eileenkny....... I need the light on my right side since I am left handed. Otherwise my hand/wrist/arm blocks the light. That's the case when I am reading as well. I somehow block my own light unless I sit in a twist. Which isn't good!

I like the Daylight brand because it turns on immediately and doesn't flicker when on. I use to have a Dazor brand and the light wasn't as clear and the switch wore out. You had to hold it down to get the light to engage and the light always flickered...... which was a pain.

Barbara

bar7700 wrote:
I have this lamp on an end table by the sofa. I also have the orginal Ott Light and the floor model Ott light. I think the one on the end table, which I put there for applique, should be on my left, not my right. I get terrible shadows with it.
eileenkny

ritzy wrote:
Ritzy, what ruler are you using? I've only had glare when using the Guidelines ruler. I quit using it because I couldn't see much of anything on the ruler. I didn't want to just trust the clip thing on it, I like to see what I'm doing.

JoAnne

I have a desk base mounted Daylight magnifier on my cutting table. It serves two purposes..... I use it for cutting fabric and for cross stitch.
It also works great for getting wood slivers out of your finger, reading a small map, etc.

http://us.daylightcompany.com/

Barbara

Eileen, I have a floor adjustable neck lamp that either sits over my shoulder when I'm at the machine (I have another to the other side of the machine on the desk) and it swivels around for when I'm at the cutting desk as well as overhead lighting. I have it so that I almost head-butt it??!!?? I know that may sound strange but... erm left hand cutter, right hand ruler, mat and fabric in front and if you lean forward your head is in line with the lamp to the point of touching it. The shade thingy is just below eye level so you don't get glare that way and you can tilt it until there is no glare on the ruler.

I don't think anyone, no matter at what stage in their experiance of this past time, should scrimp on the lighting around the cutting area.

I have a cutting table...and use one of those gooseneck clip on lights....similar to this one: http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/Black-Gooseneck-Headboard-Clip-Lamp__74412.html

I can move the light around and adjust to meet my needs.

I also have a pole lamp which I can move around behind me to add additional lighting.

I wonder if the Olfa frosted rulers would cut down on the light glare...

FW

My problem with lighting is not having glare on the ruler. Any help for us?

FW,
What a great idea!! I never thought of extending the lines. I just whined a lot
I saw a video of Jodie Davis at market talking to the guy from Guidelines and he showed her a tool to put a 6x12 ruler end to end with a 6x24 ruler. That made a 6x36 ruler so we can turn the mat and cut without so many folds!

On a totally different subject, I took a chunk out of my right forefinger the other night because of bad lighting.
What side should the light be for a lefty to not have shadows on the work?
eileenkny

I am left-handed also. I don't have much trouble with rulers...but it is the cutting mats.

I am always looking for the perfect cutting mat. When placing my fabric on the mat...the measuring lines are covered by the fabric.
I am constanting checking and rechecking the cutting lines.
Why not have the cutting lines extend beyond the numbers?

I finally took a thin sharpy and extended the lines below so that I can see them. Yes...I know..I can use the lines above on the mat..but there are times I am 1/8 off because I don't line up on the bottom.

It makes sense to lay my fabric on the line...and to be able to see 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 etc. and cut without having to adjust my fabric each time.

As for my rulers slipping...I put a dot of hot glue on my rulers...or I have those sandpaper dots which grip the fabric.

FW

Ruth...... One day I was wishing for a left handed ruler and then I watched TQS with Marti Michell as a guest. Needless to say I went and got all three of her My Favoirte Rulers and I love them!
http://www.frommarti.com/

Another ruler that is not bad is by Guidelines.
http://www.guidelines4quilting.com/

I like the Guideline ruler but must confess I removed all the doo hicky stuff and just use it as a ruler.

Barbara

My problem is those rulers that are 6 1/2" or 12 1/2" long. I constantly confuse which side I'm cutting from and cut too big or too small. Too big isn't a problem (unless I don't notice it til I've sewn it into the block), but too small is a real pain.

I'm just going back to solid inch rulers and just dealing with the extra 1/2" in other ways!

BethMI

I don't know about the rulers, but I have a Fiskars rotary cutter, and with that cutter you can take it apart and put it back together "backwards" for lefties

I'm missing something here. I'm left handed and I've never noticed anything about the numbers on the rulers. :

My biggest problem is that my cutting mats' numbers on the long edges only go in one direction. I tend to just throw the mat down, get my fabric all squared up and then notice that I'm at the wrong end. Duh, me!!!

eileenkny

Oh the numbers!! Well I never take much notice of them and always count twice anyway Or use tape if I'm going en masse!

Could you put a sticky circle over the number and re write it or a bit of Tippex correction fluid?