Start with a rectangular, square, or long narrow piece of cloth.
Fold one corner, C, to get 5 true bias B E..
Cut through the fold, B E. Make a parallelogram by joining straight edges (those of equal length) BC and AD with the seam on the wrong side of the material. Stitch and press seam open.
On the wrong side of the material, draw pencil lines the width desired for the bias -1¼" or 1½" Begin at one bias edge, as at the left, and mark across toward the bias edge on the right.
Seem straight edges together, making a tube of the cloth.
With the material wrong side up, grasp the lower left and upper right-hand corner. Turn over and bring together the straight edges, with one corner of the cloth the width of the Bias (1¼ or 1½”) beyond the other. Pencil lines will meef, except at corners. Stitch and press the seam apart.
Cut along the penciled marks and you will have a continuous bias.
Place cord inside a fold of bias. Stitch, using a long machine stitch and a cording foot.
One yard of 35“ material will cut about 20 Yards of bias 1½ wide.
One-quarter yard of 40" material will cut about 10 yards of bias 1¼" wide
The sticker price did not keep up with inflation- it was $145 in 1948 and remained $145 in 1950.
Buffalo NY Courier Express 1958 Singer Featherweight Ad
I miss Hengerer’s. I’m too young to remember the Singer Sewing Center on the second floor. I do wonder which slant model they were selling for $237.50 especially since the 301 Floor Model was going for $237.50 as well.
Buffalo NY Courier Express 1961 Singer Featherweight Ad
These prices! Even taking into account inflation. A singer featherweight for $4.50????
Buffalo NY Courier Express 1968 Singer Featherweight Ad
In today’s dollars that machine would cost about $687. But look! It is the start of the decline of the Singer Sewing Machines The newest Touch & Throw (opps TOUCH & SEW®) machines are available for $149.95. Buy the damn Featherweight® your grandchildren will love you for it.
Cortland NY Standard 1948 Singer Featherweight Ad
That same machine? Would be almost $2,000 today.
Greenfield MA Recorder Gazette 1953 Singer Featherweight Ad
Today’s dollars for that $19 used Featherweight? $168. Try finding a 1953 era Featherweight for $168 in today’s market.
Troy NY Times Record 1954 Featherweight Ad
I love that in 1954 Treadle Sewing Machines were still advertised (Newly manufactured machines to Treadle or handcrank are still available- they are typically sold domestically to Amish communities and internationally to developing countries)
Twin Falls ID Times News 1967 Featherweight Ad
As always a HUGE thank you to Fulton History who makes it so easy to find vintage ads (like these Singer Featherweight ads) to blog about.
