Nuts about Needlepoint » disabled stitching

How to Buy a Magnifier

Janet Perry — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:50:52 +0000

I got a question recently about buying a magnifier. I can’t use these because they aggravate my vision problems, but if you are considering this, take some time before you go looking to do some research.

No I don’t mean poke around looking at sites for products, but think about how you will use them. Ask yourself some questions:
What I can tell you is that you should think about how and where you will be using it in order to narrow down the options.

Ask yourself questions such as this:

Will I be using it at home only or when I travel to guild meetings and classes?
If you will be using it for classes, you’ll need one that’s portable.
When I’m at home do I have a table nearby for holding the magnifier?
If not, I’ll need one that hangs on my neck, sits on your nose (glasses), or sits on the floor.
Will I need light as well?
If so, look only at magnifiers with lights attached.
How much magnification do I need?
Different lamps have different amounts, so some might be too weak or too strong.
Do I need color matching?
Then I should consider true light bulbs/lamps only.
Do I get migraines?
I know some people who have problems with some brands of light because the flickering causes migraines for them.

Whatever lamp you consider, try it out first to be sure it works for you. This is especially true for more expensive models. Some shops will let you try out the models there or borrow ones from your friends to try.

When you try them, do so under the conditions you normally stitch, in your regular chair. with your regular lighting, and with the mesh size you usually use. This is the best way to determine if a magnifier will work for you.

Once you have narrowed down your list, it’s time to do the fun thing — shop!

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Large Finger-hole Scissors – 12 Days of Needlepoint Gifts

Janet Perry — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:23:19 +0000

Good scissors are such a joy to use. You might find your scissors more a pain than a pleasure. I did. And then I found large finger-hole scissors.

They made my life so much easier.

The only difference between regular scissors, pictured below, and large finger-hole scissors, pictured at the top of the article, is the size of the holes.

But what a difference that makes. Instead of scissors which pinch as you manipulate them, these scissors fit on your fingers and are comfortable. If you’re doing lots of cutting, this means a smaller chance of blisters or bruising. And no annoying deep grooves in your fingers.

Besides all of that if your fingers are stiff, these work better as well. With the large holes, they are easier to grasp. I have a few pairs like this, ranging from fine embroidery scissors to a more serviceable everyday pair with plastic covered holes.

Great idea for a stocking stuffer!

Stitching Aids for Disabled Stitchers

Janet Perry — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:26:46 +0000

Earlier this week on one of my discussion groups, someone asked about what kinds of aids there were for stitchers who had suffered a stroke and thereby lost use of one hand.

This is a subject close to my heart, because my initial MS attack was misdiagnosed as a stroke for over five years (until I had a second ) attack. Many of the problems I’ve had are similar to those people with strokes have.

Obviously the most useful tool here is a stand. which holds your needlework firmly in place. There are many kinds of stands from ones which sit on the floor, to ones which sit on your lap. They are big investments, which improve anyone’s stitching, so test out some and think about how and where you stitch before buying.

Scissors can be a real problem, but Fiskars makes a pair of shears with short blades which you squeeze to cut. They have nice padded handles too. These are great and could be used to cut thread ends. They may have a smaller size out by now, but if people need smaller scissors, they should look for Thread Snips, which also work by squeezing.

There also may be some problem threading needles. I haven’t tried them but Clover makes an automatic needle threader. I think you load up with needles and put the thread in a press a button. I read that it worked with all kinds of needles.

Lights, especially florescent are a problem because of flickering. You may find compact florescent bulbs better than thing like Ott Lights. Good light may help a lot.

Tacks for mounting canvas are also a problem (it’s that fine motor control thing). Get big head tacks. The best I’ve found are quilter’s tacks, they are stronger (and cheaper). To get the tacks out, try either one of those tools (I can’t remember the name) or a lever-style staple remover. Then you don’t have to work as hard or have as much strength to get the tacks out. Buy quilter’s tack at quilt shops and fabric stores. Store them in a tin can or box.

I also find that the more I can do in advance, the easier stitching is, so I do things like cut my skeins of thread as soon as I open the package, put things onto thread tags so I don’t lose labels, mark my stretcher bars with the sizes big enough so I can read them, and buy project bags, lots of them, so each current project is in it’s own bag. I also buy lots and lots of needles and keep them in used TicTac containers, because I can drop three in one evening of stitching.

Even with all this, there are times I can’t stitch because of weakness, when this happens I get out some old needlepoint books and look at the projects and dream of future things to stitch. When my hands start to hurt, or the stitches start to bee too hard, I always take a break for awhile, because continuing makes it worse. I stitch much more slowly than I used to.

The hardest thing, I think, of having a stroke is learning how to go easy and slowly. It can be hard and depending on your customer’s attitudes you might even want to say (and it’s true) that these tools will help anyone stitch more easily.