I am new to quilting and I have macular degeneration and am finding it difficult to get things lined up straight. I am legally blind in my right eye and my left eye ranges between 20-40 and 20-50. I would appreciate any suggestions. I am 57 and want to quilt while I still have vision in my left eye. Thanks mawcarol

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.

Have you tried using a magnifying glass that is page sized and hangs around your neck? My husband is legally blind in one eye and has low vision in the other. He has used this item in the past. I feel badly for you, having limited sight is so frustrating. Have you tried red work? Using dark red thread on white fabric may be easier on your eyes. Don't give up! Keep looking and you will find something that will work for you.

i use a magnifying swing arm lamp similar to this one

http://www.walmart.com/ip/ELECTRIX-I...i_sku=13136434

There are also magnifying glasses made to attach to your sewing machine.

Or to your glasses.

I also use a magnifying glass, it makes it easier for me to make small stitches for my hand work. There are all kinds of magnifying glasses on the market.

I don't like to do quilts with a lot of matching corners so I choose quilts like the coin strips or panels etc. They look nice without all the points to worry about.

Thanks for all the wonderful ideas. I will let you know which ones work for me. Please don't feel sorry for me. God is good all the time. He won't give me anything that He doesn't give me the strength to handle. Thanks,Mawcarol

I agree, god has been great to all of us who r visually impaired and quilt or anything else in life! Good luck!

Check with your dr there is a new treatment and you are young enough you might be eligible. I think it is in the experimental stage but you still might qualify.

I use a metallic needle most of the time. The eye is bigger and I can thread it more easliy.

I have cataracts also and until I recover sufficiently from 2 other surgeries I have to make do in the sewing room. I use a swing arm lamp for general sewing. When I need to thread a needle I use a strip of white paper behind the needle and a flashlight to see with. Guide my quilt blocks along the 1/4 inch edge of my machines sewing foot. Use a large lamp by my easy chair where I do hand sewing and pressing. Stitch in the ditch by directing the seam exactly in the center of a marked foot. So far, so good! Takes extra time and care but it works for me.

Hello. I am totally blind in my right eye except for just a tiny bit of light that gets thru. Over the last two years My left eye has strengthened but sill has vision like yours so I Tend to close my right eye when quilting or lining things up. Makes it so much better. Funny how just a little is too much. Hope this helps.

I remember reading an article about a blind quilter. Googling, I came across a link to a newsletter where a blind quilter is supposed to have given some ideas:

[You’ll find these tips in the Oct. 31 issue of Kaye Wood’s Quilting Newsletter at http://www.kayewood.com/newsletter.pdf ]

Don't feel like signing up myself, but you may want to.

I know the the Society for the Blind has many aids to assist a visually challended person INCLUDING sewing supplies. Do you have a chapter in your neighborhood?

I have eye muscle paralysis so can not focus with both eyes. My right eye is for readying a close up work in quilting etc. I use a bright light and a magnifying glass to thread a needle. For me it is important to have a bright light. Also you might want to trust your sense of feel. You can do anything you want to do, it takes practice.

I've heard about it to. We have a friend with it but he's to blind to qualify. If you haven't heard about it, do a search and see what you come up with or call around to spec to see if any are familiar with it.
Good luck with your quilting. I'm sure you're quilts will be cherished by those that get them.

I was lucky enough to save the sight in one eye with a cornea transplant. I use two industrial machines one set up for satin stitch the other for straight stitch. Both have very bright hallogen lights and magnifiers and I have no problems. Black on black can be tough but with the white markers I can mark the edges before stitching.

I use a bright light, like an Ott light. It really makes a difference!

I , too, am legally blind, and struggle with lining up seams, and such.. I decided when I began to quilt a few years ago, that just because my eyesight might be extremely poor, that I could see beauty in what I create, because everything in my old line of sight ( before becoming legally blind ) was beautiful.. I might not see other things clearly, or have perfect or even semi perfect looks to my quilts, but I do see perfection in the joy I have creating them.. Usually, and I say Usually, noone makes rude comments about why a seam isn't lining up , or why color matches don't always go.. just because they don't like it, doesnt mean I don't love making them..
So just hang in there, and be VERY proud of your accomplishments, because I know how hard it is sometimes when our vision doesn't line up with our abilities to create..

I am sorry to hear of your disability. Don't know if this will be of any use to you, but I purchased a pair of 4X magnifier glasses and put them on over my regular glasses, I look silly, but then no one sees me in my sewing room.

My friend is blind in one eye and has difficulty similar to what you have. She bought a sewing machine that has all those new features on it so make life easier for her and it helped her great. But if that is financially a problem I would advise to buy a Daylight lamp. It makes such a difference if you have good lightning with your machine or for hand work. I bought it myself too as I was diagnosed to become totally blind due to diabetes, but it didn't happen to be correct at this time. It still can happen, but not now. But I didn buy myself some extra supplies as magnifing glasses and a daylight lamp. I still use those to my pleasure although I can see better. My eye sight was still correctable with new glasses for this time.

waht also helped is to buy a feet that has a 1/4 "seam guide. That way you can tough it before you start sewing with yoru fingers to se if it lined up correctly and the guide helps to keep the fabric in place. It needs to have an attached edge that stand up a little. there is a lot on the market for bad vision, you just need to find out what works bast for you. Good luck and keep us posted on what you did finally! We can all learn form it again!

I just had cataract surgery on both eyes and a trifocal lens was inserted. This was 6 weeks ago and I am seeing extremely well already. Dr. says it will take til the end of the year to be completely healed. I am so pleased. GOD IS GOOD!
I would suggest to you to have another Dr. look at the situation. Maybe someone who is a specialist and has more up to date training than you Dr.?
I went to a Dr. who has a clinic that does only these kinds of eye surgery and glaucoma cases. Things of that nature, out of the ordinary realm of treatment.
You do deserve the best. Prayers coming your way!

I am your age and have cateracts. I am sewing while I can till I can have surgery. I don't have insurance so not sure when that will be. BUT....I enjoy quilting and sewing for now. Hubby put a shop light up attached to the cieling of my sewing room and I have a floor ott light sitting next to my little cutting table. I have one of those plastic shelves on wheels with the 4 drawers sitting next to my chair so I can swivel around and do any pressing or cutting I need to do. My cut and press mat fits just perfect on the top of the drawers and with it on wheels i can scoot it to me or away when I go back to the sewing machine. With the ott lamp next to the drawers and with the shop light from the ceiling I can see pretty well to sew for now.

Thanks for posting this reply rapture. I am blind in one eye and it is very hard some days to sew! After I quite being sorry for myself I have learned "no" dark colors" "alot of light" "learn to do alot of feeling" I go slowly, so the good eye will adjust (because doctors can not get the right lens adjusted for the good eye) to what I am working on". Yes, it is difficult...however as the doctor has told me @ least I can see with the other eye...how "lucky" is that I can still motivate around even if it is "slower" I enjoy it while I can... that is my goal! Days that I know are going to be more difficult I just "magnify" this wonderful computer screen & enjoy the quilting board here :) I believe it has been proven that as a wife, Mother, Grandmother & friend we are "strong" creations of God. Yes, on the weaker side there is days that I would like to cry because of my sight problems. The bright side is that this board & some of the tutorials have helped me so MUCH "now how fun is that, I am still learning! Isn't life grand :) Let's be thankful for what we have as we all say prayers to the anniversary date of "911" :)

My mom will be 78 next week..she too has macular degeneration and still quilts...the best thing we use for her is a 1/4" foot on her machine to help her to keep the line straigt..and use blue painters tape leading up to the feed dogs even with the 1/4" foot...use a good lighting system so there is no glare on your eyes or machine..we use an ott table lamp so she can move it to keep the glare off her work..as you know the macular works against light....if you use dark colors remember to use white thread...and go slow....you can do it...mom thought her life was over...she felt all she had left was her quilting and if she couldn't see to quilt what was she going to do..she is still going strong at 78..she is no longer allowed to drive but loves to go to fabric stores..she has always be great with color and that has been failing her in the last couple years as she can't make out the colors as well anymore but I have written the colors of her threads on the ends for her so when she appliques she won't put a purple on a blue...and I try be gentle when she looks at a color and says what an odd shade of grey when it is really a beautiful shade of blue...its ok....you have many years left of quilting and will find new inventive ways to make beautiful quilts...and hey today the new wave of quilting is off center or wavy blocks anyway...go with what you can do and have a great time doing it..blessings

Clare J. Rowley Greene, out of Phoenix, designed sewing feet for an acquaintance who is totally blind--Creative Feet. They have adjustable guides attached to aid in getting straight seams. Her feet are amazing. Just search Creative Feet on the web and her site will come up.

How about using an Ott light near your quilting?

i was recently diagnosed with a macular hole but after much prayer by several churches when i went back the swelling had gone down and there is no macular hole. ptl! dr doesn't know what caused my problem but he's having a new lens made for my glasses since i just got them in feb. right now i'm using an old pair of glasses for driving and a pair i got at the dollar store. i don't need magnification up close in my left eye so i just take the lens out of left side and do close up handwork using the right lens. like fabric_fancy i use the same kind of light/magnifier she uses. only trouble is finding a table that it will attach to w/o falling off. finally used a wooden tv table. i was using a magnifier before my eye acted up on my embroidery - i make my stitches approx 1/8" or less. my prayer for myself was for healing but if that wasn't god's plan then i asked for grace to accept what he had in store for me.

We do a ton of charity quilting and our beloved Ms. Judy can sew anyone of us around the block and then some. She too has macular degeneration and pre existing sight issues. I think the posts have covered most of what she has hit on to keep quilting. She did visit a specialist that suggested the automatic needle threader that is pretty cool. Additionally, it is my absolute pleasure to cut for her. I wish she would let me cut out more of her projects as it really makes a difference too. So my additional suggestion is to find a quilting buddy who can cutout your projects.

Infila Auto Needle Threader
Automatically threads large or thin needles. www.independentliving.com

I have some sight problems, and have worked with teaching other people who do. One of the biggest helpers for me is buying a 1/4" sewing foot with a groove on it. It makes a very straight line, without having to see it. It kind of does it automatically.
Another idea for cutting fabrics with a ruler: Get some of that lightly colored flourescent tape that you or someone else can put on the measuring line that you will need to cut. Very helpful!

There are many things like magnifying devices out there. I am legally blind in left eye and have limited side vision in rt eye but I still keep goiing. The proper light and sewing machine foot can help. the hint about threading the needle with white paper behind the needle works for me. Don't give up. Don't sit too long at the sewing. Best advice I can give s pray before you start during and after.Genny

My dad had macular degeneration and his eye glass lenses were tinted yellow. They really helped him.

I've had cataract surgery on both eyes 6 months ago and today my Dr tells me I have Macular Degeneration in my right eye.. It's so blury that I can't hardly tell what's what and my left eye is blury also.. I feel for each of you, but I must say that all these helpful hints from all of you gives me courage to keep on quilting! Quilting is the Third love of my life, God's first, Family's Second, and Quilting is Third. Oh, Please forgive my typing mistakes :)
Connie

Reading this thread leads me to think about the beautiful spirits so many of our quilters have. Although they may have challenges, they don't let those challenges take away from their love of quilting. Kudos to all of you.

My mom had macular degeneration and laser surgery which destroyed the central part of her vision for seeing fine detail. We were able to get her a device called a Video Eye, expensive, but what a lifesaver. It helped her to do some reading, thread a needle, see her meds, etc. When the central vision is gone, peripheral vision, which can sense motion is still useful for many. To take advantage of it try not to focus on the thing you want to see, but scan from side to side as if it was "moving". As for sewing, I would suggest sticking to designs that made up of squares and strips rather than triangles and complex shapes. Your fingertips will become sensitive to sensing 1/4" seam allowances if you hand sew. If someone can bond applique pieces on to fabric for you, you might be able to overcast or buttonhole stitch around the edges by feel. Keep trying. Even if someone has to do some minor adjustments after you are done, they will treasure the time and effort you have put into your quilts. Don't hesitate to accept help from friends or relatives or a quilt group who can help you with some preparation work so you can continue with your sewing. Love, and good luck.

There is a store in our area that states, in part, that they are "the largest retail store of blind and low-vision products in the country." My DH has vision problems so we have been there and they are great. They have a good web site. It is http://www.beyondsight.com/

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.

My friend has your problem She used to do all my hand work on things. She has a light that goes somehow on her head that is like a miner's light. She got it from the society for the blind and says it really helps.