Nifty little tool

[catlyn]

I found this neat little magnifier and light tool.
It's "Mighty Bright Vusion Magnifier and Craft Light".
I think the magnifier part of it could have been a little larger but basically it seems to be a big help to me to be able to see the holes better.
I am working on 28 count right now over 2 threads and I was constantly getting my needle in the wrong hole.
Ya'll probably already know about this little tool but I was just so amazed with it I had to post something about it.
If you haven't tried it, you might want to, especially if you're like me....over 40 with failing eyesight.....I'm 56, and not blind by any means, but NOT what my eyesight used to be 40 years ago either.
It operates with batteries OR an AC adapter and I did order the adapter.
Now I don't have to move a lamp around from living room to bedroom everytime I move with my stitching.

[~threadbear~]

I'm glad it's working out so well for you. I have seen this before but thought the magnified area looked small and was wondering about being able to get it in exactly the right position to be able to see as I worked on different area's within the frame. It's good to hear from someone who's using it though and getting on well with it.

For now, I've gone for using normal (cheap from the local chemist) reading glasses but got the optician to suggest which prescription to use (as I need stronger than my usual reading ones to see the high counts). This seems to help me as I can then see whatever area I'm looking at clearly, as long as I've got a good light as well of course.

[catlyn]

I'm glad it's working out so well for you. I have seen this before but thought the magnified area looked small and was wondering about being able to get it in exactly the right position to be able to see as I worked on different area's within the frame. It's good to hear from someone who's using it though and getting on well with it.

For now, I've gone for using normal (cheap from the local chemist) reading glasses but got the optician to suggest which prescription to use (as I need stronger than my usual reading ones to see the high counts). This seems to help me as I can then see whatever area I'm looking at clearly, as long as I've got a good light as well of course.

Yes, it's working out quite well for me. The magnifier could have been a little larger, yes, but actually I can't work on but just one stitch at a time anyway and it moves easily and the little arms are flexible and they stay in position when it's moved.
And the light has two levels of brightness.
It seems that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.....I was carrying a desk lamp around with me and having to focus it onto my work, it's really large, I had to sit way up at the side of the sofa with my work under the lamp.
This little tool I'm using now is focused on the work instead of me having to put my work to the lamp.
I think when I get used to it it will become automatic.

[Granny]

Discussion of light seems to be recurring. Do you realize that your eyes lose sharpness even though they may not register i?. I don't have the info any longer but with each decade of age your light bulb wattage needs to be increased for you to see the same degree of sharpness. I now use 100w or bigger equivalent florescent bulbs in daylight if at all possible. I much prefer the overall brightness to having to use more specialized tools. I'm 65 and getting by with my optometrist glasses only whereas 10 to 15 years ago before I knew about the wattage I was using a magnifying lamp, etc and still having difficulty. I have been wearing progressive lens bifocals since early 40s.

[Fibreartist]

That little light/magnifier sounds really cool. Do you have a picture of it? Or a link?
That's depressing news about needing more light as you age. But it makes sense. When I just learned to stitch at age 19 I could stitch away in a near dark room and now I need my ott light and magnifier. I was at a stitching gathering once and the room was fairly dark as the sun was just going down and the lights were overhead and not really bright. Some people had portable ott lights but this one youngish woman was sitting on the floor working on TW "Peacock Majesty" !!!!!!! Now those eyes must be really sharp!

[Carole]

I have one of the tiny Mighty Bright ones that clips onto the hoop or frame and it's really good for travelling. I've upgraded to a larger floorstanding one for the house now as I wanted a better light but yes, the Mighty Bright ones are very good.