Grandma’s Little Singer
Posted on January 21, 2025 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio NewsSo many have asked about my little Singer sewing machine that I decided I’d just make a whole post about her!
This little machine belonged to my grandmother. It lived in her utility room some of the time, and in her breezeway some of the time.
I’ve sewed a lot of miles on this machine at her house. Made a lot of my own clothes during junior high and high school. And lots of quilt pieces have gone through this machine.
She’s a model 15-91, NOT a Featherweight. I have the original manual, and an entire box of specialty feet for her, too, which I will probably never use (but have used some of them in the past when making clothing items).
After my grandmother passed away, I purchased the machine on her estate sale. It has so many good memories attached to it, I couldn’t let it go. Back then, the cabinet looked like this, and I just kept it folded up and used it as the sewing table for my newer machine.
Back when “antiquing” furniture was a big thing — haha! I never liked this color, but hesitated to paint over it, since it was how Grandma liked it. But then I got to thinking . . . Grandma painted it this color because she didn’t like how it was before, and if I don’t like the color, I should paint over it, too! She would have! So I did. Or rather, my friend, Cindy, came up one day and painted it for me.
I have tried to use the machine every so often, just to keep it in shape and make sure it’s still working. Over the past year, tho, I didn’t use it at all, with everything we had going on. And I hadn’t even moved it over from the old house yet.
But when the weather threatened to freeze hard, and I figured it would get below freezing temps in the old house, I decided I had better get it moved so it wouldn’t freeze. I didn’t think that would be good for it.
So now she’s in her new spot in my new studio, and I broke her open to get her cleaned up and put into service.
She’s got some pretty features!
And I could still stand to do a bit more cleaning . . .
Reader Kelly gave me info on a web site where I could look up when she was made, and it says her birthday is December 20, 1946. So she is 78 years old! Wow!
She still sews like a dream. It had been so long since I used her, I had to get out the manual to figure out how to oil and thread her.
My next move is to change over to black thread and pull out a project I’ve been procrastinating on because I don’t like changing the thread back and forth in my JUKI. I’ll just keep this one threaded up with black and use her to do the projects that need black thread! And I can also leave her set up over here, since I have a completely different sewing station for my JUKI now. That will ensure that I use her more often to keep her in shape.
UPDATE: Here’s the website Kelly referred me to, where I found my machine info: ismacs.net
And here is another site that reader, Rose, sent along: The Singer Featherweight Shop
And I decided that my little machine needed a name, so I’ve named her Lucille, after my grandmother, Mildred Lucille!
Wow! I’m in awe of your treasure! Such a great story.
What a great story!
So pretty! She is the same age as Cher!
I love my 15-91. Such a beautiful stitch!
Love vintage machines. I learned to sew on a Singer like a little newer than yours. Enjoy
My grandmother gave me her machine just like that when I was about 10 when she got a new machine. I used that machine for two years and then my parents traded it in and got me a brand new machine. I wish now that I still had that machine as grandma was the one who taught me to sew. I have the machine she purchased that replaced the old black machine. I like your idea of keeping a machine threaded with black thread and I’m going to use it.
Your little machine is a beauty. I love the old machines, to look at and to sew with. Glad you were able to find her birthday. I learned to sew on an old Singer when I started 4-H in 3rd grade. I think that is why I love them so much.
My grandmother gave my mum her 15K treadle. I loved it. I used to sit and work the treadle, sometimes sitting on it. Mum swapped it for a new plastic one and my heart broke. I did borrow it to make curtains and killed it. Since then my first foray into little Singers was a hand crank 99K. Then I found a 15K treadle. It has a wooden cabinet, not the cast iron that was my grandmother’s. I called her Vera because she has the RAF decals! Since then I had a 66K treadle (Jeanette MacDonald because she was calling me) and another treadle Agent Peggy Carter – a 201K. All are 1930s ladies. I have a few hand cranks too. Not got a fiddle based one – although I’d love it. My favourite to use is Jeanette because she sews like a dream – I cleaned her up after a garage find. All were cleaned and repaired by me. I like them so much more than Jezebel the Janome!
I “rescued” two Singers in their cases from a quilt shop. They acquired them through a trade with a customer and the shop decided it was worth “messing with them” to get them back to perfect working order. The owner told me I could have them if I picked them up by 1 pm. After that they were going to the city dump. I called my grandson who hopped in his dad’s pickup and brought them to me. I am guessing one is a 1930’s model and it has belt issues. There other maybe a 1940’s and it sews pretty good; but, doesn’t have a manual. What is the website you used to get the info on your machine? I just couldn’t stand seeing them go to the dump!
The web site is The Featherweight Shop.
She’s a beauty. How fun to have family heirlooms and actually get to use them.
LOVE!❤️
Old vintage Singers are the best! Can’t beat their beautiful stitching. You are so lucky to have one you have a history with.
that is so cool. once I get all my machines set out and such. I will send over pictures for you to see. happy quilting
So glad you got the machine moved and are using it. Sadly, I traded my grandmother’s in for a way newer model without tension issues. So sorry I ever did that I have 3 antique machines and love them. This was after I learned from quilting community how these old machines can be brought back to usefulness.
My Singer was purchased secondhand in1947 by my father for his bride,my mother. It’s a beauty with wood cabinet supported by very heavy cast iron legs. It has four drawers and one front drop down drawer with dividers. It is complete with all its attachments and extra rubber pulley for the pedal mechanism. The machine stores inside the cabinet “belly” and the top has a beautiful wood lid. I could use this cabinet for my desk when doing homework. I learned to sew on this treasure.
I have the exact cabinet, only in dark brown with machine inside sitting in my living room. Got it from a neighbors garage sale many years ago! We tuned it up when I got it, but have not used it in a long time and probably should! Just fun to see yours–and I like the paint job!
I have a Singer 301 that I piece with–accuracy is so easy with those old machines!
I have my Mom’s 1951 White…in a case it sews very well. I remember my Mom repairing my Dad’s combine canvas on the porch. My brother just found the warranty it says that it’s still covered for some mechanical parts…what a laugh. Mr. White and I have fun sewing lots of charity quilts.
Keep her running, Shelly!
Keep using it. I have several antique machines. Like you, I have been using one of my featherweight because my main machine had black thread that I wasn’t ready to change but needed white. I really should switch them.