In a series of letters this week, we will explore what makes us be better stitchers while being productive and gaining enjoyment from our hobby!
Access to natural light should be your first priority when finding your craft sanctuary. This shouldn’t be direct sunlight. Rather, it should be a soft light where you will be able to see your stitches without straining your eyes or squinting in the brightness. Caring for your vision is also about material choices. For example, it wouldn’t be wise to knit with black yarn using needles with dark tips. The project not only would be unpleasant, but also might land you an earlier optometrist appointment. Keep an eye (pun intended) on changes in your vision—you might need to adjust your lighting situation if you notice it worsening.
Artificial lighting is great, but some types are easier on the eyes than others. Some artificial lights, like fluorescent lights, are hard on one’s eyes and can even cause headaches. Don’t stitch without adequate light—you will likely discover a mistake in the morning, and no one likes to redo their work.
Besides proper lighting, fatigue and different moods can affect your gauge and general productivity. If you find that you are tired or stressed, put your knitting aside until the morning or until you are feeling more relaxed. Watching a scary movie while working away on a project might result in a too tight gauge and dropped stitches all over—ask me how I know!