I need help from quilters who have overcome vision problems
09-10-2010, 10:59 PM
#41
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
Originally Posted by raptureready
I have cataracts and the doctor can't find a lens that will allow my left eye to focus properly. I go slowly and do a lot by feel. Stay away from dark colors, and work in a well lit area. Will it be perfect? No. Is anyone else's perfect? No. Just enjoy it while you can and don't worry about any imperfections. Your loved ones will appreciate and cherish anything that you're able to make.
09-11-2010, 07:23 AM
#43
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,775
Originally Posted by pookie ookie
Lots of great advice here. I'll skip my magnifier advice as that's been well covered.
Clover Fork Pins. I would never match up seams without them.
I have a very hard time with dark fabrics. I can't see anything well if a dark fabric is involved. Contrasting thread and pencil-thick markings vanish.
I use a pounce pad for outlining templates and stencils on dark fabrics.
I haven't found a decent marker for dark fabrics and white/silver pencils don't work for me at all. Need a thick marker.
Clover Fork Pins. I would never match up seams without them.
I have a very hard time with dark fabrics. I can't see anything well if a dark fabric is involved. Contrasting thread and pencil-thick markings vanish.
I use a pounce pad for outlining templates and stencils on dark fabrics.
I haven't found a decent marker for dark fabrics and white/silver pencils don't work for me at all. Need a thick marker.
Be careful with the bright white artificial light....It can actually be very harmful for your sight.....I cannot live without the automatic needle threader and evoiding dark fabric is another good advice.....
I had sent you a PM too.....
Have fun and good luck
09-11-2010, 08:27 AM
#44
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Canton, Ohio
Posts: 1,403
Hello from another fellow blind person. It sounds like most of the assistive devices have been covered. As a blind person the best advise I can give you is to go slow and learn how to "feel" what you are doing. I have bright lights and magnifiers and needle threaders, but nothing works better than "feeling" what I'm doing. If you need a good website for assistive devices for the visually impaired I use www.MaxiAids.com. They have a ton of different assistive devices for different tasks. Check it out and see what works best for you. Oh, I also have a CCTV which has a movable platform (can't think of the right word for it) where I can set my work and blow it up (magnify it) to HUGE and focus to see what I'm doing on what looks like a computer monitor screen. They are expensive ($4G range) but you can probably get assistance paying for one or find an organization that will donate one to you. It's been my saving grace. And it doesn't limit me. I do points or whatever I want and although not perfect it's darn near close. (And it had better be 'cause I'm a perfectionist, lol)! As for marking dark fabric, I just use regular white school chalk. It's easy to see and it washes right out. It's perfect for marking quilting lines. I also have a hard time seeing blue (most of the quilting pens are washout blue and it's too lite) so I bought childrens crayola washable markers. Just pick the color that works best for you on the fabric you are working with. I always cut off a piece of fabric and mark all over it first with the marker and let it dry. Then wash it out to make sure it will wash out before I mark all over my quilt. I hope this helps. GOOD LUCK!!! Oh, also, I got some VERY POWERFUL magnifying glasses I got from my Dr. You can't buy them at your local pharmacy or WM. They are made in Germany. They are 6X. They also make a huge difference. Also very expensive, but with the right dr. you can get assistance paying for them or with the right organization you can get them donated for free. Sorry this is so long but I wanted to make sure I covered everything. There is so much to cover and I didn't cover it all so if you have any questions, feel free to PM me. And again, Good luck!
Check out my avatar, it's my seeing eye dog. Handsome, isn't he!!!
Check out my avatar, it's my seeing eye dog. Handsome, isn't he!!!
09-11-2010, 07:50 PM
#45
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 203
Originally Posted by quilterguy27
Hello from another fellow blind person. It sounds like most of the assistive devices have been covered. As a blind person the best advise I can give you is to go slow and learn how to "feel" what you are doing. I have bright lights and magnifiers and needle threaders, but nothing works better than "feeling" what I'm doing. If you need a good website for assistive devices for the visually impaired I use www.MaxiAids.com. They have a ton of different assistive devices for different tasks. Check it out and see what works best for you. Oh, I also have a CCTV which has a movable platform (can't think of the right word for it) where I can set my work and blow it up (magnify it) to HUGE and focus to see what I'm doing on what looks like a computer monitor screen. They are expensive ($4G range) but you can probably get assistance paying for one or find an organization that will donate one to you. It's been my saving grace. And it doesn't limit me. I do points or whatever I want and although not perfect it's darn near close. (And it had better be 'cause I'm a perfectionist, lol)! As for marking dark fabric, I just use regular white school chalk. It's easy to see and it washes right out. It's perfect for marking quilting lines. I also have a hard time seeing blue (most of the quilting pens are washout blue and it's too lite) so I bought childrens crayola washable markers. Just pick the color that works best for you on the fabric you are working with. I always cut off a piece of fabric and mark all over it first with the marker and let it dry. Then wash it out to make sure it will wash out before I mark all over my quilt. I hope this helps. GOOD LUCK!!! Oh, also, I got some VERY POWERFUL magnifying glasses I got from my Dr. You can't buy them at your local pharmacy or WM. They are made in Germany. They are 6X. They also make a huge difference. Also very expensive, but with the right dr. you can get assistance paying for them or with the right organization you can get them donated for free. Sorry this is so long but I wanted to make sure I covered everything. There is so much to cover and I didn't cover it all so if you have any questions, feel free to PM me. And again, Good luck!
Check out my avatar, it's my seeing eye dog. Handsome, isn't he!!!
Check out my avatar, it's my seeing eye dog. Handsome, isn't he!!!
09-12-2010, 01:43 PM
#47
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NC
Posts: 97
I can't thank you all for the advice you have given me and especialy the encouragement. I have had laser several times but now my retina specialist is giving me avastin injections in my left eye when it starts to bleed.(I have the wet form) So far it has been able to stop the bleeding in my left eye.My right eye is count fingers my center vision is gone in it.
My mother had this and was legally blind in both eyes by my age. My sister has it as well as my brother and an aunt and an uncle. I am the only one who has the wet form everyone else has the dry form. Thank you all for the tips (some I already use) and encouragement. I am truly blessed and am so glad I found this great group of quilters.
My mother had this and was legally blind in both eyes by my age. My sister has it as well as my brother and an aunt and an uncle. I am the only one who has the wet form everyone else has the dry form. Thank you all for the tips (some I already use) and encouragement. I am truly blessed and am so glad I found this great group of quilters.
09-13-2010, 11:19 AM
#48
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2
I also have Macular Degeneration. I have been having Lucentis injections in my eye for about three years and they have taken away the dark spot I first saw in the beginning. I have some
blurred vision in that eye, but I can see much better. Maybe you could find an Opthamologist that could help you. Good lighting and a magnifier for your machine would also help.
Good luck.
blurred vision in that eye, but I can see much better. Maybe you could find an Opthamologist that could help you. Good lighting and a magnifier for your machine would also help.
Good luck.
09-13-2010, 03:51 PM
#49
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: High Desert, CA
Posts: 34
I have double vision and have had to give up some crafts ... woodworking for instance (sometimes can't tell which is the 'real' finger and which is the 'real' saw blade.) Haven't tried painting yet, but sewing is the one thing that I can still manage. I'm with you ... keep doing what you can as long as you can. Good luck and hope you have many years of sight!!
09-16-2010, 10:27 AM
#50
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northern New Hampshire
Posts: 1,936
I have cateracts in my left eye and causes problems reading and doing any fine work. Some days magnifying glass around my neck helps, definately worjing with a daylight bulb and only during the day time. One last trick I use sometimes is closing my bad eye and only using my good eye. It does cause eye strain however if I have a project I want to complete for a deadline I'll use all the tricks I can think of.
Andie
Andie
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