I must be getting old...

Hi, Wooly! /me nods! Noreen

Hi Wooly,

Now, you know why I don't like real dark colors, can't see the dumb stitches either in knitting or crocheting.

Hugs,

Nora

On 16 Jan 2006 07:22:01 -0800, "norabalcer" spewed forth :

Eh, this is the first time I've had trouble with dark yarn. But I suspect it is merely a harbinger...

+++++++++++++

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

Maybe time for an eye appointment, just to make sure it's not the "bubs"?

-- Carey in MA (hoping you only need new bulbs and not glasses, tho' they might be as expensive...)

Welcome to the world of aging eyesight. It may be time to start looking at magnifying aids. I like the MagEyes I bought several years ago. I don't need them much for knitting and crocheting but couldn't do cross-stitch without them.

On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 15:59:54 GMT, "Carey N." spewed forth :

I usually have my checkup in May or June but if this keeps up I'll go early and eat the exam fee. Chances are the eyedoc will put an "add" on my Rx this time for readers - he almost did last time but I told him I'd marshal on until I just couldn't stand it any longer! I've found myself more and more lately putting fine print on my nose or holding average type out at arms' length to read it. Since I prefer wee spectacles that have no room for a bifocal I'll be one of those women with 2 or 3 pairs of spectacles pinned to the front of her sweater, or hanging from chains around her neck...

And of course today of all days is overcast and almost-drizzly. No rain and nearly no humidity since August, I need SUN today and don't get it. Hehehehe!

+++++++++++++

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

Wooly, I have fairly small specs and they are "progressives". I really like them for everyday use, but have a pair of much stronger reading glasses that I have used in the past for cross-stitch. I find the progressives also work fine for knitting, but I don't have that much problem up close - yet. Except for reading fine print on medicine bottles or the like - then the magnifiers come out and sometimes a magnifying glass too. Let us know what happens. :>)

Shelagh

Perhaps it was just a combination of the yarn and the light. There are times that I have problems picking up stitches on dark colors, changing the length of eye focus for 45 minutes or so seems to correct the problem. Have a cup of tea/coffee and enjoy the view from your window. DA

Woolly,

I can understand what you are going through. I have to wear magnifying glasses over my contacts to be able to cross stich these days! I get them at the dollar store.

A hint that I have tried and used was using one of those little round lights that you press on to make them light up. I put one on my lap to shine up from underneath when using dark fabrics.

But I am in the market for a new stitching lamp. My MIL gave me a lamp that she said was an Verilux (after I admired her standing Verilux). It turned out to be a knock-off table lamp, which I gave to my DD for her desk for homework. Do you recommend the Ott light? I am not sure about Daylight lamps vs. the full spectrum.

Di

Nobody is old ,, we just have longer Mileage on using our bodies ,, if we were wines who would Rise in value !! mirjam

I wondered why "sun rooms" are such a tradition in Britain. So they had enought light for knitting and needle work. Even on rainy days, I always found them a bit bright for reading, but they would be at just the right light level for working dark wool.

Aaron

I can't wear bifocals... they make me lose my balance (I heard that... I am

*NOT* unbalanced! LOL)... so I have a pair of TV glasses, a pair of computer glasses, and a pair of reading glasses for fine print. I don't have them pinned to me, but instead leave them where they need to be for their particular use. Of course, occasionally I will get up from what I'm doing and wander off into the kitchen or bathroom with that particular pair of glasses, then when I get back I realize that I left them behind.... so hanging them on those cords around my neck might not be a bad idea... but then, I'd likely end up with all three pair there by the end of the day, and I wouldn't like that. Ah well... I can use the exercise of walking back to retrieve them from the kitchen or bathroom. ;o)

Gemini

On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 14:16:36 -0500, "MRH" spewed forth :

There are actually jewelery items (or were, when my granny had spectacles for this and for that and for the other) designed to be pinned to one's blouse or sweater specifically for storage of spectacles when they weren't on one's face. I can't for my life remember what they were called, though. Time to see what Ebay offers...

+++++++++++++

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 19:28:39 GMT, Wooly spewed forth :

"eyeglasses pin" turned up the most hits. Not *exactly* the styles I remember granny using for her little gold wire frame spectacles, but same basic idea...

+++++++++++++

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com wrote: I am not sure

X-No-Archive:yes

I got one of the full spectrum lamps last year for Christmas and think it is wonderful. I have a congenital eye condition that started me in eyeglasses at age 16 months and I have worn them all the waking hours since. The spectrum light works well for me and I recommend it. I use it for crafts, reading, crosswords etc. Love Mirjams' comment that we are all aging well, like fine wine. :)

On 16 Jan 2006 09:34:53 -0800, snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com spewed forth :

I like my Ott light, though I do buy knockoff bulbs for a fraction of the price of branded Otts that put out light at the same "white" end of the spectrum. I once got one that was decidedly blue, the local shop gladly replaced it. The really cheap knockoffs at the dollar store are much too yellow and merely make things worse.

Probably your Varilux lamp will accept an Ott bulb. If you're lucky enough to have an actual lightbulb shop nearby (I have two) you can take in the Varilux, ask for an Ott knockoff of the same formfactor and be in business.

Which reminds me, I need to go get some new "bubs" for my Otts.

+++++++++++++

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

What she said: the full-spectrum bulb is most of what makes it an Ott light. I love mine but I don't use it a lot - mainly I use it to check colors. I'm not certain that the knockoff bulbs are as full-spectrum as the original Ott bulbs, but any Daylight bulb is better than none.

I agree with getting your eyes checked if a little rest doesn't help immediately.

I recently got a good buy at a thrift shop: one of those hand-held combinations of a big magnifying glass and a flashlight (Eagle brand, made in Hong Kong, but well made). I can't knit while holding it, but I've used it to check deails.

=Tamar