My Featherweight Story

Please meet Charlotte Bernice, my very favorite sewing machine.  She is named after the friend (Charlotte) who alerted me to the estate sale ad that listed her and the town (Burnet, Texas) where I purchased her.

I learned to sew on a machine very similar to this, and at one time I had two of these little machines in my possession:  my mother’s and the one I purchased in 1961 for myself.  I was devastated when I discovered both machines were lost.  Mine simply disappeared after a series of moves.  I still have its box of attachments and manual, but after endless searches I had to accept it was gone.  At my mother’s request, her machine had been given to our daughter. When mine turned up lost, I offered to buy my mother’s back only to learn it had been sold two weeks before. 

It took more than a year to locate a replacement, and I am so glad I made the leap and bought it.  It is my “take along” machine for Sit N Sew days and my overall favorite for intricate piecing.  Yes, it does take a little more maintenance than my newer machines, but it was manufactured at a time when most sewing machine maintenance was done at home by the owner.  Even though this machine had obviously not been used in years, after a good cleaning, some lube and oil,and a new belt, all which we were able to do ourselves, she has been sewing like a champ.  …and the best part?  She’s older than I am and still going strong.