Long arm solutions for vision impaired?
 

Hello,
I am relatively new here and have been searching and researching information about machine quilting and perhaps purchasing a long arm machine but I have run into a major problem! I have to use a machine with a needle threader because I have vision loss that has destroyed my depth perception. I can eventually thread a needle on a domestic machine but when I took a lesson on an HQ machine the needle was just too far away for me to see the hole at all! Both of my machines (Juki HZL-NX7, and Viking Epic) have decent harp areas, a Grace or Inspira frame set up be a viable option or not worth it at all? Do they even have those kind of things set up somewhere that I could try that before taking the plunge and buying one? I live close to the middle of Michigan and can go pretty much anywhere in the state

First of all let me welcome you to the QB from SE Michigan. This could be your lucky weekend as the fiber arts show is in Port Huron this weekend. A great place to try out various machines and ask question of different vendors. I know it is quite the drive from central Michigan but it would be worth the trip.

Hello from another quilter with vision issues. I have keratoconus and severe astigmatisms, along with a large blind spot just off the center of my right eye. I have just about zero depth perception and for the mean-spirited, it probably can be quite funny watching me try to thread a needle. Fortunately for me although I wake up every day still legally blind, my contacts give me very good vision up to 3 feet away, my glasses take over after about 6-10 feet. Still no real depth perception but you learn how to read visual clues.

With my friend's long arm that I used for several years, I got one of the needle threaders shaped like a little bird. The "beak" closes over the hook and you hold it by the body. I knew which way the hole was (from the front) and I would pinch my left hand fingers around the needle and guide in the bird with my right.

Here's a you-tube, they are just on the notion wall area in general Fabric stores, I got mine at Joann.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SlDyAN4VGY

I just ordered that needle threading bird from Amazon! Thanks for the youtube on it. It looks great! And it comes in purple. :) It isn't on Prime and costs more to ship than the cost of the threader, but it is so cute and it sure looks like it works.

Dina

Hope it works for you Dina, you quickly get used to where the hook is and the way the bird is designed you really can only hold it one way, plus you can feel it with your fingernail even if you can't see it. I also use it for regular hand sewing needles. Part of the reason my friend gave me her Bernina is because of the auto-threader, plus it has a huge bright workspace. I can't read the buttons and much of the screen well but I'm learning what does what.

Edit: Forgot to say that this is better for me than the old fashioned metal ones with the thin diamond at the end. For one, the bird fits in more needles better! Two, remember those distance issues? It is only slightly better trying to target the diamond I can barely see in the right space than the needle.

I use a pretty large needle with a large eye when I hand sew on my bindings.

Thank you! It really isn't far for me, I'm close to Flint in Gaines!

Thank you, I will try to get one of the birds! The auto threader on my Epic has saved me quite a bit of frustration too! And yes, I have learned where the buttons are and remember what they do rather than try to read them.

The Hemline one says its for hand needles. I need one for my machine, will this work on it? Sure would love it!

I just ordered a needle threader from Wish. I should get it in by tomorrow, I hope.
It was free, just pay shipping which was 1.00. I also ordered clips to use instead of pins, and little silicone holders for holding the thread in your bobbins.

Love the needle threader shown above. Hopefully, you will find the right set-up. Another option that might work for you. Thread the needle first. Then insert the threaded needle into the machine.

I have one of the little bird threaders and use it on all the machines I have. I have floaters in one eye so that little bird is very useful.

One trick that was taught to me at a HandiQuilter workshop to cut down on threading the needle - when changing threads, cut the thread near the spool, take off the spool, put new spool on spool holder, then tie the end of the new thread to the cut end of thread left in the machine with a simple knot, then from the needle, pull the thread away from you, pulling the new thread through all the loops, guides, tension disks - right through the eye of the needle. Voila, you are all threaded up and ready to go.

My biggest problem is not threading the needle, but putting the needle in. I just can't seem to see the hole well enough to get it lined up correctly. My husband is able to do the trick of putting pin in the needle hole to see if it's correct, but I struggle with it.

I hate changing the needle, and know I don't change it as often as I should because I have such a hard time getting it in correctly.

My Juki industrial also has round needles, but I can get my nose a lot closer and have better lighting, plus that one the hole goes left right instead of front back and that seems to be easier for me to line up.

I have no idea if this could help you, but I have a small mirror that I hold behind the foot of my sewing machine, so that I can see the other side and that helps me position the new needle. Each machine is different, so that may not do you any good.

Dina

For threading a sewing machine I would suggest a really good magnifying glass. I agree that this little bird threader is cute, but mainly for hand dewing needles. If you try to use this little bird threader, you would have to approach the needle from the backside of it, so that when the "threader" is poked through you could loop the thread onto it and pull it into place.

Can you pull the machine all the way to the right or left on the frame, bringing it closer, and thread that way from the side? Welcome!

For some of us sadly a magnifying glass or readers is not enough correction and the lack of depth perception is key. For me, it just makes blurry stuff bigger but not clearer. I know it's hard to understand but I really can't tell where my thread is in relation to the needle, it's not just seeing the eye of the needle. I have to do a lot of things by feel in my normal life. As I progress with my vision loss I'm having to add in more and more "adaptive" techniques and looking into options I will have to use in the future as my vision continues to deteriorate.

I've always been a big fan of the right tool for the right job. I'm having more and more of a hard time reading rulers and will design blocks to finish at ruler sizes so I can trim them well. I have to use tape lines on my rulers or I make a lot of templates or what I call "snubs" (a snub is a template that shows where to cut off, versus a template that shows what you keep).

While I'm using the same needle on the long arm or my vintage machine, I did do the tie a little knot and draw the thread through. Doesn't help that much when you change needles as often as I do.

I don't know how much time I have left to quilt, I can't really see stitches any more. I have a terrible time if I have to take anything out, so I try to do it right or am prepared to do it again. Mostly I scrap quilt so I don't match thread colors anyway and I use a light tan and light grey threads so I can hope to see them. This past year I've had more and more problems working with black fabric, can't really see if it's lined up. I know my best work is behind me but I am intent on keeping on quilting as long as I can. I think I have about 5 more years so I'm not terribly worried if I have unfinished tops, I'm more worried that I have unfinished things I want to do.

For those of you who don't want to change sewing machine needles very often. Years ago I bought Titanium needles for my combo embroidery/sewing machine. These needles are amazing! They last forever! Mine are the Organ HAx130EB 80/12. I bought mine from All Brands in Baton Rouge, LA.

The only time I had any trouble with these needles was when I was doing some paper piecing with several layers of Batik fabrics and it just refused to sew all those layers together without skipping stitches. Finally had to go to a denim needle to get it done.

Try doing a search for "longarm needle alignment magnet" I got one of those and I use to get my needle in the right position....

Thanks sewingpup - that sure would solve my problem!

I have a slight vision problem that comes with having birthdays I am told. I will take that as opposed to the alternative. I slide a finger behind the needle when threading so that the hole can be seen easier. A piece of white paper does a good job as well. Not sure that would help with your situation since I do not have the same problem. Hoping that you find a solution.

Thank you to everyone who offered solutions! I was actually able to use the hummingbird to thread the needle!

So happy it worked for you! Isn't it nice when it is a cheap and easy solution?

Thank you all for suggestions and ideas for those of us who have vision issues, I sew with the face close to stuff, use touch a lot and pray an awful lot!!����

Istace,

I only deal with being near sighted and astigmatism, but I had gotten to the point I could not thread the needle on my old sewing machine. I had to take the needle out, hold it 3 inches in front of my face (without glasses), then put the threaded needle back in the machine, hoping I did not twist the thread around it as I went.

I have the little bird needle threader and I use it when I am doing EPP. I also have one of these gizmos https://singer-featherweight.com/blo...eedle-threader It works very well for threading my sewing machine.

However, as you are dealing with serious vision impairment, please try out as many LA machines as you can and if possible find a place that will rent you time on a machine before taking the plunge.

Tothill, thank you for your reply! I have taken a class to learn to use an HQ longarm where they do rent time on them. However, even though using the little bird did help me thread that needle, I'm not rushing out to buy a longarm just yet! It would be a huge expense and I don't know that my eyes won't get worse as time goes on. Thankfully, they've been stable for a few years now but certainly no guarantees that will continue. In the meantime, I will concentrate on perfecting my quilting on my domestic machines before worrying about needing something more!