Quick News: We’ll be starting the Garden Swirl stitch-along this coming Monday, July 28th. My intention was to start tomorrow, but we had unavoidable delays in shipping the kits, so this will give more people more time to get their kits.

On to today’s topic:

A while ago, a kind reader wrote in with a recommendation for a light / magnifier combo unit that she uses and likes. Because I get a lot of questions about magnifiers, I thought Hmmmm… I should get one and try it out!

And so I did.

I don’t always use magnification when I stitch. In fact, I find it easier not to use it – and for most work, I’m ok without a magnifier.

In most circumstances, good lighting is the key to seeing well when stitching. When folks ask me about magnification because they’re struggling to see, my first question is generally, “What kind of light do you use?” Often, the answer is regular household light. Sometimes, it’s an Ott light. So usually, I recommend trying a high Kelvin (up to 6,500K) task light first. A good light will often (though not always) eliminate the perceived need for magnification, and it will help reduce eye strain while you’re stitching.

The time has come at long last to launch the stitch-along for Garden Swirl!

The kits for this stitch-along project will launch this Friday, July 18, at 10:00 AM Central Time (I’m in Kansas – you’ll need to figure out the time based on your own location).

If you’d like a kit, then, please set a reminder so that you can grab one on Friday morning. We will have a limited number of decorative boxes available as well. (And I will send out a launch announcement on the blog that morning, too.)

I’ll explain everything below, including what’s in the kit, what comes with the decorative box, and how the ordering and shipping will work. If you’re keen to join in on this stitch-along, read on, my friends…