Help and advice

There are adaptations and techniques that can be used to enable a blind or partially sighted person to learn, or continue, to sew including:

• adapted sewing patterns e.g a Braille sewing pattern,
• use tissue paper which contrasts in colour with the fabric as a guide when using a sewing machine
• use pins with large coloured heads.^1-2

Dental floss threaders can be used as an alternative to needle threaders and can be easier for a blind person to use.¹

You could read our sections on:

• Equipment to secure items
• Magnifiers
• Reading lights on a clamp.

Task lighting such as a desk or floor lamp can be essential for sewing as general lighting from a ceiling mounted light may be insufficient. Task lighting directs light where it is needed for detailed activities like knitting, sewing, or reading. A task light 600mm (2 feet) from a book will give you 25 times more light than a ceiling mounted light that is 3 metres (10 feet) away.³

For more information
Read Thomas Pocklington Trust and RNIB publication Making the most of your sight; improve the lighting in your home