Frequently, customers complain that they have trouble seeing their needlepoint. Unfortunately, the reality is that as we age, our close-up vision often gets poorer. And needlepoint is actually closer work than reading.
But with stitching glasses, you can still stitch on smaller mesh canvas. I recommend taking your needlepoint with you to your eye doctor's office to show what you need to be able to see. (Tony Minieri takes 40 count silk gauze and #13 mesh canvas and explains that he wants the silk gauze to look like the #13 mesh.)
First, don't wear progressive lens when stitching. The benefit of progressive lens is that the focal point changes -- but that is not a benefit when you are stitching. (It is also not a benefit when reading in bed!) Instead, you want the straight line bifocals. The American Needlepoint Guild recommends a flat-top or straight line bifocal, preferably 35 MM wide (if smaller frames, 28 MM). This person also recommended that the bifocal line should be set at the margin of your lower lid. She also recommended that the bifocal be +.50 stronger than your regular reading glasses .
.
