My home is all electric and when our power goes off I use battery powered lanterns. Coal oil lamps don't put off much light. Sure do admire my grandmother & aunts that sewed with lamps. I do have a small generator that my son in law hooks up for me when I need it. No electricity = no coffee, no heat & no hot food. I can just barely see good enough with my lantern to sew on my treadle which is impossible to get near a window. Wouldn't want to do it forever.