Needlework takes a certain amount of intricacy and sophistication. And you might need a few tools to help you reach the level that you aspire to. More often than not, a light, magnified or not, is one of them.
There is a common myth that doing intricate work such as this will damage your eyesight. Although that is untrue, not having the proper lighting condition can result in weariness, and more importantly, an unimpressive work of art.
So, which is the best light needlework? Well, the answer varies from user to user. We’ll attempt to cover the whole spectrum ( get it? ) below.
Top 8 Best Light for Needlework
A well-lit environment can have a larger effect on your work’s output than you can imagine. Here are our favorite lights.
1. Glocusent LED Neck Light
As our first pick, we have a neck light from Glocusent. If you want a lightweight product that is easy to use, then you are in luck. First of all, the lightweight portion – it features a surprisingly portable design.
This battery-powered product has a 1000mAh battery, allowing for a decent battery of life up to 80 hours. You can recharge it, and in a world where micro-USB is becoming more irrelevant, it thankfully uses a USB Type-C port.
An imposing side of this light is the adjustability it has. First, you get three color temperatures – 3000K, 4000K, 6000K, translating to a cool white, warmer white, and yellow tint. Furthermore, there are three levels of brightness in total.
These options will allow you to customize it depending on your preference and situation, which works well for needleworking. Another crucial part is how well they suit your eyes. Otherwise, it might cause strain in many cases.
This product has a flicker-free design with advanced LED lights. They also have a blue light filter, which might also help reduce strain. Moreover, its arms are adjustable, which allows for an ergonomic fit around your neck.
Therefore, you will get a comfortable time wearing it. And a narrower light is quite useful when it comes to working with needles. It has a narrow beam design that lights a small area consistently.
Pros
- Three color temperatures
- Rechargeable battery
- Narrow beam
- Ergonomic design
- Three brightness levels
Cons
- Neck fitting could be better
- Build quality needs work
2. Vekkia LED Neck Light
Now, we have another neck light for you. You might realize that some of the lights do not have a narrow enough beam, which is a good thing to have for needlework. This product allows for that option as well.
You get two options in it – a spotlight and a floodlight mode. The fancy names boil down to two things – lights with a narrower or a wider spread. This ability allows you to choose whichever one you need.
Moreover, you can turn both of the lights at once, enhancing its versatility. And you might also need to change the brightness depending on your environment and vision. Therefore, it has three levels of dimming for you to choose from.
In terms of the LEDs, you get two flicker-free lights on the two ends of it. What makes them more enticing is that you can make adjustments independently on each one, allowing for better customizability.
The neckband is flexible so that you can fit it around your neck without too much effort. Its flexibility allows for improved ergonomics. And you can fold it into a surprisingly small form factor for effortless portability and storage.
As expected, it has a rechargeable battery of around 700mAh capacity. The battery life is okay, but it uses a micro-USB cable, which comes in the package. We would undoubtedly prefer a USB Type-C cable, however.
Pros
- Does not need AAA batteries
- Flexible and ergonomic design
- Two flicker-free LEDs
- Narrow and wide beams
- Soft-touch material
Cons
- Small battery
- Uses micro-USB
3. Miroco LED Floor Lamp
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If you do not prefer to have a neck light and want something that would stand stiff at a particular position, our third pick will suit you. This product is a floor lamp that you can position right beside your working place.
First of all, it comes with four options for the color temperature – candle, warm white, natural white, cool white. That means it ranges from a warmer hue to a cooler one, which is sufficient.
Moreover, it has four brightness levels, too, a 25% increment each time. So, depending on your needs, you can customize this light. That said, it also has a pretty impressive lifespan as well (around 20000+ hours).
Hence, it saves you from maintenance costs in the long run. It has a fair bit of adjustability physically too. You can adjust its neck however you want and rotate it to the position you wish to, which is crucial for intricate embroideries.
Another great point is that it has a touch control system, meaning you only need to tap on the panel to do anything – be it adjusting the brightness or color temperature. Lastly, let’s move on to the base.
We think that the base it uses is very stable, and you would have a hard time accidentally knocking it down from its position. Furthermore, the minimal design also results in less clutter, which is even better.
Pros
- Four color options
- 20000+ hours lifetime
- High-quality LEDs
- Flexible neck
- Features touch control
Cons
- Brightness could be higher
- A bit short for some
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4. iMagniphy Lighted Magnifier
We have got the non-magnified lights till now, so let’s have a change of pace at this point. Our fourth pick is a decent desktop magnifier. A product like this can help with the tiny, detailed embroideries of yours.
Firstly, the most crucial bit – the magnification level. This one allows for an 8X zoom. That means the tiniest details you were struggling to see are going to be all clear and smooth with one of these.
The size of the lens is 5.5 inches. This size means that you will not have to move your hands around while working because the lens is too small. Moreover, the base is quite sturdy and stable, as well.
And the material is crucial as well. For one, it has a scratch-resistant acrylic lens that makes it both lightweight and durable at the same time. The base and the neck are of decent quality, as well.
Moreover, it has an eight-inch flexible gooseneck. This feature allows you to adjust the lens’ position without moving it by holding the base. Paired with the large lens, this is an enticing choice.
The LED lights used in these products are quite bright too, which you need to power with a typical 120V outlet. It does not use a rechargeable battery, and there are six LEDs in total, which is plenty.
Pros
- Six LED lights
- Powerful 8x lens
- Flexible gooseneck for adjustment
- Oversized lens for a better view
- Scratch-resistant acrylic
Cons
- Some users would prefer batteries
- Neck is a bit short
5. SingHong Neck Light
Now that we have reviewed a lighted magnifying glass, let’s move on to a neck light once again. The next pick that we have for you is an affordable product from SingHong that is suitable for your works.
First and foremost, this product has four LED lights in total. Having four of them in such a small area means that you can achieve a narrow spread of light, which is helpful when it comes to needlework.
The LEDs can each go up to 20 lumens of brightness with three adjustment levels. Two of them are spotlights, and the others are floodlights. So, you can get around 80 lumens with all of them lit up.
When it comes to the arm, this product uses high-quality silicon rubber. This rubber is soft to the touch, and it is quite flexible as well; therefore, you can adjust it according to your needs.
It uses a standard lithium battery, which holds around 850mAh of juice. You can get around eight hours of battery life off a single charge, which takes roughly two hours.
So, it’s safe to say that the battery life could have been somewhat better, although it is decent enough. When it comes to weight, it weighs around 115 grams. Therefore, you can wear this light for extended periods.
Pros
- Three points of brightness
- Quality silicon rubber band
- Battery rechargeable around 5000 times
- Narrow and wide lights
- Only weighs 115 grams
Cons
- Short battery life
- Needs even lower dimming
6. Beam n Read LED Light
Some users find only one or two LEDs a little hard on their eyes, even though most do not. So, to ensure that we have a product that fulfills that void, we have an excellent product from Beam n Read.
As we talked about the narrow beams being somewhat problematic for some, this one has six LEDs in a row. And as you can imagine, this means that it will not be as narrow as the neck lights.
However, if you think you need a slightly narrower light, then you also can do that. It allows you to turn three of the LEDs off. This ability is also handy to save you some battery.
That said, let’s move on to the battery now. This light uses alkaline AA batteries, which can provide up to 50 hours with six LEDs and around 100 hours with three. Some might consider this a problem.
The reason we say that is that not having a rechargeable battery can result in some users frowning. Nevertheless, considering the battery life it can churn out, this product is still a decent deal.
Lastly, you can control the angle of the light as well. And to ensure that it does not strain your eyes, it has an Orange Relaxation Filter and a Red Relaxation Filter, which lets you customize it.
Pros
- Three or six LEDs
- Filters make it easy on the eyes
- Up to 100 hours of battery life
- Easy to travel with
- Control for light’s angle
Cons
- No rechargeable battery
- Durability is not excellent
7. LEDGLE LED Light
Continuing with our stream of neck lights, here is another option for you. An issue many users face with products of this lineup is that they occasionally slip off their necks. That mostly happens due to the material.
This product, however, does a great job at minimizing the issue. To achieve that, it uses high-end rubber, which is durable and does not slip off easily. It is also soft-touch and friendly to human skin.
Now for the shining stars of the show, the LEDs – you get four of them on this product, which have a decent life, as well. Moreover, you get the options for three different levels of brightness.
And as with most of these products, this one also features two spots and two floodlights, allowing you to choose between a wide or a narrow beam of light (or both, if that’s what you want).
It features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is cost-efficient. However, the capacity is only around 650mAh, which gives you 6-8 hours on high brightness, and 10 hours with normal. And it comes with a typical micro-USB cable.
As always, we prefer a USB Type-C connection, but this works okay, so that’s passable. And along with the impressive 3-ounce weight, the included magical buckle ensures a secure fit.
Pros
- Does not need alkaline batteries
- A comfortable weight of 3 ounces
- Combination of wide and narrow beams
- High-end rubber arm
- Includes the magical buckle
Cons
- No temperature control
- Lack of USB Type-C
8. Luxjet LED Light
A bonus about neck lights is that they do not break the bank, whereas a large stand light might as well do that. As our final pick, we have another very affordable neck light for your needlework.
This product is a compact light from Luxjet. As usual, one of the biggest highlights is that it features a 360-degree flexible arm (or neck, depending on how you think) that fits snugly to your neck’s shape.
It uses quality rubber silicone, and therefore quite comfortable to wear at various angles. And following the typical standard, this product also has a floodlight and spotlight combination, allowing you three options (including both of them turned on).
However, there is no control for the color temperature (although it is hard to expect that at this price). You get some quality LEDs here, which are very bright when at the highest level. There is a rechargeable battery, too.
This time, the capacity is 1000mAh, which is pretty good. And you can get up to 12 hours of battery life at high brightness and around 20-40 hours at moderate brightness. We appreciate this bit.
In terms of portability, this light weighs only 3.8 ounces. Along with this, the flexible form factor allows for easy storage and a comfortable wearing experience, even for extended periods. And it is sweat proof, as well.
Pros
- Convenient recharging
- 360-degree flexibility
- Three brightness modes
- Does not strain your eyes
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Mode switching is random sometimes
- Build quality could be better
What to Look for While Buying Light for Needlework?
There are two aspects to this topic. The first one relies on your personal preferences, while the second is dependent on how impressive work the manufacturer has done. We’ll look at both of those aspects below.
- Magnification or No?
The first question you will face is whether you want your light to include a magnification glass along with it. As you can imagine, this glass will help you see things much clearer.
That is especially useful if you have to do things such as very tiny embroideries, as they are often hard to see correctly. Moreover, the magnification will help adults that have lost a bit of their eyesight over the years.
You will find these products as lighted magnifying glasses in the market. If you want one, you should take note of the term below.
- Diopter
You would probably come across this word a few times. It essentially refers to the curvature that the glass has. To make things easy to digest, just remember that the thicker and more magnification it has, the higher the curvature.
Knowing this bit will help you figure out how much magnification a product will provide you. You only need to divide it by four and add one to it.
For instance, if a lens has a diopter of four, it will have a magnification measuring 4 / 4 +1, so, 2x.
- Brightness
This is undoubtedly one of the most essential bits about choosing a light. It refers to exactly what the name suggests. You need to look out for how bright the product can get. The brighter it gets, the better.
But of course, you do not always want a bright light scorching above your head. Hence, the ability to dim the light is just as necessary. Try to find out how much control you have over the dimming.
- Accuracy
You might be asking what accuracy might have to do with the light. Simply put – you need to see the exact colors you are using and how they are looking. Often you will find lights that are too warm or too cold.
This problem results in you not realizing the actual color of your work, which can be problematic in various situations. Neutral light is better to have, but you cannot get a completely neutral light.
So, what you need to look out for is the percentage of color accuracy that the product offers. Having the ability to control its color temperature is another bonus if the light has this feature.
- Base Type and Size
Will your light be hanging from your neck? Or do you want to clamp it to your desk? This question is essential, as it determines how versatile the product will be.
Moreover, where you want to place it depends mostly on your preference, which is the most important thing to consider. Your options are a bit narrow for the lighted magnifying glasses, but otherwise, there’s a ton.
For instance, if it stays at a permanent spot, it is okay if the base is comparatively heavy. But if you are going to clamp it to your table or stand’s edge, the product needs to have a clamp and a lighter base.
Lastly, if you will be moving around with the light frequently, it is better to opt for a comparatively lighter product. The base type and size also rely a bit on whether the product has a magnification system or not.
- Bulbs
Another crucial thing to notice is the quality and the number of bulbs you get in the product. Undoubtedly, longer bulb life is always better, which is a no-brainer. The number of bulbs, however, can vary.
A higher number of bulbs means that the light will spread out widely. On the other hand, a product with only one bulb means that it will result in a narrower beam. Therefore, this factor is something you should consider too.
Final Words
Your search for the best light needlework should come to an end with this collection of bulbs.
Do your research on the type of light that would suit you the most and whether you want magnification. The rest is smooth sailing, and you should achieve some excellent results.