Light box
 

I'm going to do an embroidery quilt which I saw and fell in love with, but I will need to buy a light box to trace the pattern. I think this will be a good investment for me because I'd like to do other similar projects with embroidery.

But where to I start? Can anyone point me in the right direction. I checked out Jo-Ann's web site and they have a few light boxes. Are they all created equal? What should I be looking for? I haven't a clue how to go about it. I don't even know what features to look for because I don't know what features they have.

Here's a link to the quilt I want to make if you'd like to see it.

http://www.primitivequiltcellar.com/...y_Pattern.html

I'm the queen of being a cheap skate. I "made" mine by using a pyrex lasagna dish out of my cupboard and a dollar store flashlight. Set the flashlight on your table, and set the lagagna pan upside down over it. Set your design, then your fabric on top and trace away (you can pin both together to prevent shifting).

I got the crayola one. It was talked about here a while back.

I bought a piece of plexiglass, larger than most light boxes that I could find. I put two plastic shoe boxes on the table, place my plexiglass on top and my little Ott light underneath. I do have to move the Ott light around a bit if I'm tracing something large, but that's easy to do, and the whole thing collapses down and takes up very little space when I'm done with it. I previously tried taping the pattern and fabric to my sliding glass door, but that didn't work very well for me. For one thing, I lived in Oregon so had to wait for there to be enough light outside, and for another I found it very uncomfortable tracing at different heights against a vertical surface. But that does work for some people.

You probably want to determine what size box will work for what you are going to use it for. Too small means you have to keep re-positioning your work and too large means you have to be able to store it somewhere. There is an Artograph light box on Amazon in case you want to look at them for price comparison. Oh it looks like it is the same price as JoAnns. And Walmart's price seems to be the same also. The one I use is an old lighted metal box that was used for some kind of advertising. Someone asked my dh if he wanted it and he said yes. Lucky there. You might be able to make one out of a plastic box assuming you could drill a hole in the side to put a light in. It would have to be a cool light so as not to melt the plastic box. Hope you find what you need.

I bought a light board for tracing my applique designs onto my fabric and I just love it. Mine is called a Litup Light Box and I bought it on Amazon. I got the one that's 11.81" wide and 15.63" long (they come in different sizes). It's very thin and lightweight, but works beautifully. It's a bit expensive but I figured I'd be using it for a long time so felt it was worth it and it is.[h=1][/h]

I bought one years ago online...I'm in nz so not much use there....but I use it a lot. It may seem like an expense, but I'm sure you'll get heaps of use from one. Make sure you get a good size one as it is frustrating to move your work. (It is so much easier than taping to a window, which is what I used to do)

I have the small Crayola one and it's is fine for small designs and very portable. If I did a lot of tracing I would definitely get the Litup one like Silvertabby, it's the best. It comes in different sizes. I do believe you will love it.

Sounds ingenious like the Pyrex pan idea!!

I have never had a use for a light box but I did hear of an ingenious homemade one. IF you have a table that splits (for table leaves), open it, put a piece of plexiglass over the opening, and a table lamp on the floor underneath. When you're done, the only thing you need to find a place for is the flat piece of plexiglass.

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.

I have an Artograph Light Tracer2, and it works great for my purposes. The size is 12" x 18". I bought it on Amazon and I think it cost about $100.

I asked for one for Christmas about 4 years ago, my DH found one at Aaron Brothers - it wasn't too expensive but it has a slight slant light a writing table. It is a Light Tracer 2 12"x18". I kept the box it came in since it has a handle and makes it easier to store.

Several years ago, I bought the bigger one from JoAnn's and since I love to applique I use it all of the time. It was about $50 but I used a coupon and got if for around half price. The new ones now are much thinner. I would go for as big of one as I could afford and store so you don't have to keep adjusting your pattern.

I bought an 8.5 x 11 Porta Trace (panel lightbox) from Amazon. I like it, very well made in USA but it's not real lightweight, it's 5 lbs. Nice and bright.

Just looked & they are now selling it for $40 over what I paid in June. I guess they jack the price up for the academic/school year...:shock:

I sit a lamp on the floor under my sewing machine table, push my machine out of my way and put a piece of plexiglass over the opening. Been doing this for years to make my applique pieces. If you have a hundred watt bulb you can see through most prints.

I actually have a light box that I bought years ago, but making your own and using the 6 inch round tap on light is a great idea! No moving table lamps or your Ott light. These little lights are also easy to store. Thanks, Jan!

Before you spend money on one, I would try some of these ideas. A piece of glass over the opened table sounds like the safest bet to try it. Or the piece of glass supported by books or boxes sounds good, too. Just try to use a light that doesn't get too hot.

One thing nobody has mentioned is that if you put that light under the glass, it will be shining in your eyes when your project doesn't fit the entire top space. So put a sheet of white paper over the glass before you lay your project on it. Easier on the eyes.

And the light doesn't know if you have fabric or paper or whatever on top of it, so go for it.

I made one using a sheet of Plexiglas, sit it on top of a vegetable can in each corner and put a string of while Christmas tree lights underneath. Works fine for me.

I have a storage container, clear with a lid,. I put a battery operated led light in it and it works fine. I've heard others who opened up their tables where the leaves go, put a clear piece of plexi glass there and a lamp underneath

Someone gave me one (actually used to see x-rays) 17 years ago. Just started using it. Works great. I used to use a big window to trace

I have heard wonderful things about the Huion at amazon. I took an embroidery class and the instructor had this one, loved it
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J0UUHPO?psc=1

I bought a small cheap fluorescent light and out it inside a plastic box and use it for a light box. works fine I plan to top it with plexiglass when I remember to buy it.

I still plan on buying one rather than making one but I'm curious - everyone says put a glass on top of something, lasagna dish, spaghetti cans, open table, and then put a light under it. But then what? How do you get the pattern onto the fabric? I've embroidered before but have never done this method nor have I seen it done so am a bit clueless.

Purchased light boxes are very simple, no instructions needed. Plug in, turn on.

MeadowMist, the premise is pretty simple, but I'll try to break it down in a way that's not too "wordy". LOL

It's based on tracing. So you have your pattern or design on paper. Lay your fabric over it and trace the lines. Without a light source underneath, it's rather hard to see those lines through your fabric. Where fabric is flimsy, you want something sturdy to support your paper and fabric, so that's where the glass comes in.

People use cans, books or such to have something to set the glass onto. It needs to be elevated, since you can't set it directly on a light source (imagine setting your piece of glass directly on a flashlight or lamp...it wouldn't work) Think of it like making a miniature glass table, giving you the space underneath to set your light source.

Another inexpensive method is taping your paper design onto a sunny window and placing your fabric over it and tracing away. That way you are using the sun as your light source.

Make sure you use a washable medium to mark onto your fabric, because your stitching is not necessarily going to cover the lines completely. And note that this method only works on light colored fabrics. To trace onto dark fabrics, you'd need the prick and pounce method.

Here's a great link for embroidery tips. Scroll down the page to "transferring patterns".

http://www.needlenthread.com/tips-techniques

I hope that helps!

I'm working on an applique quilt right now and have finished all the blocks; am now stitching around each piece (very time consuming). Anyhoooo; (blocks are 17 inches sq.), I used the back storm door for my light box and it worked very well for me. lol. I taped the pattern and then my fabric and traced away. I have also used a scrapbook plastic box that I store fabric, etc., and put a battery operated light inside the box and put pattern/fabric on top and that worked okay too, but it wasn't big enough for this project.

Natalie, that is a great source for a limited experience embroiderer like me!! Thank you!

My pleasure! Her how to videos are great also. She really explains stitches very well.

My husband made me one with a small flourescent light. I don't know if you have anyone who is carpenter handy, but that is an option.

Mine came from Hobby Lobby with a 40percent off coupon. I love it!