model Singer Featherweight 221 Sewing Machine Serial number: AK090870 which, when I looked up this serial number online, is given the January 29, 1951 manufacture date. It is in a condition that I read about at this link: http://www.patented-antiques.com/Backpages/All_Archives/SEW_ARCHIVE/fw_SM.htm
As the expert at this site says: "it is in a condition that is 'sought after but rarely found." The one I'm comparing it to sold for $625.00... it is the Centennial Model Featherweight, commemorating Singer's "Century of Sewing Service" and it is marked with Singer's oval-shaped gold with blue outline commemorative plaque bearing the dates 1851-1951. This machine has been well taken care of. The black paint is pretty shiny, the gold decals are bright, and there is no evidence of the "fabric wear path" on the bed that so many of the Featherweights exhibit. There are some minor surface "pin marks" in the clear coat finish that you see when it is held up to the light. The machine has been oiled and lubricated in the appropriate places and is ready to display or to sew with. It came with a repair tag attached to the case. I tested it out - and it stitches a beautiful stitch and the motor runs strong and quiet. The case for this Featherweight is in excellent condition both inside and out and it is evident it was stored in a nice dry environment, but I also have to say that it 'smells like I remember my Grandma's house smelling'. This machine comes with the original instruction booklet which seems to me to be in perfect condition. The little Singer oil tube is included as well as the following attachments (which I had fun identifying from the instruction booklet!): Foot hemmer, Adjustable Hemmer, Multiple Slotted Binder, Edge-Stitcher, Gatherer Foot, Ruffler, Seam Gauge that screws in, 2 screw dr ivers, and 2 keys to the case. - this is ALL of the that are mentioned in the book!
This machine is a beauty---one of those that just does not come along very often.

New Crop of Jackets 'Birthed'

I don't know why - but a couple weeks before a show- I lay awake atnight creating the design for new jackets. Sew....here's the latest 'crop'. This first one features Chenille by the Inch -around both edges of the tape measure twill tape ribbon. You can't see any of the real detail, but it really is nice. Before 'fluffing' the chenille, I couched down a black yarn on the oatmeal color. I also cut back the neckline of this sweatshirt for a larger, face-framing neckline. I really like it, and hope it will fit Cyndi, my 'helper' at the upcoming Novi American Sewing Expo where I get to teach and sell.
The grey one was inspired by the awesome one-of-a-kind Crone Art fimo clay button at the neckline. I used the collar from Lois Ericson's Classy Coat pattern for the collar. I cut it wider, and then lined it with another fabric, and folded the top edge down. I also like the flattering line in the bodice that I created by just stitching a bias folded piece to the outside of the sweatshirt, and let it flop down - then couching a yarn along the edge to hold it down.

I REALLY love this bright raspberry jacket. I used one of the awesome Direct Reactive Dye sweatshirts from USA Comfort Color that I carry. This wonderful fabric became a member of my stash LAST year from the Fabric Gallery's booth at Novi...so I thought it made sense to get it into a jacket a year later. Sheesh - I realize now that the pink and black fabric on they grey sweatshirt and the pretty coral and grey on the jacket below were all 'adopted' from my friend, Mesee's booth last year at Novi. Visit her shop - it is spectacular! I actually used the same collar pattern on this jacket that I used onthe grey jacket - just cut wider. It is a single layer collar - frayed on the edge, and about 1/2" in from the edge - I've 'stopped' the fraying with couched down black yarn. That's another great Crone Art button for the focal point. I have convinced them to continue to do awesome all black great BIG buttons, so know I would always have some of those you could email me to order... londa@londas-sewing.com
This Grey jacket - well, I just wish I'd cut that spectacular fabric on the bias for this collar! Oh well - I'm probably harder on myself than those Project Runway judges would be! The yarn couched along the custom dyed Bias Cut Silk Ribbon has a hint of silver metallic in it - thus the addition of Swarovski Crystals in the paisleys on the collar.

This black/silver jacket puts to use a spectacular piece of home dec fabric I picked up at the Puyallup American Sewing & Stitchery Expo last March. Also - note the LARGE JUMBO snaps. I like the face-framing wide collar. I'm just seeing that alot in RTW - and like how this style helps make the focus the WEARER. Also - you can't see it, but I created a facing of the little polka dot that peeks out at the hemline of this jacket.
The green jacket started out a 2XL! I keep preaching that you are buying 'fabric and matching ribbing' - but people just don't want to believe me. Applying the 'pattern' from REFINED to raise the shoulder armscye to the proper place and shape the jacket, PLUS a big dart all the way up the center back really shaped this 'fabric' into a great fit for my newest 'Christmas' jacket. There are 2 batiks played together: one a poinsettia, and the other a stylized Christmas Tree in this jacket. I trapunto stitched around these motifs onthe upper chest area and back yoke by dropping my feed dogs and using smoke YLI monofilament thread. A scrap of burgundy red wool crepe cut into 3/4" strips on the bias and layered 2 deep with a black and red yarn twisted together and couched down the center define the vertical line and 'pulls it all together'. This is all in my pattern Transformed. All I did to make the neckline stand up was to attach it in a 1:1 ratio. I ran out of ribbing at the shoulder line of the other side - so I grabbed another old ribbing and covered it with fabric. Darned if I didn't cut it too short - so I had to creatively add in a piece at the right shoulder area. Challenges - challenges. But, in sewing, I AM IN CONTROL! That's a pocket at the lower right, by the way.
Time for a walk in this beautiful Indian Summer weather...