The opening in a lens or pinhole through which light passes; it controls the amount of light that reaches the photographic medium.

I’m so excited to have you here! I love inspiring you to create home decorations using needle and thread. Join me in this beautiful journey of discovery and creation, and read about my story here.

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!

I’m Gabriela, the founder of Makenstitch. As a designer with over 15 years of experience, I’m passionate about teaching and creating beautiful things. Based in a cozy Northern Ireland town, I get to live my love for crafting and sharing projects every day with my lovely readers.

• Excellent bright daylight white LED. Low energy • Multi-position head joint and an easily adjustable arm• 2 x magnification lens• Magnifier dust cover & metal table clamp• Clamp depth: approx 3 inches.

DISCLOSURE & PRIVACY POLICY AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE WE RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION ON ELIGIBLE PURCHASES, AT NO COST FOR YOU. COPYRIGHT © 2024 MAKENSTITCH

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.

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.

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.

Camera Obscura: A darkened room or box with a small opening (pinhole) that allows light to enter, creating an inverted projection of the outside scene on a surface inside.

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).

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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.

Pinhole optics refers to the principle of image formation through a small aperture, which allows light to enter and project an inverted image on the opposite side. This concept is fundamental to understanding how cameras work, particularly the camera obscura, as it demonstrates the basic mechanics of light travel and image projection without the need for complex lenses. The simplicity of pinhole optics makes it a crucial concept in the history of photography and optical devices.

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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.

Hi Cathy, So sorry to hear, that’s such a shame. Just did a quick search here, I can find it on Amazon, not sure why they cancelled the order. Another place I found it is on hobbycraft.co.uk. I’d just drop them a message and ask if they deliver to US (which I’m sure they do). If you can’t manage to order it anywhere I recommend you the Daylight company, they are also top quality when it comes to magnifying lamps and they sure deliver to US. This is their website daylightcompany.com Hope this helps and you’ll sort it out! Gabi xx

Hi. I have looked everywhere for the PURELITE CFPL20 MAGNIFYING CIRCULAR LED LAMP. I tried Amazon & they accepted my order, then cancelled it due to not available. I ordered from Ebay and they accepted the order then cancelled it. I tried Etsy and they accepted the order and now saying that it’s too much to send to the US. Do you know anywhere I could purchase this lamp. It seems so weird that I can get the lamp. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you, Cathy

Pinhole opticsfor sale

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.

Yes, you can replace the circular LED if needed. I never had to do it in a year of use, but it can be replaced if needed.

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.

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!

• Reasonably-priced bright tabletop light with magnifier• Heavy base to hold the lens • 6000K daylight-color cool white light – not yellow light

• Energy-saving daylight LEDs for perfect color matching• 1.75x removable magnifier for intricate work • High-quality chart holder designed especially for the StitchSmart Stand (bought separately)

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.

• 2-in-1 Magnifying desk lamp & Floor lamp• 5 Diopter lens that provides 225% magnification• 3 color temperatures (3000K-6000K) • Integrated 12W high-quality ultra bright LED light

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.

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.

These are all important questions to ask yourself before investing in a magnifying lamp, regardless of your craft or the brand you’re choosing.

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.

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!

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.

Before you commit, consider these essential factors: the type of lens, ergonomy, head of the lamp, functionality, energy efficiency, and budget.

Pinholeglasses

• 2-in-1 Extra-Solid Utility Base: heavy-duty weighted desktop base or use a grip-tight clamp (2.1in) • 5x and 10x Optical glass lens • 3 Color modes (white, white and warm, warm) with adjustable brightness from 10%-100%

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).

• Rechargeable headband magnifier with 3 adjustable led lights • High-quality Optivisor lenses: 5 replaceable lenses and one small round auxiliary lens (8x)• 23 kinds of magnification (1x to 14x)

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The DMC clamp to hoop magnifying glass or something like it? Its sold in Europe, but not in the US. Any other manufacturers of something similar that you might know of?

Looking at the technical specifications of the Purelite CFPL20 Magnifying Lamp, it really ticked off all the requirements I was looking for my needs.

• 5” wide magnifying lens• Provides 225% magnification • 50,000 hrs life allows you to avoid the trouble of replacing the bulbs• Adjustable metal swivel arm

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.

Pinholecamera

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.

Pinholeeffect

• 7” Wide magnifying lens• 5 Diopter lens for distant vision provides 225% magnification and the 20 Diopter lens for near vision provides 600% magnification• Multi-position head joint and an easily adjustable arm

Choosing the right magnifying lamp is a game-changer for any embroidery enthusiast. I completely resonate with the struggle of stitching in less-than-ideal lighting conditions—living in Northern Ireland adds an extra layer to that challenge. Your before-and-after examples with the Realistic Butterfly and Daisies patterns speak volumes about the transformative power of a magnifying lamp. It’s not just about preventing eye strain; it’s about elevating the entire stitching experience. Your insight on how it enhances projects beyond needle painting is invaluable. Thanks for sharing your personal journey and shedding light, both literally and figuratively, on the importance of these lamps.

• 5 Dioptres (2. 25X) magnification with a 12 dioptres (4. 0X) inset lens for working on the finest details• Foldable and easy to carry when on the go • USB rechargeable battery.

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.

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.

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.

Pinholecamera Class 6

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!

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.

Magnifying lamps are widely used devices in all types of crafts or performing delicate tasks. They allow you to view the smallest detail perfectly in maximum comfort.

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.

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.

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.

Inversion: The phenomenon where an image is projected upside down and reversed left to right, a characteristic of both pinhole and lens-based optics.