It is astonishing to see incredibly fine embroidery work from a bygone age, done when there was no electricity and therefore no artificial lighting. When you consider that many women would not have had the opportunity to do any embroidery during the day, because it was when they were working in the fields or at home, how did they see sewing at night?! I really don’t know the answer to this. If she’s ever tried to sew by candlelight during a power outage, she’ll marvel with me at her accomplishment.
If I am sewing during the day, I prefer to sit by a window and allow daylight to illuminate my work. Colors are more accurate and it doesn’t add anything to the greenhouse effect or my electric bill! However, sometimes I want to sew at night, when there is little or no natural light available. So it is wonderful that today we have the advantage of electricity and many wonderful lamps to illuminate our work and make it easier to see while embroidering. This will help with accurate needle placement and protection from eye strain or eye strain. So how do we use these lamps to help us best?
Incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, true color, etc.?
There are many different types of light bulbs. Many seamstresses feel that true color lamps, such as Ott lights and daylight lamps, are the holy grail of embroidery lighting. They provide illumination that does not give a warm or cool color cast to the light as many other types of light do. If color is important in your sewing, a true color lamp may be what you need.
However, the normal incandescent and fluorescent bulbs in your lamp may also work well. They are much less expensive than true color lamps, and there is certainly no reason why you can’t use them. Yeah! Just keep in mind that they are not true color and will change the colors of the threads and the fabric you are using. If you are using these types of bulbs, check and choose all colors in sunlight.
Halogen lights are a popular type of lighting in contemporary homes and can be used to illuminate while you are sewing your embroidery. Please note that halogen bulbs produce UV rays that can damage skin (just like sunlight). Choose a bulb that filters these rays so your skin is safe.
Standing lamps
If you are right-handed, the best place to place a lamp is so that the light shines over your left shoulder and onto your work. This will mean that your sewing hand will not obstruct the light when it falls on your work area. If you’re left-handed, you’ll want to position the lamp so it shines over your right shoulder. Experiment with the precise position to get the best effect.
Desk or table lamps
If you are right-handed, place the lamp on the table to your left. This will mean that your sewing hand will not obstruct the light when it falls on your work area. If you are left-handed, place the table lamp on your right. Experiment with the exact position and proximity of the light for maximum benefit.
clip-on lamps
I find small, clip-on, battery-operated lamps with LED bulbs to be a great portable option. By hooking the lamp to my hoop or sewing frame, I can work in good lighting wherever I am, whether it’s my children’s after-school classes or sports activities, in a cafe or in a waiting room. For right-handed people, place the lamp on the far side of the frame or the ring on the left side, and vice versa for left-handed people.
By choosing your lighting carefully and placing it well, you too should be able to do exquisite embroidery, just like the days of yore!
