Key points
- A 222K has a removable bed section that leaves a free arm. A 221 doesn’t.
- A 222K has a SEW/DARN lever to drop the feed dogs. A 221 needs a cover plate.
- Every 222K was made at Kilbowie in Scotland, so its serial starts EJ to ES.
- About 100,000 222Ks were made, against roughly 3–3.5 million 221s.
- Attachments are shared, but a 221 case may not close over a 222K.
The short versionTwo machines, one family
The 221 Featherweight went into production in 1933 at Elizabethport, New Jersey. At just over 11 lb it was a full lockstitch machine you could carry in one hand, and it stayed in production in one form or another until the late 1960s. Estimates of production run to about 3–3.5 million.
The 222K was a development of it, made only at Kilbowie, Scotland, from July 1953. Singer sold it in the UK, Europe, Australia and some in Canada, but didn’t market it in the USA. Production ended in 1961 after about 100,000 machines (sewalot puts it at about 110,000). Singer called it a “Free-Arm” or “Convertible” model; sewalot notes collectors have called it the “Queen of Singers”.
Side by sideThe differences that matter
| 221 | 222K | |
|---|---|---|
| Free arm | No. Fixed bed with a fold-up left extension | Yes. Part of the bed lifts away to leave a tubular arm |
| Feed dogs | Can’t be dropped; use a cover plate | SEW/DARN lever drops them |
| Where made | Elizabethport (221), Kilbowie (221K), Canada (221J) | Kilbowie, Scotland only |
| Serial prefix | US: A-series such as AD–AM. UK: E-series | EJ, EK, EL, EM, EN, EP, ER or ES |
| Years | 1933 to the late 1960s (sources differ on the end) | July 1953 to 1961 (ISMACS’s model list gives 1955–64) |
| Height | Standard | A fraction taller |
| Made | About 3–3.5 million | About 100,000–110,000 |
Sources: singer-featherweight.com, singersewinginfo and sewalot.
The quickest checkRead the serial number first
The serial is the fastest way to rule a 222K in or out. Every 222K serial starts with one of the Scottish prefixes EJ to ES, because batches ran from EJ in 1953 to ES in 1961. A serial with a US A-series prefix means the machine isn’t a 222K, however it’s described. Look the number up to get the year it was allotted.
A Scottish serial alone doesn’t prove a 222K, though: Kilbowie built the 221K alongside it. Check for the removable bed and the SEW/DARN lever as well.
Badges and finishGold badge or Red S
222Ks made up to mid-1959 carry a plain gold badge with a black patterned border. From around serial EP54xxxx, Singer switched to the “Red S” badge, used until production ended; singersewinginfo puts Red S output at about 25,000 machines.
Like other UK-made Featherweights, the 222K has a plain black painted handwheel and flat-pin plugs for the motor and controller. US-made 221s have a chrome-rimmed handwheel and round-pin plugs, which is a useful way to tell a US 221 from a British one.
Accessories and casesWhat should come with it
Both machines use the same Class 221 bobbin (part 45785) and bobbin case, and singersewinginfo lists the same standard attachment set: hemmers, binder, gatherer, quilter, ruffler, underbraider, cloth guide and screwdrivers. The 222K also came with its own darning and embroidery foot (171071), and an embroidery hoop (171074) is listed with it.
Cases are a trap. Because the 222K is a fraction taller than the 221, a 221 case may not close properly over one. Singersewinginfo describes the 222K’s case as two-tone light blue and dark turquoise. A matching case suggests the outfit has stayed together.
The wider familyEvery Featherweight version at a glance
| Version | What sets it apart |
|---|---|
| 221-1 | The US original from Elizabethport, with a Series 3 motor. |
| 221K1, 221K5 | Early Kilbowie versions with the light switch on the base (CAK6 and CAJ6 motors). |
| 221K4 | The only version with the lamp switch built into the lamp body. |
| 221K7 | The white “last of the line” machine, with an internal toothed belt that makes it slightly quieter. |
| 221J | The tan machine; mostly made in Quebec, Canada, per singer-featherweight.com, while singersewinginfo says Canada and Scotland. |
| 222K (gold badge) | The free-arm model, July 1953 to mid-1959. |
| 222K (Red S) | From about serial EP54xxxx in mid-1959 to 1961. |
Source: singersewinginfo, except where noted. Full details are in our 221 guide.
Looking after eitherCare is almost identical
Both machines take one drop of sewing machine oil per oil hole, after the lint is cleared out, and both have motors with two felt-wicked ports that take motor lubricant, never oil or petroleum jelly. Black Featherweights also have gears to grease at the top and bottom.
The one difference is darning. On a 221 you fit a feed dog cover plate; on a 222K you move the lever to DARN to drop the feed dogs, and back to SEW for normal stitching. Our cleaning and oiling guide covers the full routine.
ChoosingWhich one should you buy?
That depends on how you sew. The 221 is the one most quilters use: a straight stitch, a light machine and a huge supply of parts and know-how. The 222K adds the free arm for cuffs, sleeves and trouser legs, and drop feed for darning and free-motion work, at the cost of being much scarcer and usually dearer.
Whichever you choose, condition comes first. Sewalot’s advice on Featherweights is “condition, condition and … condition.” Check that the foot controller is with the machine, look for rust, and don’t use one that runs only at full speed. Then compare sold prices for the exact model.
QuestionsFrequently asked questions
Is the 222K worth more than the 221?
It is much rarer, about 100,000 made against millions of 221s, and collectors seek it out. Check recent sold prices for the same model and condition to see what that means today.
Was the 222K sold in America?
Singer didn’t market it in the USA. Sewalot adds that fewer than 1,300 were sold in the US between 1955 and 1960.
Do 221 attachments fit the 222K?
Yes. Singersewinginfo lists the same standard attachment set for the 221, 221K and 222K.
Can you drop the feed dogs on a 221?
No. You fit a feed dog cover plate. Only the 222K has a lever to drop them.
Will a 222K fit in a 221 case?
Often not. The 222K is a fraction taller, so a 221 case may not close properly.
ReferencesSources
These are the pages and manuals the facts in this article come from. Where they disagree, we say so in the text.
- singer-featherweight.com/blogs/schoolhouse/timeline-history-of-the-singer-featherweight
- singer-featherweight.com/blogs/schoolhouse/free-arm-featherweight-222k-and-how-it-differs
- singer-featherweight.com/blogs/schoolhouse/singer-featherweight-faqs
- www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/singer_machines/featherweight/models/222k
- www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/singer_machines/featherweight/serial_numbers/222k
- www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/singer_machines/featherweight/models/221k
- www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/singer_machines/featherweight/featherweight_accessories
- www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/singer_machines/featherweight/buying_tips
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer_Featherweight
- sewalot.com/singer_featherweight_222_221_alex_askaroff_sewalot.htm
- ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/singer_featherweight_sewing_machine.html
Published 2 October 2026