Lighting a sewing table area
 

Hi Everyone! I'm grateful for you sharing your good tips and discoveries. I've been learning a lot. I recently bought a new sewing machine and table for it and now need to do something about the lighting. Would you mind sharing what kind of lights you chose and where you've positioned them? I'm assuming directly overhead would leave your work in the shadows? These eyes need all the help they can get! Many thanks! ~ Patty

I have a Janome 6500, and the lighting on it is poor and my eyesight is needs help. I have a Ott behind the machine and then have 'Bendable' light attached to the side. So with those two I can see. :)

I have lights overhead (cannister) but also have a swing arm desk lamp sitting on my sewing table that is terrific! It is no special light but I can swing it where I need the light at the time. I also have a Ott floor lamp that has the light, magnifier and pattern holder standing nearby. I can use it at the sewing table or the cutting table.

You've both given me a place to start looking - Thanks!! I hadn't heard of Ott lamps but did a search and they look pretty sturdy and useful. I appreciate your help.

Some Otts are bendable and attach by screw bolt to your table. That's what I use in the winter or at night. In the summer all is OK. I experiemented at first as to exactly where I wanted the light and now, when I need it, that's where it goes.

I have the bendable bright light on my Janome 6600. It helps but I think I need a
strip light like this. http://www.ecoluxlighting.com/. It was recommended by some
QB members a while ago.

I have overhead lighting a several Ott lights. Seems in winter and at night I can never get enough light!!!

I have a father son lights which I use for hand stitching and machining. The son is bendable and casts a great light from the front leaving no shadow.

Remember that you can buy Ott light bulbs inexpensively and use any old lamp that works for you. :)

I bought two of those reading lamps you clip to our bed. They work great and didn't cost much. I just clip them to the table.

Look into Stella lights ladies. They are pricey but oh so wonderful. I haven't taken the plunge to buy one yet but thinking seriously. They are LED and according to a vendor was told if you run the light 24/7 for six years, then you might have to consider replacing it. There is a site online to check it out.

I have a floor lamp that has branches and I use the day light light bulbs in them. Then I have an over head light that has swivel lights on it and put day light light bulbs in that as well. It has made a huge difference.

I have a floor reading lamp that shines on the sewing bed from behind my machine, and then I also have an Ott that shines onto the bed from the front. It's not fantastic (the arm of the Ott is in the way of some of my buttons) but I can see!

I have a ceiling fixture that has three canister lights that can be directed at different parts of the room. They are inexpensive and I installed it myself. Then I have a pole lamp, that again, can be directed to any part of the room. There is an Ott light to but I can't seem to get it in a position that it doesn't glare directly in my eyes. Seems like any light on my sewing table doesn't work for me. There are a lot of inexpensive options. As everyone said you can't have to much light.

I like the Ott light floor model. Mine bends at the neck.

In addition to the regular overhead light, I have an Ott table lamp situated next to my machine so it shines down over it. Because I needed specific, up close light at the needle, I got a little bendy light from Ikea (10ish$). I can bend it to fit directly under the harp and right into the needle area. It is really bright. I love that cheap little thing!

I too had a real problem with my lighting. So hubby added some overhead wall mount cabinets so he could put the floressent light bars above where I sew. Boy! Did that ever make a difference. And as the added bonus, more enclosed shelving to store quilting fabric. Love that part... LOL.

OTT lamps are great but very pricey.. even at half off.. I have overhead lights and lamps and just reg bendable desk lamps as well.. and I went to lowes (home depot also have them) and bought a big pack of "bright Lights" they are made for sewing areas also... Have used them for about 4 years now and they fit just like regular light bulbs! Good luck!

Got one!! LOVE it! Better than my OTT!
Sandy

Ottlite for me before i got a machine with stadium lighting

I have two overhead light fixtures which have tubes similar to the Ott light florescent tubes. I believe they are called daylight. They are slim bulbs and require a special fixture. The bulbs are smaller in diameter than a regular florescent
bulb. They are energy saving. I got them at Home Depot. Have a look at the Ott website for plenty of information about their products. Joanne's frequently has 50% off on all Ott lights.

I have a very small bendy light from Ikea that doesn't take up much space and can be positioned to shine onto the bed of my sewing machine. It's like this one

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70180955/

Very similar anyway. And it comes in several colours - I've got a bright pink one!

I dont know if you can make some kind of a small shelf, above your sewing machine/table, and use a fluroscent/daylight fixture.

I have several Ott lites that I use. One behind my sewing machine, one behind my left shoulder so I can press seams, one on the small table to my right where I trim blocks, etc. and then another one in the room where my cutting table is. Got a great deal last month at Joanne's.Got a table model light and with that purchase, they threw in a floor model light. The older I get, the more important good lighting is for me. The one thing about the Ott lights, and other similar brands, is they don't put out as much heat as regular lights. If I get too hot, I get kind of cranky!!!!

Thanks Everyone! I'm glad to know it's not just me who can't see without lights everywhere. Tons of great info for me to explore so I'm not sorry later. I'm getting the idea that positioning the lights may be like at a photo studio - lights for all angles. I appreciate all the input and today I'm going to go Light Up my Quilt Life!

I have fallen in love with the bendable table light that Bonnie Hunter uses from Ikea. I've bought two and have asked a friend to pick up two more for me. They're only $10 apiece and come in an assortment o colors.

I use a floor model ott lite and it's bendable so I face it where it's needed, great lighting.

When we moved we ended up with some additional bedside lamps. One in particular is a while iron lamp with an arm. I put that to the right of my sewing machine and it give me great light for sewing or cutting. I hadn't thought about getting the ott light bulbs and not the entire ott lamps so I will try that as well.

I have the little florescent light strips that goes under the kitchen cabinets. The work great and give up plenty of light.

I use a clamp on swing arm desk lamp but drill a hole in the table to hold the light and then I can position the light where ever I need it.

My son gave me an Ottlite table light (bought at Jo-Ann's) for Christmas which I love (The light on my machine does not work). This light is slim line, adjustable, has an on/off switch on the base (the switch on my former light was in the cord and a nuisance to get to) takes up very little room at the left end of my sewing machine cabinet and I can direct the light where I want it. It's has a cool, bright, long lasting bulb. Great little light!

I use 2 Ott lights near my sewing machine and my husband made me an overhead light that can be moved over the cutting/work table to wherever I need it. I also have track lights that are controlled individually so I can use one track at a time depending on what I'm doing. Here is a photo.
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Where do you get the ott bulbs? fabric store? I haven't looked for that sounds like a good thing to use with the lamps I already have.

The fairly new strips of LED lights mounted on the underside of your machine throat are wonderful. I would recommend the 6 strand even though they are somewhat expensive, they really light up the work place.

I too have a Janome 6600 and found the lighting to be inadequate.

I love the ecolux system -- but you can make your own for a much lower price. You would buy an LED light strip, typically at an auto store, wire them to a power source. Looking for the youtube video that shows how to do it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNRoI...ure=plpp_video

I could not get by without my bendable brite lite, it is such a help as you can direct the light right onto your presser foot, I also have a small ott lite that I keep right behind my machine to shine the light right on my needle plate

My vote goes to Ott lites. I have several, some table to some bendable & some floor models. I just move them to the best location for me. I also have a clamp lite, magnifier that I bought from my SINGER dealer that is fantastic when I need close ups for stitch removal, especially on dark fabrics.

I have my sewing machine against the wall between two windows, then on the wall I attached a 30-inch fluorescent light. In the daytime I open up the blinds and there is plenty of natural light, and then I turn the wall light on at night and on cloudy days. My Janome Horizon has sufficient lights that allows me to sew without hurting my eyes. When I am doing dark fabrics, then I put an Ott light next to the machine. Sometimes I use one of those LED head gear that plumbers and carpenters use which I focus on the needle part.

OTT lights are the best! Joann's just recently had a deal buy a floor lamp for half price and get a desk light FREE! Well worth it! I have both using with my 6500 and they work great! Both are bendable so I can adjust the light right where I need it most.