Eyes On Stalks

I have a new tool. Shrewsbury has a QVC shop that sells returns and left-overs from a shopping channel. It’s the sort of place which is about 90% tat, but the occasional gem lurks among the polyester clothing and strange household gadgets. Yesterday I acquired a wearable magnifier, which I rather expected to be a waste of money. I have tried-on headbands and spectacle-type magnifiers before, and found them too heavy, too uncomfortable or simply not angled right for embroidery. (I dislike round-the-neck and magnifying lamps because they make me sit too still in order to see the work.) This one was reduced to £4.99, so would probably prove another purchasing mistake….

Well, I was wrong. It was a bargain. It’s got a forehead rest and the side pieces don’t hurt my ears. I don’t need the built-in LEDs when I am using my lamp, so leaving the batteries out makes the body so light I can wear it for as long as I like. And it has adjustable, well made lenses: the 2.0x seems about perfect for a comfortable working distance when stitching with a hoop in the hand. The magnifier is supplied by Shesto Ltd and called “LightCraft 5 Lens Magnifier Set”. (I have spotted other brand names for the same device on the Web.) It comes with a headband which can be used instead of the side pieces, but I have not tried that yet, I am comfortable enough already.

On the downside, the headpiece doesn’t leave much room for wearing normal glasses under it. I don’t need my reading glasses when I use it, I can see beautifully clearly. But for anyone with prescription lenses, this might not be an good choice. It also makes you look very weird, although hopefully less strange than this person on the packaging! What is he or she thinking?

The LED is quite blue compared to my daylight lamp. It is very bright, good for seeing but not much use for choosing colours. With the 3 AAA batteries in place, the magnifier is heavier. Not too heavy for a short stitching session, but you certainly know that you are wearing it. And the thing doesn’t pack very flat: I will continue to use spectacles for carry-around projects, where I am not usually in need of much magnification.

But back in my stitching chair – Oh, the luxury of seeing my silk embroidery so clearly and so easily! As a result there has been further progress on the dragon. I still have the feet, wings and head left, so there’s plenty more stitching to do before it’s finished.

There’s not much point in showing you the current state of the stitched box, as I am still working on the base sides – I’m on the fourth now, so I must start thinking about the design for the top.

And before I run back to my stitching chair, I must say a quick hello to a number of new readers of Tortoise Loft – The Blog. You are very welcome. So are comments: don’t be afraid to say something, make suggestions or ask questions. I don’t bite, honest! – Even if I do look a bit scary in that magnifier.