Proper lighting is of utmost importance for any type of craft. And the more so when it comes to sewing. It doesn’t matter if sewing is your major occupation or hobby, in any case, it’s a meticulous job that needs you to stay focused all the time, especially when you have to work with a lot of details, some smaller components or decorations. And let’s be honest, it often happens that we sew after dark. I’m not an exception. Like any hobbyist, I do a great deal of sewing in the evening or even at night and I must admit that once I got a dedicated sewing light, I did feel the difference as compared to a common lighting scenario.
In fact, you can use any type of floor or table lamp for sewing. What a really good sewing lamp should deliver is bright diffused light that provides efficient space illumination and ensures exceptional visibility for your projects. Yet, I would recommend combining the daylight or overhead lights with the directed task light to feel comfortable and achieve the best sewing results.
Before I found my perfect sewing lamp, I’ve tested a few top-rated models and now I’ve reviewed them below to help you choose a sewing lamp that will best work for you.
- Type: Floor lamp
- Maximum Height: 53 inches
- Bulb Type: LED
- Wattage: 12 watts
- Type: Floor lamp
- Maximum Height: 63.75 inches
- Bulb Type: CFL
- Wattage: 24 watts
- Type: Floor lamp
- Maximum Height: 55 inches
- Bulb Type: LED
- Wattage: 12 watts
- Type: Floor lamp
- Maximum Height: 44 inches
- Bulb Type: LED
- Wattage: 9 watts
- Type: Floor lamp
- Maximum Height: 65 inches
- Bulb Type: LED
- Wattage: 5 watts
- Type: Floor lamp
- Maximum Height: 22 inches
- Bulb Type: LED
- Wattage: 18 watts
- Type: Floor lamp
- Maximum Height: 22 inches
- Bulb Type: LED
- Wattage: 18 watts
What Issues Are Faced Due to Improper Lighting When Sewing Clothes?
First and foremost, you should take care of your eyes. Poor lighting can cause excessive eye strain and fatigue. Your eyes will constantly try to adapt to low-light conditions that will result in a strong discomfort and bad posture that in turn can lead to headaches, sore neck, and stiffness in the arms and shoulders. However, too bright light is not good as well. It will dazzle you and make you squint, thus, causing blurred vision and strain when you try to concentrate on the task at hand and do some intricate sewing work.
Some other less harmful for your health, yet, not less significant issues related to improper lighting when sewing include incorrect color, fabric, and thread matching. You can end up selecting the wrong thread or button color or even combine the fabric textures in the wrong way.
To avoid all those problems, a proper sewing light should be bright enough to provide good visibility and crisp enough to ensure color accuracy and the right contrast to make the edges of fine details sharper. On the other hand, though, the light should not be glaring so that you feel comfortable while sewing.
What Is the Best Light for Crafting?
To choose the sewing lamp that will be right for you, there is a number of aspects to consider before buying. Below, I’ve made a brief buying guide for you to know what to pay attention to when selecting the sewing light.
Design
By design, sewing lamps are divided into floor and desk models. Floor lamps rest on steady bases that keep them stable on the floor and prevent skidding and have pretty long poles. The height of such lamps varies from 22” to more than 60”. Desk lamps, as the name suggests, are meant to be put on the desk or craft table. Usually, they are lower and smaller than their floor counterparts. While table lamps are a real deal for those who often use a sewing machine, floor-standing lights are more versatile and can be placed both next to your craft or sewing table and near a couch or armchair where you can settle in for hand sewing.
On top of that, you can come across combination lamps that have a convertible construction and embrace several functions. Such models can be used as floor lamps or easily transformed into desk models when needed.
The size of the lamp is yet another feature to consider since the type of tasks you are usually into might require either more diffused ambient light or a directed light beam.
Bulb Type
Today, traditional incandescent bulbs that cast warm yellow light are already the relic of the past. For modern craft and reading lamps, they most often use LED, CFL, and halogen bulbs, all of them being long-lasting. LED and CFL bulbs produce more contrasting cool light ideal for color matching and detailed works while halogen bulbs generate less contrasting mild light great for reading. Besides, halogen bulbs are less energy-efficient and will cost you more in the long run.
Special Features
Some extras you can find in different types of sewing lamps include adjustable height and a flexible gooseneck to position the lamp and customize the light to your convenience, a dimmer function to reduce or increase the brightness, and even an added magnifier glass for scrupulous tasks and detailed jobs. The frills you need will depend on the specific sewing tasks you most often accomplish.
User Age
Strange though it might seem, the user age should also be taken into account when choosing a sewing lamp. As we grow old, our eyesight deteriorates as well. Thus, the eyes of a 60-year-old individual are on average 8 times worse than the eyes of a 20-year-old person. Hence, the older we are, the more light we need to fulfill certain tasks.
Top 7 Sewing Light List
Brightech Litespan LED Bright Reading and Craft Floor Lamp
HIGH BRIGHTNESS
Available: In stockIf you seek a no-frills light that will ensure proper illumination for your workspace or any other area in your house, you can’t go wrong with the Brightech LTSPNWHNEW standing lamp.
First off, it is a breeze to assemble. The unit consists of only two parts, you just need to put the base and the pole together and that’s it. The base is very sturdy and will keep the lamp stable on the floor so that the kids and pets won’t easily skid it. At the same time, weighing less than 5 pounds, the lamp is pretty lightweight and easy to carry around. Hence, you can move it to anywhere where you need some added light.
As for the design, it is very simple and straightforward, yet, contemporary and keeping with modern trends. It looks minimalistic and will perfectly blend with any futuristic, high-tech, urban or fusion interior style. I also liked that this model is available in several color patterns that allows choosing the one that will perfectly match your home decor.
What makes this Brightech Litespan LED Bright Reading and Craft Floor Lamp lamp really good for sewing, quilting, embroidery, and many other types of handcrafts is an efficient LED bulb it comes fitted with. Multiple diodes deliver bright yet soft cool light great for detail work and safe for your eyes. The bulb is built into the lamp and needs no replacement. And you will hardly need it since it will last up to 20 years saving you money on electricity. In addition, the bulb is dimmable. In a combo with a flexible gooseneck, it will help you find your perfect lighting scenario.
OttLite 3-in-1 Adjustable-Height Craft Floor Lamp with Magnifier and Clip
What makes this model really shine straight away is the multifunctional design that will let you use it in many different ways. Let’s look into it in more detail.
The lamp package is complete with a lamp unit, a standing pole, a base, and a clamp kit. Thus, the OttLite 3-in-1 Adjustable-Height Craft Floor Lamp with Magnifier and Clip has a convertible construction and can be used as a regular standing lamp, a desk lamp, and even as a clamp-on light fixture to suit your every need. In fact, you’ll get three lamps in one. Thanks to such “transformer” design, you can use it in your sewing or craft room, in your garage or home workshop, and even in your bedroom when reading before going to sleep. When used as a floor lamp, the overall height can be adjusted from 43” to 63.75” inches to meet your convenience and the task you have at hand.
The branded OttLite 24-watt CFL bulb is rated to last up to 10 000 hours and is as energy-efficient as LED bulbs. Besides, it delivers a perfect balance of contrast and brightness to discern colors and clearly see fine details.
On top of that, this lamp has more bonuses to offer. The lamp incline is adjustable so that you can guide the light at a proper angle. Along with the lamp, you’ll also get a clip and a magnifier glass, bot attached to flexible gooseneck rods. The clip is a handy option for securely holding charts, patterns, and pictures when sewing or embroidering while a 2X magnifier with a 5X spot will come to help when working with tiny details.
floor so that the kids and pets won’t easily skid it. At the same time, weighing less than 5 pounds, the lamp is pretty lightweight and easy to carry around. Hence, you can move it to anywhere where you need some added light.
As for the design, it is very simple and straightforward, yet, contemporary and keeping with modern trends. It looks minimalistic and will perfectly blend with any futuristic, high-tech, urban or fusion interior style. I also liked that this model is available in several color patterns that allows choosing the one that will perfectly match your home decor.
What makes this Brightech Litespan LED Bright Reading and Craft Floor Lamp lamp really good for sewing, quilting, embroidery, and many other types of handcrafts is an efficient LED bulb it comes fitted with. Multiple diodes deliver bright yet soft cool light great for detail work and safe for your eyes. The bulb is built into the lamp and needs no replacement. And you will hardly need it since it will last up to 20 years saving you money on electricity. In addition, the bulb is dimmable. In a combo with a flexible gooseneck, it will help you find your perfect lighting scenario.
Miroco LED Floor Lamp with 5 Brightness Levels & 3 Color Temperatures
At a glance, the Miroco LED Floor Lamp looks just like any humble floor-standing lamp and there is nothing special about it. Yet, behind a simple design is the versatility and the ultimate customization that will cater to multiple needs. See for yourself.
First things first, the model both can function as a floor lamp and can be transformed into a table lamp when needed. In a standing configuration, the model will perfectly fit behind your couch, sofa, in the corner of the room, in the hall or foyer or anywhere you need to hit the aim with the extra light. As a desk lamp, it’s a great choice for your work table, nursery or bedroom.
Fitted with a 12-watt energy-saving LED bulb, the Miroco LED Floor Lamp provides a whole range of adjustable light options. Using a handy touch control panel conveniently located on the pole, you can choose bewteen 5 brightness levels and 3 colors. Thus, the color can change from warm white through natural white to cool white and the brightness varies from 20% to 100% in 20% increments. Add to this a flexible rubberized gooseneck, and you’ll be able to find the perfect light for any task, be it reading, sewing, crafting, studying or simply relaxing. At the lowest brightness level, the model will come in handy as a night lamp in the nursery. And a 1-hour timer will switch it off automatically when your little one falls asleep.
I’d be remiss not to mention a sleek and elegant lamp style that will match any modern interior. Fine shapes and the black matte finish will add a contemporary technological vibe to your home design. Meanwhile, the bulb boasts a 50 000 hour lifespan and will need no replacement for many years to come.
Brightech LightView Pro LED Magnifying Floor Lamp
For me, this model from Brightech is what refers to as the best lamp for scrupulous work with fine details. It comes with a large (6.5” x 4”) magnifier lense built right into the lamp and surrounded by two light bulbs. Thanks to this well-thought combo of a powerful glass lense and reliable LED lights, anything you will do under this lamp will be brighter, clearer, and easier for you. It is perfect for anything you need some extra visibility with. It’s an awesome choice for hobbies and crafts like sewing, reading, knitting, crocheting, woodworking, embroidery, and more. Meanwhile, it is also a great pro tool for beauty estheticians, make-up and tattoo artists, electronic designers, watchmakers, and jewelers. And the lamp will become a real life-savior for elderly people and individuals with poor eyesight. It will help them read books and newspapers, do some small repairs, etc.
Packed with an informative instruction, this Brightech lamp is really easy to assemble. I put it together in mere minutes following an included diagram. The lamp steadily rests on a well-weighted base and has a height-adjustable slim pole. Paired with a 17-inch perfectly flexible gooseneck, the lamp height can be set somewhere from 24” to 44” depending on your needs and task at hand. The 9-watt LED lamp delivers 6000K light output and produces crisp cool light for the ultimate clarity.
Daylight Focus Adjustable Beam LED Floor Lamp
The first thing that hit my eye in this Daylight Focus Adjustable Beam LED Floor Lamp standing lamp is a streamlined design all in brushed metal. Nickel finish looks very attractive and coupled with a slim pole, exquisite bowl shade, and a geometrical round base, it makes this lamp a perfect match for any modern interior style, be it loft, industrial, minimalism, high-tech, etc.
Elegant look aside, you’ll get a fully functional and very durable standing lamp. The metal base counterbalances the pole and provides a sturdy and reliable support keeping the whole lamp stable in place. The lamp is 65” tall and a 15.5” flexible gooseneck will let you adjust the light angle and position the light to your convenience so that to avoid interfering shades and glaring.
One more benefit of this model I can’t overlook is a special pull shade. Though it is not that big as larger flat lamps, it can still illuminate pretty large area. And the pull design allows varying the beam size from 3” to 33” at a distance of 12”. It means you can either illuminate the whole workspace or get a focused light for some detailed work. Besides, a smaller lamp shade is unobstructive and won’t get on your way when working. A 5-watt LED bulb produces the light 7 times brighter than that of a common 60-watt incandescent bulb. The light it casts is cool and crisp for enhanced clarity.
Verilux Original SmartLight LED Floor Lamp Full Spectrum Energy-Efficient Natural Light
If an ambient natural light is what you seek for your workspace, the Verilux Original SmartLight LED Floor Lamp Full Spectrum Energy-Efficient Natural Light will get you covered. Looking pretty much like any standing light fixture with a flat lamp, this model has a feature that makes it stand out from the crowd. It’s a full-spectrum lamp that casts soft dissipated light and illuminates a rather large area. A powerful yet energywise 18-watt LED lamp is hidden behind the branded Optix Glare Control Lense with a matte finish. It serves as a light diffuser and along with the Flicker Elimination Technology prevents the eye strain and fatigue. The full-spectrum light cast by the Verilux lamp is very close to daylight which is the most comfortable for our eyes and ensures true color rendering and better detail clarity. It is great for reading, crafting, sewing, different DIY projects as well as for playing table games.
LED bulbs not only boast by far the lowest energy consumption but also allow for the light customization. And in the Verilux lamp, this feature is used to the full. The model comes equipped with a convenient control panel that will let you change the light brightness and color temperature. Overall, you can choose between 5 brightness levels and 3 colors and vary those settings to your liking and comfort. Besides, a flexible gooseneck will help adjust the light direction.
Ott-Lite Task Plus High-Definition Floor Lamp
Normally, to illuminate a larger area, you would either need a more powerful bulb or have to use several light fixtures. This way or another, it will add to your electricity costs. If your workspace is on the larger side and you don’t want to pay more, theOtt-Lite Task Plus High-Definition Floor Lamp is a nice option to go for.
By design, it’s yet another standing lamp consisting of a pole that rests on the base and a flat lamp with a flexible gooseneck to position the lamp as it is most convenient to you and position the light where you need it. Yet, what sets this model apart from the rivals and makes it a choice for larger areas is an oversized shade (18” long) with a more powerful 24-watt bulb. The OttLite CFL bulb boasts a 10 000 hour lifespan and is highly energy efficient. Delivering a more powerful output, it won’t add much to your electricity bills. Meanwhile, the OttLite 508 technology ensures crisp yet soft light that will let you see true colors and accurate details without straining your eyes and feeling discomfort or fatigue. Powerful and adjustable, this OttLite floor lamp is great for all types of sewing projects as well as for knitting, scrapbooking, reading, studying, etc.
Conclusion
To round things up, the right sewing lamp will definitely make your sewing experience more comfortable and help you achieve better sewing results without fatigue and discomfort. On the other hand though, there is no sewing lamp suitable for all. When choosing a lamp for you sewing and crafting projects, take into account the light output and and adjustability so that it fits different tasks you might have at hand.