It’s Friday! And another four day weekend. Woohoo! I have Rico entered in a dog agility trial tomorrow (Saturday) and my nephew and his girlfriend will arrive Sunday. So I have some work to do still to get ready for company.
A coworker of mine is interested in a bucket hat but the one I already made would be too big for her. So I whipped up the same hat in a smaller size tonight. I checked the time as I started and it took me an hour to sew the hat. It was all cut out and the interfacing was fused several nights ago. I feel pretty good that I’ve been able to get it down to just an hour!
Here’s the result. TWINS!
One dog is happy. One thinks this is torture.
I went to play pickleball last night and had such a great time… until the last game when I tripped on my own foot and slammed myself into the concrete. I went down hard and slammed my left knee into the concrete and knocked the wind out of myself… bruised some ribs in the process.
Amazingly, I feel better today than I thought I would! I’m sure I don’t have any broken ribs, but I’m still feeling the pain. My knee is bruised and a little swollen, but not painful on weight bearing.
It’s really hard to have to come to terms with the fact that you’re not as young as you used to be.
And now for the best part….
I got a message from a friend last night asking me if I wanted her mom’s sewing machine. She sent me this photo.
If you know anything about this machine and know anything about me, you can imagine my reaction. This is a Singer Featherweight — a freaking Featherweight!!! — and I’ve wanted one, really badly, for several years now!!!
I hurried and messaged another friend of mine who has a couple Featherweights and knows a little about them and I sent her the photo and the serial number off the machine.
A search on that serial number let us know that this machine was one of 20,000 manufactured in April of 1947. My friend said her mom bought the machine when she was in college and she graduated in 1949.
She sent me a picture of the face plate of the machine. How pretty is this?
My friend told me that the smell of the machine reminds her of her mother. She and her sisters wore a lot of dresses made on this machine when they were children. She has had the machine in her garage for many years and had thought about giving it to me in the past, but had wanted to dig it out first. She is very sentimental about it and loves the idea of having me use it to make beautiful things!
She was very happy to hear that I’ve wanted one of these machines for years. She’s going to bring it to me at the dog show tomorrow. I can’t wait to see it and see what condition it’s in.
I have an idea for the first thing I’m going to make using this machine. More on that when I see what condition it’s in.
I have to get up early tomorrow morning, so I’ll close tonight with some amazing photos.
First up, some gorgeous roses from our evening walk.
Second, this beautiful sunset from my drive home from pickleball last night.
And apples! I’m going to have a nice crop of apples!
Happy weekend to all!
agilejack 
I would jump at that Featherweight so fast…and I already have 2…lol
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I’ve wanted one for a few years, but couldn’t convince myself that I needed to spend that money. So this was really an amazing gift! I can’t wait to get it tuned up and get sewing!
Anne
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A freaking Featherweight!!! You lucky duck!!! I keep hoping the Featherweight Fairy has one with my name on it.
After you have it serviced, check with that person or your local quilt shop to see if anyone teaches a class on Featherweight cleaning/maintenance. It’s really interesting to learn and since it’s all cast iron, you can’t mess it up once you’ve learned the ropes. And, it’ll save you money that you can use for purchasing more Kaffe!
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Hahaha! I couldn’t believe it!!!
I’m going to buy a Featherweight refurbishing kit. It includes an extensive maintenance manual, among other things. Featherweights were designed to be simple to maintain so it will be good for me to learn how to do it myself.
Anne
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I’m sorry to hear you took a rough fall , that is not fun at any age, hopefully your bruises will heal quickly. Congrats on the singer feather weight gift, I’m looking forward to seeing what you are going to sew on it! You do have beautiful sunsets in Oregon. An hour to sew a bucket hat is great, it has taken me days to think about making one !! If I don’t hurry up, I will end up making a fur lined bomber hat for the cold !!! Enjoy your company and the long weekend !
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It took me a while to get to an hour to sew a hat! I’ve learned a lot of tricks along the way that make it go faster.
I’m feeling a lot better already. It’s nice to be on the mend!
Anne
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You’ve had a few awesome days! So glad you weren’t hurt bad with your fall. I got that little singer a few years ago and had my Bernina dealer tech give it a cleaning and relubing. It works great! Good luck with yours! Awesome on those hats!
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I’m already feeling a lot better! I’m glad there are no serious injuries.
I’m going to buy a refurbishing kit for the Featherweight that includes an extensive maintenance manual. They were designed to be really easy to maintain. It will be good to know how to do it. I’ll leave my Bernina with all it’s complications and computers to the pros!
Anne
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I don’t know where to start! Sorry about the fall! Poop happens. Love the twin photos and how really fun about the featherweight.
Love the sunset, but the apple photo!!
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I’m already feeling so much better. It’s nice to be on the mend and almost back to normal.
Yup. Poop happens !
Anne
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I hope you’re okay after your fall pickle ball looks as if it is fun but fast and furious. Love the idea of being able to adopt your friends mums featherweight machine
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Pickleball is so much fun!!! I’ve only been playing a couple months and am hooked!
I already love this little Featherweight!
Anne
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Congratulations on this wonderful gift of the Featherweight. Can’t wait to see what you make.
So sorry about your fall. My partner keeps asking if I would like to play pickleball with him, but my knees are already crap. I’ll be 72 next week đŸ˜³ and think walking is a far better activity for me!
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I’m lucky my knees are in good shape. My hips are shit. But they feel better with activity.
Don’t try pickleball because if you do it will be like heroin!!!
Anne
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So happy for your new featherweight baby! You will love her. I was lucky enough to find one a few years ago when a lady was purchasing a second one and decided to get rid of the first one. Mine was also “born” in 1947, the year of my birth so we are twins! I take her everywhere as she is so handy to take. I also found a 1/4 foot for her at one of the featherweight online stores which is nice. Sorry you took a fall but glad nothing was broken. Love the hats. Enjoy your weekend.
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I’m going to get a refurbishing kit and get it in good order before I start using it. Will also buy a quarter inch foot and some extra bobbins. I don’t think I have much need for the attachments. What I sew on it will be pretty basic piecing.
I can’t wait to give her a whirl!
Anne
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Sorry to hear about your fall. Shit happens! I fell in my bedroom several weeks ago – fell over a few containers of fabric. How appropriate! Took some logistics to figure out how to get up off the floor, but I managed. Just think about how a broken arm would stop you in your tracks. Been there, done that! Glad it wasn’t worse than it was. Stay safe!
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I’m already feeling a lot better. It’s nice to be on the mend.
I promise I won’t break my arm!!! Maybe just my knee or my head!
Anne
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Anne. Join the featherweight group on Facebook. Don’t try and use that machine until it is cleaned and oiled. You need to oil it basically every time you use it so set yourself up with singer oil and lubricant. As you know they are fabulous machines. Let’s hope she has some feet, the buttonhole attachment and some accessories to go with it. And maybe the case. Congratulations! I got one from my MIL and I love it!
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Ooh. I didn’t know about the Facebook group. I’ll check them out!
The Featherweight doesn’t have any attachments, just the basic foot. I’m going to get a refurbishing kit and a quarter inch foot and some extra bobbins. It does have the case.
i’m looking foward to sewing on it!
Anne
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I do hope you continue to improve from your fall faster than expected. I love the pictures of your dogs modeling hats but love your beautiful photos of things from your walks even more. The sky one is amazing!!!
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I’m already feeling a lot better! It’s good to be on the mend.
Thanks for reading!
Anne
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Congrats on the Featherweight! I bought one in ’19. The Featherweight Shop singer-featherweight.com has good info and helpful upgrades like an LED light bulb. I had to mail order 2 types of interfacing and fusible from joann.com – local store painfully low on stock.
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A friend who has two featherweights told me about the FEatherweight shop. I’m going to get one of their refurbishing kits. It willl be fun to dig in and get her purring!
Anne
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Oh! So sorry about your fallđŸ˜¢!!!! Some tiger balm on the outside and some sweet moscato for the inside might help. đŸ¤£the boys look too handsome in the hats and the roses and sky photos are beautiful đŸ˜» the featherweight is a great find!
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I’m feeling much better already. So I’m on the mend.
I’m looking forward to getting that featherweight tuned up and running!
Anne
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How awesome to get your friend’s Mom’s Featherweight and to know the story! What a treasure! I hope it is in mint condition! I can’t think of a more deserving person than you with all you make and do for others! Your blog is so inspiring! Love your twin hats! I look forward to seeing pictures of your new baby and all the beautiful things you make with it! I too have wanted one for years but haven’t found the perfect one yet. Have a blessed weekend! Best of luck at the dog show! đŸ¤— Debra Grove
Sent from my iPhone
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My friend was really happy to give the Featherweight to someone who would actually use it. I feel so lucky that she thought of me.
Thanks for reading!
Anne
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Speedy recovery to you. Hopefully a quick recovery since you’re so active and in good shape. I feel your pain. Sucks to get old. But you’ll have a new machine to show off while your owies mend. Boys are adorable as usual. And oh my those sunsets and local flowers are stunning.
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I’m looking forward to getting the FEatherweight tuned up so I can use it. In the mean time, I’m really enjoying just looking at it!
Anne
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Hi – I just realized that I don’t know your first name – I hope your knee is improving. My Dad worked for Singer in the late 1930s and early 40s. I still have my Mom’s Singer 201 – it’s a champ. The Featherweight is a more compact version.  I don’t know how much you know about the Featherweight, but i’ve been told that Singer developed the machine as a model that the owner (generally women) could easily maintain. I took a class on maintaining mine – and it’s pretty straight forward. The Featherweight Shop is a great source for parts and advice. They’ve just published a comprehensive maintenance manual.  The Singer Featherweight Shop
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World’s distinguished service for Singer Featherweight 221 & 222 machines, parts, quilting accessories, attachme… |
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Thanks for the link to the hat pattern! I’ve just made my first one! Love the dogs – we currently have Golden Retriever #6, Rose. She’s our youngest ever as we have always had senior rescue dogs – she was also a rescue, but only 5 months when we got her ( holy buckets!!).  Love the bags too – They’re GORGEOUS!!Feel better soon. :)Shelley Freeman
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A friend of mine who has two featherweights told me about the Featherweight shop. So I’m going to get a refurbishing kit and get this thing going! Also going to buy some extra bobbins and a quarter inch foot while I’m at it.
Anne
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Good thing you didn’t hurt yourself too bad, sounded painful! Love the featherweight. My mom has her Grandma’s Singer that I learned to sew on that will be mine one day. My mother in law who is 92 has her mother’s treadle in the garage. I wouldn’t mind having that either đŸ˜‰
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It would be fun to see what it’s like to sew on a treadle. I do have an older Singer from the 50s that I bought in an estate sale a few years ago, but it’s not as cool as the Featherweight.
Anne
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Very sorry for your fall. I hope you have a quick recovery. It is very common with many injuries according to my pickle ball friends. My bone spur on my shoulder has kept me away from pickle and golf. Your friend is going to love that hat! Enjoy family time. Wow! Beautiful antique singer, a true treasure. More beautiful flowers, thanks for sharing. Our granddaughter will be going to the University of Oregon in Portland this fall!
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I’m really excited to that that Featherweight tuned up and purring!
Anne
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Glad to hear you weren’t hurt too badly. Don’t give up on pickle ball. I’m a 70 year old player and just started last fall. I fell a couple times early on but haven’t fallen since. You kind of get used to where your feet are and your balance improves swiftly after a fall. đŸ˜‰ as you don’t want to fall again. As long as I can keep getting up I’m gonna play pickle ball. We have a few 80 year olds in our group too. Btw I also love your hats, especially modeled by your dogs! And all the photos of flowers and skies. đŸŒ¹thanks and keep posting.
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One of the things I really like about pickleball is that i’ve seen a good number of people older than me out there playing! I love the idea of something I can play into my retirement! I’m hooked!
Anne
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They are putting in pickle ball courts at our golf club but I’m not going there! My age starts with a 7 and I know better than to tempt fate. I like golf too much to risk hurting myself—and I probably would. My golf friend just broke her ankle going to the bathroom during the night!
I have been sewing on my featherweight that my mom gave me for the last 2days. I’m piecing the Lady Tulip BOM. from Laundry Basket quilts. It sews like a top and purrs like a kitten-I love it for piecing.
Fun hats! When I find time I will try one. Be careful with the pickle ball-your dogs will never forgive you if you get hurt!
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Another Featherweight lover! I can’t wait to get it tuned up and fire her up! She’s so gorgeous!
Anne
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I love your weekend,dogs, resilience, hats,skies and cheery eye for beauty.Thanks for sharing ,best wishes for cool knee wraps in future
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Thanks for reading! My knee is so much better!
Anne
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That Featherweight looks like it has been well used. That usually means it will work as smooth as butter once you get it all oiled and dusted off. If you have any questions about where to oil it (38 places) you can check the manual for pictures. Enjoy. My favorite 221 is not really pretty but it sews like a dream.
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A friend of mine who has a couple of Featherweights recommended that I purchase a refurbishing kit. It has an exhaustive manual plus everything you need to make sure your machine is in good working order. I’m going to get that and get it going! I don’t want to sew on it until I get it tuned up. I’d hate to have the engine seize up on me!
Anne
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OUCH! Sorry to read of your trip! It sounds as if eveything will heal on it’s own ~ thank goodness. Ahh, that sewing machine . . simpler times when beauty was a MUST on machines. All macines from that era have beautiful design work on them. I love it! I am a sucker for anything visually beautiful and antique. Speaking of beauty . . . your photos are beautiful! I never get tired of looking at what others see and deem worthy. So interesting! Now, those *DOGGIES* ~ they look GREAT in your hats. 2 models for you ro use, right there in your home. Nice Hope your event with them is a success. Love your writing ~ thanks!
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I’m feeling much better already. Can’t even feel the damage to my knee. My rib will take a little longer. But even after a couple of active days it’s feeling better.
That little Featherweight is so beautiful. So simple but just gorgeous lines and design. I think its simplicity is part of what makes it so wonderful!
Anne
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I saw the feather weight you were given,pretty sweet. BUT, I have my mom’s it’s just like what you were given, had it cleaned and a good adjustment….I found it a little rough to sew on, I know you have a bernina….I have an janome…..electronic machines, what a difference.
Enjoy the feather weight tho, they are cute. I don’t use mine to sew, just a treasure.
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I have a friend who had a nice, modern machine and still does all of her intricate paper piecing on her Featherweight. I’m really looking forward to getting it all tuned up and give it a try. It will be fun to have something that’s easier to take with me. And it’s so freaking Cute!
Anne
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Beautiful hats, featherweight, roses, and apples.
My husband worked in an apple orchard for many years during his summers off from teaching. They always thinned clusters of apples, so the individual apples would be larger. He says the width of your hand is a good measure for spacing.
I hope there are no repercussions from the fall.
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Love all your pictures apples, roses and sunsets as well as hats & bags
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Thanks! It’s all helping me notice my surroundings!
Anne
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