LOADED GORGEOUS SINGER 301 - FEATHERWEIGHT BIG SISTER

As a Teddy Bear Artist I have used and collected the beloved Singer Featherweights for more than 10 years, over 100 in all. Along the way I’ve found a few other Singer machines that were so beautiful that, although they weren’t Featherweights, I simply had to own them. This is one of those machines. Her name is Sandra (I name all of my machines to keep track of them), and she was born in 1951.  The Singer 301 is remarkably strong and quiet and is the perfect sewing machine for the serious seamstress.  This 301 should give her new owner a lifetime of trouble-free service.

Singer manufactured the Model 301 for just two years, 1951 and 1956. Maybe Singer intended for the 301 to replace the 221 Featherweight, which had been in production since 1934.  The 301 does share many parts with its famous and slightly smaller sister, as you’ll see in the following pictures. This listing includes all the goodies and then some.  Be sure and note the reflection of the backdrop quilt in the mirror-like finish of this beautiful Singer 301 Sewing Machine!

Sandra is a little bit heavier than a Featherweight, but equipped with a built-in folding handle to make it easy for you to move her around your sewing room.

Manufactured for a very short time, the Model 301 is difficult to find, and when you do find one it will most typically be the solid “mocha” color or the two-tone beige and cream.  Black and gold 301s are very rare – much harder to find than almost any of the Featherweight models – and are almost impossible to find in this condition. This Singer 301 is nothing short of spectacular. It looks almost the same as it did the day it went home from the sewing shop with its first proud owner.  The black paint shines like a new car and the gold decals are all there.  Other than a few teeny tiny marks, it's as thought she's been silently hidden in her case all these years waiting for her special owner.

Sandra’s original Singer bobbin case is one of the parts she shares with the Featherweight.

A nice touch is the Art Deco-style gold decal Singer placed on this side of the machine.   It would fit in just fine in Miami Beach!

Sandra’s powerful sewing motor is housed inside the bottom cover.  This makes for a lovely, quiet purr when stitching.   The Singer 301 is gear driven – no belt to change or adjust.

Sandra sews like the wind – as you’ll see in upcoming photos – and she shows beautifully, too!  She will most assuredly occupy a place of honor in your sewing room.  This is not a sewing machine you'll want to keep in her case, but is one you will display and use with pride.  The stamped throat plate makes it so easy to create even seams.

Sandra also shares her Original Bakelite foot controller with the Featherweight.

Sandra sews a perfect, even stitch.

Sandra comes with all of these extras

· Original Singer Accessory Box

· Original Instruction Manual

· Ruffler

· Gatherer

· Multi-Slotted Binder

· Foot Hemmer

· Edge Stitcher

· Adjustable Hemmer

· Zipper Foot

· Buttonholer with 6 cams

· 6 bobbins

· Original Large and Small Screwdrivers

· Tips and Hints I’ve gathered over the years

· Help and support anytime you need it. I’m only an email away.

The original “Owner’s Manual” and the Instruction Booklet for the Buttonholer.

I was delightfully surprised the first time I tried Singer’s sewing attachments at how wonderful and easy they are to use!  Although there is a bit of a learning curve to some of them, they are not nearly as difficult to use as I thought they would be. It won’t take much effort to master the attachments and they certainly add a professional touch to your projects.  Here is Sandra showing off some of her abilities with the Buttonholer and the Ruffler.

And here are the other attachments at work. These photos were taken while I was sewing with some of my other machines. First, another view of the Buttonholer.

Three photos of the Edge Stitcher at work attaching Lace, making a French Seam, and making a Piped Edge.

Here’s the Adjustable Hemmer.  
As the name implies, it makes perfect hems any size you need.  It's the perfect attachment for hemming items like pillowcases.

Using the Gatherer for Shirring.

The Foot Hemmer Attaching Lace and Hemming in one simple operation.

The Multiple Slotted Binder doing a Piped Edge first, and then attaching Binding.

Pop a leather needle into this Singer sewing machine, and upholstery or other heavy projects will be no problem at all.

And finally, the Ruffler making Pleats.

I know some of you may be thinking, “There’s no way I will ever be able to do that.”  But you can. I learned how to use all of these attachments, and you can too!  A quiet hour, a cup of tea and a bit of concentration and you'll be a pro in no time.

Sandra’s case is solid and in good condition overall. It does have some dings and scars, especially on the back, that it has picked over 58 years of protecting its precious cargo.  The latches are sturdy and the handle is strong.

Sandra and her accessories fit neatly inside.   The lid features a handy clip to hold the Foot Pedal nice and securely.

Thank you for stopping by. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at Cathy@CathyLynnForcino.com If you decide to bring Sandra home, rest assured that she will be professionally packed using all new materials to ensure a safe journey. I’ve shipped sewing machines as far away as Japan, and they have all arrived with no problems.