Sharon Schamber's Video for Designing Quilting

[Sue R.]

Now, I have to go back and figure where I've gone wrong And I even read this whole thread before I watched... Thanks for the info, Dawn.

[Annette R.]

A little late to this discussion and given the caveat that I do not use templates etc in my quilting but I do use a light box a lot. If you are worried about slipping when you are tracing, make sure you have lots of blue painters tape around. It is my "go to" whenever I am tracing anything. Tape the original to the light box. Put on your freezer paper or fusible or whatever and tape that down too. Trace away. Nothing moves. If you are like me and using fusible very frugally (not sure of my spelling but just say I am cheap. LOL) I pick up the fusible with the painters tape attached and set it down in another spot and anchor it. The painters tape lasts a long time with the same stickiness so no problems there and it pulls off almost any kind of surface without damage or residue. (unless you leave it for months or years on a UFO won't speculate on that except based on a couple of my own bad experiences) Anyway painters tape is my quilting friend and it is my artist friend when I am tracing for a painting or wood burning project. It is the BEST!!!!!!! Hope this is helpful, Hugs, Ann

[Dawn S.]

Ann, thanks for the tips! That's more than we got from Sharon when it came to transferring the pattern to the freezer paper! I've never owned a light box, so I guess that will be my next purchase. And, some silk thread for stitching it. My feathers are fairly small, so the finer the thread, the better!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Susan B.]

I've never owned a light box, so I guess that will be my next purchase. Dawn In beautiful Northwest Montana

hi Dawn, when you begin to shop, check out http://www.dickblick.com There is a great selection of very nice light boxes and usually enough purchasing to get shipping free. :lol: :lol:

[Annette R.]

an alternative to a light box is a glass table with a light placed underneath it or a piece of glass or plexiglass placed on something so you can put a light underneath it. And of course there is always the old fashioned way by taping your pattern and tracing paper to a window. That is the hard way, I think, because standing to trace is a challenge for me. But where there is a will there is a way. Also some of the sewing tables can be fitted with plexiglass to make a light table. I was given a small light box for my birthday a few years ago and love it but wish it were larger. Hugs, Ann

[Renata L.]

I recently purchased the Artograph [i]LightTracer2 light box, 12"x18" working surface and I am very happy with it. It was an Amazon purchase but most art supply stores seem to carry this brand. It had a significant number of positive customer reviews.

[Margo C.]

Here is a link to the Amazon light box so you will know what to look for:

http://www.amazon.com/ARTOGRAPH-LIGH...cer2+light+box

[Dawn S.]

I recently purchased the Artograph [i]LightTracer2 light box, 12"x18" working surface and I am very happy with it. It was an Amazon purchase but most art supply stores seem to carry this brand. It had a significant number of positive customer reviews.

I have previously done some research, and came to the conclusion that that was probably the one I would get. And, of course I read all of the reviews, too. Seemed like the best one, for the money. And, once I started looking, I realized there is a downside to a really big one! I want to trace up close, and therefor would not want to reach more than 12" out! It would be hard on my shoulder!

Ann, Oh what I give for all of the glass top tables that I used to have! That would make life simple! I don't mind doing small tracings at the window, but I would never consider doing this intricate one at a window. I can do the standing, it's the shoulder that wouldn't hold out! (I messed up a previous shoulder surgery, so am limited!)

Sue, I'll check out the dickblick site. Thanks!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Nancy R.]

Here is a link to the Amazon light box so you will know what to look for:

http://www.amazon.com/ARTOGRAPH-LIGH...cer2+light+box

I originally got a cheaper version of this light box and didn't like the slanted top, especially when working on larger wholecloths. I recently invested in this light box:

http://www.joann.com/copic-comicmast...prd_11542677a/

This one is flat, the light is strong and it has smooth rounded corners that don't catch on things when you shift a larger drawing. For me, this is working much better. I think light boxes are like everything else, different models will work better for different people.

Nancy

[Dawn S.]

Oh, thanks Margo! I think I was writing, while you were posting! :lol: Yup, that's the one. Which one do you use?

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Renata L.]

Thanks Margo for posting the link to Amazon for my light box.

[Dawn S.]

Yeah Nancy, that is a wonderful light box! I looked at those, too. But, the price is a bit steep for me right now! I am always saving my pennies for my trip to Houston Festival every year. It is VERY costly to fly out of here. But, I am looking at all of the options, and that one did catch my eye!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Margo C.]

Oh, thanks Margo! I think I was writing, while you were posting! :lol: Yup, that's the one. Which one do you use?

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

Dawn, I just use the plexiglass extension table I bought for my featherweight and slide an Ott light under it.

http://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/extension-tables.php

My Ott light is really old and a different shape, but is similar to this:

http://www.ottlite.com/p-307-led-han...ask-light.aspx

[Paula D.]

You can make a great light box by inverting a plastic storage bin - the shallow one that is meant to go under a bed - cut a hole for a cord and set a light inside. Not my original idea, but a good one. 8)

[Paula D.]

Or how about using a pane of glass like from an old window? Might find one at a yard sale. Set it on some books or bricks or shoe boxes or whatever, on a table and slide a light under it. Voila! Light table on the cheap!!