Light boxes
 

I am thinking of trying applique needle turning...lol...this should be a quest. I see I need a light box and not being sure I will be able to do this craft, I do not want to spend so much on a light box..Remember the old saying ladies..."Necessity is the mother of invention"...well right now I am going to try a 9x11 clear baking dish turned upside down with a christmas candle beneath...Do you think it will work?? I will let you know, meanwhile does anyone have any bright ideas?? Thanks

I saw this tip on Fons and Porter Love of Quilting show the other day. Take a clear plastic box, and one of those tap lights. They look like a dome, and you push down and it lights up. Battery operated. I have never tried it, but I eventually will. Let us know if you do. Gina

I use a battery operated light in a plastic box. I heard one lady took the leaf out of her table and put a piece of glass over the opening and put a lamp under her table; instant light box. There are all kinds of ways to save money; including doing what we did as kids; hold it up to the window.

Here is how I improvised one using a clear tote and small light fixture you can pick up at any walmart.[ATTACH=CONFIG]339868[/ATTACH]

I use the same type of long, skinny light as feline fanatic does, only I put it in the drop-down part of my sewing machine table, with a clear piece of glass over it (like, from a picture frame). I have a Gidget table so it's easy to just pull out the machine and use that space for tracing. It's a small area but so far, so good!

I used an old storm window over 4 large cans of tomatoes....with a shop light underneath

Battery operated light is the way to go if you want to use a light box. I would think a candle would make the glass hot, not to mention that if you put the dish directly over the candle, without an air source, the candle will burn out. Personally, I don't use a light box unless the pattern used has very light lines. Most all the patterns in magazines, or store bought, have very dark lines. All you have to do is put the fabric over the lines and trace a fine line on the fabric for placement or as part of the applique itself. If the fabric is dark and cannot be seen thru, then I make a copy of the shape, cut it out and put in on the fabric and cut the fabric shape, with or without an allowance for turning. Good luck and enjoy your journey!

How big of workspace do you want? How about setting a light under your acrylic extension table for your sewing machine? I do that, and it works great.

DH made up one for me out of scraps lying around and a bare light bulb mounted onto one of the side pieces. But I was going to suggest the window trick as well until you find that this is something you want to do lots of.

My dh made me one years ago, too, with scrap lumber and fluorescent tube lights---it's awesome! Heavy, but awesome!. I have also heard of people pulling the dining room table halves apart and putting a piece of glass over the opening, with a table lamp on the floor underneath.

I got mine at JoAnn's and had a coupon. I think I paid about $12.00 for it. Yngldy beat me to it, but I, too, think the candle isn't a good idea. If the candle doesn't go out, it will make a black film on the glass. I get a lot of use out of my light box, and it is fairly small.
Sue

I have a clear plastic table that fits against my sewing machine to give me a flat bed. I put a tap light under it when I need to do tracing.

That is what I do too, only I use the acrilic table that goes to sewing machine and it works great. I use to use the clear tote with a light under it. Less expensive than a bought light box, by far. Mary

Feline Fanatic had a really good idea. My hubby made one for me (and for a number of others) using 1x4s and a clear plastic clip board for the top....wired in a light socket on the side and a long cord to plug in. I have used it for years and it works great. It's about a 9x12" and and works great!

I use a regular lamp (without the shade) under a glass top end table.

any window works wonders!

Great ideas!

I actually have a plastic box, it is a pale green color, and I put an the small portable olfa light, it has about a dozen small led lights in it. I got that with a half off coupon at Joann so it cost about $8 at the time. This works well for me because the box also holds my hand sewing supplies.

I thought she meant an electric candle not a real burning candle.

I agree with Jacquie. I tape the pattern onto my large, sliding glass door window at a comfortable height and it works well. Obviously, the sun must be out though--I tape the pattern down then tape the fabric over it.