Somewhat similar to GrammaSue, I put my piece of glass over the opening in my sewing machine table and an ott light on the bed the sewing machine sits on. Cost was zero - had light and table already. Glass is about 20 inches square and I can slide it around over the opening to reach all of the design.

My dining table had a glass top on a wrought iron frame. I attach a portable lamp to the frame-work underneath, and I have the biggest area for tracing designs. Helps if the light bulb isn't the type that gets hot

Thank you for all the suggestions. Making my own sounds like a great way to save money (which I really need to do) but since I've never even used one of these and I have no idea at all how they even work (lamps? glass? lasagna dishes, table leafs?) I'm probably going to be better off buying one and hoping it comes with good directions.

Are any of them made specifically for fabric or are any many in such a way that they shouldn't be used for fabric?

Thx

A drawer with a piece of plexi across the top, and with flashslight(s) inside works great.

This is so smart! I'm going to do this and store the plexiglass behind my dining room hutch!

Any glass topped table with a lamp under it. I used that until I fell into a deal on a light box.

i like the home ideas... a light box purchase would just be one more thing to find space to store

Buy the good box and be happy. :)

My light box, for years was something taped to the patio door.
Then I progressed really uptown by using a leftover piece of window glass propped on 2 stacks of books with my Ott light shoved under it.
Lost the glass in the last move so I now use a piece of plexiglass on the same books with a 6" round tap-on-stick-up light underneath.

Jan in VA

There isn't that much to them... probably any light box will work. I bought one at Michaels in the art dept. Not that expensive.