Low vision
 

I've lost sight in one eye and I started quilting. I am having challenges in cutting and free motion quilting. Is there anyone out there that can give me strategies to deal with my issues? I have used a lot of charm squares and jelly rolls but I want to expand my skills.

Is there someone who could cut for you? It sounds like it would be dangerous for you to try to cut using one your one eye.

A thought on the quilting, although I say this and I haven't done it! What if you put some type of a pattern on your quilt and then traced it with your machine to quilt. I'm thinking that because it seems like you can sew the pieces together. So maybe a pattern instead of free motion would be easier once you practiced it.

Would extra light help for quilting?

I have LED strip lighting on my machines and it makes a big difference. I originally bought it at a specialty store for quilting but then I found it much cheaper at a surplus/hardware store.

Watson

gingerd, not on topic but I have to say how much I admire your avatar!

I quilt with one eye that sees 90% on good days. Have not used a LA at all and I do not drive anymore. It has not stopped me from quilting, cooking or reading, so I think I am blessed by doing what I can do. I would say "Go for it" use the best lighting you can get put in to help you. Natural light is always the best, large windows and sky lights. LED lights, or white LED 100 watts makes things look brighter, too. There is a notable blind quilter, see if I can find her site and list it for you.

theamazingquilter.com/ check out her page and see if anything would help you out there. I cannot judge depths, or line up things square all the time. Constantly spilling things I pour into glasses or dishes. Then I turn things around by remembering things I can do, not that I cannot do. Positive thinking is the best way to attempt things.

I suggest investing in an Accuquilt Go!:
https://www.accuquilt.com/fabric-cut...cutter-aq.html
or an Accuquilt Go! Big:
https://www.accuquilt.com/fabric-cut...ic-cutter.html

Of the two, I think it is worth the extra money to get the Go! Big. Of the posts I have seen, everyone who has the electric Go! loves it, including those who started with the regular Go! Also, there are some dies for the Go! Big that are too large for the manual Go!.

As for the dies, start out by purchasing those you would use most frequently. Many people like to cut strips with the strip dies. The only thing about that is you need to be able to see well enough to place the fold of the fabric accurately on the die. I do not have vision loss, but I personally prefer to cut strips using my June Tailor Shape Cut mat. If you have not tried cutting strips with a June Tailor mat or a Stripology mat, you should try those out first before investing in the Accuquilt strip dies.

The Accuquilt is invaluable for cutting odd shapes and triangles. For a beginner, you might want to consider the Churn Dash die which allows you to cut all of the pieces for a 9" Churn Dash block:
https://www.accuquilt.com/go-churn-dash-9-finished.html
You would still need to cut sashing strips if you want to sash the blocks.

Regarding free motion quilting, I assume you are working on a domestic machine? Many people like fastening a string of LED lights under the arm of their machine to give more intense lighting. You need other good lighting as well.

Frankly speaking, many people struggle with FMQ even without vision loss. One of the best things you can do for yourself, to make it easier, is to lift the bulk of the quilt off your sewing machine table. Elevating the quilt relieves your shoulders of a lot of stress and allows you to move the quilt more easily. Leah Day uses ceiling hooks and elastic to elevate her quilts. Many people construct their own frames out of PVC, similar to this commercially available frame (no longer available):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJGph8am6BE

Thank you! I made that quilt for a very good friend of mine who retired a couple of years ago. He loves it!

I can relate to this and possibly help. I have lost about 70% vision in my right eye and 25% in my left eye due to glaucoma. In addition to this, due to extensive chemo, my hands shake like a rattle snake's tail. So the natural thing to do at 76 is to take up quilting. Needless to say I had bit of difficulty. Many a time I sat there shaking my head, and asking myself "what were you thinking". But not one to give up easily, here are some things I got to help combat my problems:

1. This cutting ruler by June Taylor.
https://www.amazon.com/June-Tailor-2...+slotted+ruler

2. These stickers to put at the slots where I needed to stick my rotary in the cut the correct size.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

3. And laugh if you must..... these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

To combat my hand shaking, I bought a 1/4" foot with a lip. This one:
4. https://www.amazon.com/Distinctive-Q...rds=1%2F4+foot

Then to insure accuracy on my seams, I purchased something like this and continued ant 1/4" line down the side of my machine. It sticks up about an 1/8 " to insure the fabric stays put.
5. https://www.amazon.com/Scotch-4013-2...ided+foam+tape

Also, for when you must use other rulers, and you don't want them to slide on you, I found these to work best. A bit pricey, but I have tried others, and I feel
these work best. https://www.amazon.com/Guidelines4qu...grips+quilting

For FMQ, I would probably stick to straight or curvy lines with the use of painter's tape to guide you and keep you straight.

As other's have mentioned, an Accuquilt would also work well for cutting. And you thought this hobby would be cheep! :(

I bought a used accuquilt Studio for cutting. It was expensive, even used, and the dies are pricey, too. But I get good cuts of fabric for quilting.

My reasons for getting the accuquilt was the fibromyalgia pain. what a difference it makes for me!

I have not tried it but noted when someone on this board suggested using a black marker and running it down the edge of your ruler so you can easier tell where the edge is.

My daughter is blind in her left eye, since birth. Of course she has never had normal vision. She can do anything she wants to do. She is needing more light to sew and quilt by. Part of getting older. Schill93 has some very good ideas for anyone having a hard time seeing.

My dear MIL has lost most of her vision due to diabetic retinopathy. She uses a special pair of glasses: Eschenback Max TV glasses when she crochets. She is able to read large print with these glasses. They are available on eBay. Don't know if these will help you, but I thought I'd mention them.

I have an Accuquilt Go Baby, limited to cutting sizes (under 5"), but I love it.

Good luck!

I have only peripheral vision in one eye and a transplanted cornea in the other. I use a bright halogen light on my machine as well as a magnifier. I do machine applique using the satin stitch. Anything is possible.

I too only have vision in one eye and can only make out shadows in the other. Depth perception is a mess but a machine with an auto-threader is a life saver. I am also finding that things are better than when I first lost my sight (detached retina that would Not reattach even after five surgeries). I suppose your body/vision adapts. The one thing that helps me the most is lighting, excellent bright no shadow lighting. I have placed LED lights in the overhead of my sewing room, extra LED light strips on my machine, use portable OTT lights placed strategically as needed (cutting table), and took the blinds off the windows. My sewing room is almost as bright as a surgical suite but I can see.
Just keep at it and you will find what works for you. Lot of excellent suggestions here too.
And I find I am more forgiving to myself if something is not perfect......my motto "finished is better than perfect".

We had a blind quilter from Indiana speak at one of our Quilters' Day Out. She had been an Indiana State Trooper and lost her sight after an auto accident. She was amazing and made beautiful quilts. I think maybe her husband did her cutting for her.

My eyesight isn't the greatest either, so I'm learning to let go of hand applique, English paper piecing and FMQ and trying to work more with machine applique and walking foot quilting. I bought a Go Baby dye cutter and that works well, too. So far so good. Good lighting helps, as does just taking your time and enjoying the process. Best wishes!

I found my depth perception was off after eye surgery and having to wear a patch on one eye until it healed. That seemed to be the most troublesome for me. Now I'm having trouble with that same eye. Eye doc says it's a cataract as well as age related MD. So far I'm still able to do everything except having trouble threading the needle on my vintage Kenmore. Hope you find some workable solutions for you.

You could try to increase your lighting around your sewing machine. I have 10 % vision in my right eye ,from a detached retina that was detached. I couldn't do any crafts for about the first year. The eye strain was just too much. I increased my lighting and what a difference!

Lots of good help ideas already and the only thing I can add is put your machines and cutting tables in front of a window for natural light. I have also lost some vision and that is the thing that has helped me the most to continue doing the things I love.

I don't have anything to add except that using cheap, thin shelf liner under my rulers has been the best thing I've ever tried for preventing any slipping. I learned about it from this video by Pat Speth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4042cAxo5aY

I have had some vision issues over the years and would be blind in both eyes if it wasn't for modern medicine. If you can see well with your good eye, it seems to me that you can handle rulers and rotary cutters just fine as long as there is no slipping. Best wishes!

The various tools listed here are all quilting/sewing features that are available today to help those of us with special vision issues. I am so thankful I live in 2018 and not back in the 1800's. It is a shock when it first happens; it is trial and error, takes time, adjustments, and a positive attitude. Start with easy patterns, smaller projects, when you are learning to quilt with vision loss. I would also mention safely is critical. I have been advised repeatedly by my eye doctors to protect my remaining vision/eye by protective glasses, -- so I always wear some type of "reading glasses" when near a needle, sewing machine, the protective gloves, sharp blade with the June Taylor cutting mat, etc.

Precuts are great (charms, jelly rolls, layer cakes....)

Less clutter, more space are necessary to help not have an accident.

Find your best time to sew. Day/night/ when you are not tired. Take breaks. Your eye is working very hard for you.

I have learned to thread a needle which was almost impossible with loss of depth perception. Much practice.

Be easy on yourself. No quilt police.

I also have no sight in one eye. (I lost the sight in that eye 22 years ago.) I started quilting 8 years ago and just finished my 149th quilt. If I can do this, you can.

Three things have helped me the most. They have already been mentioned, but I want to let you know that they have made it possible for me to quilt.

First, the June Taylor slotted ruler is a must. I know it has kept my fingers whole, as depth perception with only one eye is impossible. I use that ruler (thought I have 3 of them :)) for everything. I have other rulers but they mainly go unused.

Second, lots of light. I have the regular light on my machine, one of those lights with a flexible "stem" that sticks on the left side of my sewing machine (Bendable Bright LED Light), and a shop light right over my sewing machine. Each is necessary for me to see well. I also have a shop light over my ironing board, plus the light that came with the room, which is on the ceiling in the center of the room. My sewing room is about ten feet by ten feet, so it is well lite in here.

Third, I concentrate on SITD or straight lines that I can follow using the blue painter's tape. I HAVE to have a line to follow, as things aren't really always where I think they are. With a line to follow...a seam or the tape, I just line my foot up with the line. I do have a SITD foot that I use when quilting the sandwich. I have 11 ribbons in quilt shows with my quilts, so don't believe those who say you can't win ribbons if all you do is SITD. :)

I hope some of this is helpful and I have to tell you that this hobby has saved my life. I retired 10 years ago from teaching and was fearful I wouldn't know what to do with myself. Well, now I know. I quilt...:)

Dina

I only have 19% vision in my right eye, but it's been that way for 72 years (a car accident), so I rarely notice it. I do have to note what's on the right as I walk. That saves bruises on the right side of my body. I think I cut well enough, but I do use the June Tailor Shape Cut ruler.

This may not help, but I once painted rubber cement on the backs of my rulers to keep them from slipping. It worked.

My only advise is good lighting. I use Ott lights. I admire your determination.

I also have vision loss. I had cataract surgery last November on my right eye, but the left one is virtually gone -- some peripheral vision, but not a lot. I've been sewing all my life, quilting since -- my first one was made -- a baby quilt for my niece's daughter -- back in 2002. I am 73, so I'm not getting any younger (none of us are, right?). Keep on trying. I have age related MD in my left eye. Before I had cataract surgery, I had problems with SITD -- I would see double stitching rows where there was actually only one stitching row, and threading a needle was virtually impossible. By all means, use safety gloves if you are cutting your pieces with a rotary cutter.

Same here, but it's my right eye. Like your daughter, I'm not having any problems. But I think being born that way, we compensate a lot. It's probably much harder when you loose your vision later in life. I remember an experiment in middle school when we had to cover one eye and then touch the top of an eraser positioned in front of us with the tip of one finger. That was really hard for my two-eyed classmates, but I had no problems at all! I do appreciate good light, though, and have bought a good LED lamp that I'm using for any sewing.

FYI, I get my glasses at the Dollar Tree, 1.00 a pair. I have 7 all over the house. I went to the store and found a bottle of medicine with print that was totally blurred. Then went and tried on glasses until I could read the fine print at 10 to 12 inches away. I wear a 2.50 to 3.00. I found that the wire rim glasses will last longer than the plastic rims. Every one of my plastic glasses broke on the right side because of putting them on and taking them off with my right hand. I did super glue a pair, but that means you can't fold them on that side. Wire rims have never broken ... yet. Another trick, punch needle holes inside a quarter size piece of paper. Hold it to your eye and look through it, might help. also double up your fist, rest your thumb on your nose and look through the small hole through the inside of your fist.