I really feel like I’m just missing something with the lighting for my cross stitch. I have the exact same light downstairs and upstairs. The main difference is that the recliner where I sit downstairs swivels and I think I can get the light in a better position. Another difference is that there are LOTS of overhead lighI ts in the sewing room . . 14 or 16, and they’re the same type lights we have in the upstairs family room. In the sewing room, the ceiling is a few inches shy of 8′. In the upstairs family room, we have 14′ ceilings with 4 lights. It doesn’t matter if I’m using the Brightech floor magnifying light or the small round magnifying light clipped to the stand, at the end of the day, my right eye hurts. I rarely stitch more than a couple of hours upstairs before my eye starts hurting – just the right eye but I can stitch all day downstairs and it never hurts. My friend gave me the name of an eye doctor and I’m going to see if I can get an appointment with him. I do feel like the glasses I got last year aren’t right but it has to be something with the lighting upstairs vs. downstairs for the eye to hurt only which I stitch upstairs.
Yesterday morning I was kinda tired of working on A Changed World. Maybe I won’t become a monogamous stitcher.
I had mentioned that I wanted to start Teresa Kogut’s Let Love Reign.
This one is from her Patreon group so I have no link for it. All of the floss except for two are DMC so if I need to change any of them, I can — except I do want the sheep to be white.
The fabric is 35 count linen, Chocolate Milk by Fabrics by Stephanie.
The next kit I made up is Harriet Godhard by Hands Across the Sea. I am NOT stitching it on 56 count linen.
I had the chart but it wasn’t screaming “Stitch Me!” til I saw that Victoria Clayton had a “packet” of dyed silk floss for Harriet Godhard so I ordered that and now I want to stitch it . . soon!
I haven’t decided for sure on a fabric for this one.
This fabric is Sampler Khaky from XJu Designs.
This one is Rustic Drab also from XJu.
I’m thinking that peachy color above the rusty red may not show up on this fabric but I could always order a shade or two darker for the peach.
Here’s a picture I took with the Rustic Drab that shows the chart.
I think I like the Sampler Khaky better. Any thoughts on that?
There’s always plenty to stitch . . but never enough time.
Teri says
Yes I like sampler Kahky better too. Are the lights downstairs on the same side of the chair as the ones upstairs.
Judy Laquidara says
No! Do you think that makes a difference. The light downstairs is on my left side.
Rebecca says
I think it does! If you are right handed, which I think you are, when the light is on the right, you are generally working in the shadow of your hand, while from the left, it shines right on the work.
Judy Laquidara says
That explains a lot. I stitched all day Sunday, probably the longest I’ve ever stitched. It’s 1:20 a.m. as I’m typing this and my eye is just now starting to hurt. I think my glasses are way off but there’s no way I could have stitched this much using the small light upstairs. Thanks for that tip.
Tracy says
I was wondering about the Patreon designs that Teresa Kogut has. Does she eventually sell them in her regular stock? Or if I join the patreon group do I have access to all the past patterns? I really like the Let Love Reign sampler.
Judy Laquidara says
I think but I’m not sure. I’ve only been a member for maybe 6 or 7 months. Right now, she’s working on a thing so we can buy past patterns but the last time I looked, she did not have that feature available. I’ll check with her and let you know.
Rebecca says
I think it’s harder on eyes if you have a bright spot in an otherwise not-bright area. It’s why I’m reluctant to use my Ott light in my living room at night.
Do you have the eyestrain problem upstairs in the daytime?
Judy Laquidara says
I so rarely get to start stitching before about 4 p.m. but even in the daytime, I still use that light. Maybe it’s the bright spot that’s causing the problem.
Nancy Hardgrove says
Love that Harriet Godhard chart, and those silks are beautiful!
cindy says
I like the way the colors show up best on the sampler khaky. the peach especially seems to disappear on the other one.