I got a tablecloth blank today and was jacked about sewing channels in the ends and hanging it immediately. However, I quickly got more discouraged and frustrated than I have ever experienced with the thread injector.
First of all, I am blind in one eye and have 70% vision in the other. It took me 15 minutes to wind the bobbin and thread the machine. Threading the needle alone took five minutes. My eyes were very tired from a full day of work, and I couldn't find my headlamp (which I normally use for sewing).
The tablecloth fabric was purple, and my thread was black. There simply wasn't enough contrast for someone visually challenged. Lesson learned - I will never buy black (or even remotely dark) thread, because I can't see it. Very hard to sew a straight stitch if you can't see the thread. From now I'm buying lime green thread or something really bright. Sewing is a 3-D thing and I'm operating in 2D.
My initial plan was 2 1/8" channels, triple stitched. However, I just couldn't see what I was doing. I ended up quadruple stitching the channels, They're not pretty or straight, but I think they'll hold up fine once I larkshead an Amsteel continuous loop through the channels.
I've got my Amsteel, I've got my Dutch Whoopie Hooks, and tomorrow I look forward to doing some plain old splicing of continuous loops and whoopie slings that doesn't require a magnifying glass for me to see what I'm doing.
I had envisioned doing a lot more DIY in the future, but today was particularly frustrating. I may have to invest in low-vision aids or something 'cause I'm totally exhausted. Maybe all I need is to pace myself - get proper lighting, plenty of rest, and a really big magnifying glass like jewelers or watch repairmen use.
I don't know much about what people as blind as me do when attempting something like sewing, but I intend to find out. Any other visually challenged sewers out there? Any tips you can offer me? This is the first time that my vision has really let me down, and I'm feeling pretty low.
Bookmarks