From jewelry making to miniature painting, hand embroidery, cross-stitch, sewing, or knitting, regardless of what your craft is, you’ll probably need a magnifying lamp in your life. Let’s explore together what to look for when buying a magnifying lamp and which ones are best suited for hand embroidery. Disclaimer: This post might contain some affiliate links, you can find my full Disclosure Policy here.
Why do I Need a Magnifying Lamp?
You might be wondering what a magnifying lamp has to do with hand embroidery. Well, everything! You see, in order to prevent eye strain when stitching, you need a combination of two things: good light and magnification. And this is exactly what a magnifying light does: it magnifies the area of your stitching and provides a good white light that mimics the natural light. A magnifying light comes in really handy when you know you’re stitching often, especially when working on silk-shading (needle painting) projects or your craft room has no sunlight, or it’s just poorly lit. If you’re keen in exploring the needle painting technique, check out my complete guide on how to paint with thread. For needle painting projects a magnifying light is really one of the most important tools. For example in my two projects below, the Realistic Butterfly and the Daisies pattern, it would have been virtually impossible for me to see the fine stitches and create a detailed and seamless color blending without using a magnifying lamp. Another example I want to share with you is the Peculiar People pattern below. Well (laughing), it’s really hard not to see the difference between the two versions. I stitched the left one before investing in a magnifying lamp, while the right one was stitched after. While I did a few other mistakes when stitching the left one (like not outlining the area before filling it with Satin Stitch), what I’m trying to show you is that a magnifying light comes in handy not only in needle painting projects. It really does make a huge difference in any hand embroidery project. If you read my other articles, you already know I live in Northern Ireland (feel my pain?!). This is another reason why the magnifying light was the best investment I ever made! While it’s a picturesque place to live in, we don’t get too much sunlight, especially during the cold season. At first, I was silly enough to plan my stitching around the sunlight. Needless to say, that didn’t go well. Since during the day I’m caught up with other tasks, most of my stitching happens during the evenings when the house is quiet and I don’t get interrupted every ten minutes. Without a magnifying light, it would be practically impossible to do that.
Which Magnifying Lamp?
This is probably the most asked question. There are so many magnifying lights on the market to choose from that it can easily become hard to make a decision. Regardless of your craft, here are a few things to consider before buying a magnifying lamp:
LIGHT COLOR – for hand embroidery projects you need to choose a lamp with White light. A yellowish light can distort the thread colors you’re working with. ERGONOMY – choose a lamp that is flexible, easy to move, turn and work with. HEAD OF THE LAMP – choose a lamp with an easy-to-turn head and with a dust cover. The cover will protect it from accidental scratches. FUNCTIONALITY – choose a lamp that is easy to put together or dismantle in case you need to. Also, consider where you usually like to stitch. If most of your stitching happens at a desk then a desk magnifying lamp might do. But if you like a more comfy location, stitching while sitting in an armchair or a sofa then you will need a floor stand or a lamp with a table clamp. ENERGY EFFICIENCY – choosing an energy-efficient lamp will not only reduce your carbon footprint but will also save you money on your electric bills. BUDGET – there is a magnifying lamp for every budget. Make sure you read the specifications and that you get the best lamp for your budget. Remember to always check the reviews!
These are all important questions to ask yourself before investing in a magnifying lamp, regardless of your craft or the brand you’re choosing.
Best Magnifying Lamps for Hand Embroidery
I put together a list of products to suit different budgets and preferences. Please note that I haven’t tested all of them, the products listed below are based on their specifications that make them ideal for hand embroidery and also on the reviews they got over the years. I’m only using the Purelite brand on a daily basis, and never really felt the need to switch to a different brand. Here is a larger selection of magnifying lamps for your to choose from – whatever your budget or preference, you’ll be sure to find one that fits your needs. Your eyes will be grateful!
Purelite Magnifying Lamp
Let me tell you more about my experience with the Purelite brand and why I still love my lamp after almost two years of using it on a daily basis. Before I invested in a magnifying light I had an undeniable need for more light. I just couldn’t plan my entire day depending on the amount of light in my craft room. On top of that, to be completely honest with you, everywhere I looked, all experienced stitchers mentioned using a magnifying lamp and then I thought to myself “What respectable embroiderer doesn’t use a magnifying light?” (laughing). So I did my research and bought the best magnifying light I could afford at that time, without really knowing how much I needed it. After the first few projects using a lamp, I was completely blown away! Not only the stitching got easier and I could work on my projects at any time during the day, but the quality of my work hugely improved. The end embroidery pieces are much neater, without really improving my skills, it was all about the light and being able to see the fine stitches better! Looking at the technical specifications of the Purelite CFPL20 Magnifying Lamp, it really ticked off all the requirements I was looking for my needs. I was looking for a white light magnifying lamp, steady and flexible enough to be able to move it around where I need to. I am usually very conscious about the environment in everything I do on a business and personal level, so energy efficiency was a big thing when choosing my lamp. I also have an eleven years old daughter that is spending a lot of her time in the craft room. So the dust cover comes in really handy in case of any scratches. We all know how anything can “accidentally” happen with a kid around (laughing). I don’t really remember exactly the time it took me to put it together, but that’s a good thing! If I don’t remember, it means it was smooth enough. I also love its flexible head, you can literally move it in any position you can imagine and I do that all the time as I like stitching in all sorts of places around the house. Most of my stitching happens in my craft room. But my truly happy place to stitch is comfy on the sofa, with a documentary in the background and my stitching set up in the living room. What I would normally do is clamp it on a small Ikea bedside table and basically carry it around the house, depending on my mood and project requirements. Working on complex projects usually takes more than a day of stitching, and my back, unfortunately, cries for help after a full stitching day at the desktop. Almost two years later stitching using it, I can honestly report that it was the best investment I did! Never had a problem with it, never had to change the LED bulbs, steady as day one, and never felt the need for more light or magnification. Another brand I would really like to try is the Daylight Company, which has a really good reputation among more experienced embroiderers. Daylight’s magnifying lamps use top-quality, daylight LEDs to ensure a bright light with high levels of contrast and are perfect for color-matching. Until then, I’ll be happily using my Purelight one.
Which Magnifying Lamp Should You Buy?
My honest advice is to get the highest quality magnifying light you can afford. You’ll definitely not regret investing in one and you won’t ever go back!
Download Free Patterns
Ready to put your magnifying lamp to work? Download a wide range of free embroidery patterns from the Free Pattern Library. To access it just fill out the form below and I will send you an email with your password.
More Embroidery Tools and Supplies
The Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers Colour Confident Stitching Book Best Needle Painting Books for All Skill Levels Essential Tools for Working with Embroidery Colors Hand Embroidery Supplies Essential for Beginners Hand Embroidery Needles Guide
Which magnifying light are you using? I would love to hear about your experience and preferences in the comments below!
