Crafting when you have a visual impairment

I’ve always loved crafts, even from a young age. Making something new has always been exciting. Yet it was something I assumed would be off limits when I started to lose my sight. In recent years I’ve learnt that this isn’t true. I might not be using my sewing machine anytime soon, but I have discovered new things along the way.

For me, crafting now includes:

• crocheting
• needle felting
• photography
• cross-stitch

I’m not saying I do things the same way as sighted people, but there are tips and tricks that can enable visually impaired people to craft. Like most things, I turned to the online community. I asked other visually impaired people what crafts they did and what they would recommend to others. Thankfully, they had loads of suggestions.

Arts and crafts can be accessible to visually impaired people. Finding your own way and using technology can really help.

Here are some things that might help you if you’re visually impaired:

• feeling your way
• get the lighting right
• accessible instructions
• gadgets and technology
• have a go

Feeling your way

This might sound obvious, but you can get a lot of information through touch. For me, this means feeling which stitch I’m at when crocheting or feeling along a line of stitching when working on my cross-stitch. Crafting can be very tactile and allows you to include different textures.

Although, I think needle felting is the most tackle craft that I do. By moulding the fibres with a needle, you can feel it take shape. You can feel how sturdy the model is and if there are any holes in your work. In a way, crafting might be a chance to rest your eyes, away from screens and harsh lighting.

People have also found loom knitting helpful for this. Having a loom gives you a focus points, with the wool being weaved around the structure. You might imagine a giant loom, but it’s possible to get one that is much more portable.

Looming. Just like a lap loom. Doesn’t require me to strain my eyes and it’s soothing.

Originally tweeted by Cactus 🌵 (@Cactus_Rack) on 5th October 2021.

Using touch and residual vision might not be the quickest way of crafting, but I have found it helpful when there’s a visual elements to what I’m making.

Get the lighting right

For people who have some remaining sight, lighting can be crucial. Having direct light on a craft project can allow us to see it a little clearer. This is especially true if the light is focused on that object.

I use magnification lights for most of my projects. This allows me to see it more clearly and have enough light. For me, lighting can allow me to see more detail and distinguish different colours better.

Headlights are also is a great idea and super portable. I think I’ll have to give this trick a go!

I crochet – I use a head torch to direct bright light on the thing I’m working on as well as relying on touch. For fine work I would need a magnifier but I usually crochet with DK yarn or thicker 🙂

Originally tweeted by Lizzie 🦇 (@LizzieILES) on 4th October 2021.

Lighting can be as simple as crafting by a window or having a lamp on. If you find large amounts of light to distort your vision, having something more focused can help.

Accessible instructions

Instructions can come in all sorts of forms. They could be:

• written (in small text) and come as part of a craft kit
• pictures to show the process visually
• part of a book
• an online download (PDF)

Depending on your level of sight, these could all be inaccessible.

One company that have realised that is LEGO. They have started to publish instructions online and offer large print, audio and Braille. I really hope this is something they continue to expand.

I build a lot of LEGO sets. This is done by identify pieces by touch and they’re usually brightly colored. I use official instructions with magnification. They’ve also started publishing some instructions in text, audio and Braille.

Originally tweeted by MostlyBlindGamer (@BlindMostly) on 4th October 2021.

Audio and Braille building instructions (LEGO)

If you’re looking for other tutorials, it can be helpful to find videos that talk you through the process. Sometimes I find YouTube videos really helpful for this. The tutorial might not be designed for visually impaired people, but the way they narrate what they are doing will allow you to get all the information you need.

I crochet. I do it entirely by feel, because I don’t have enough vision for it to be helpful. My mom, who’s also blind, taught me the basics. I figured out the rest through spoken youtube tutorials or online patterns that are accessible to my screen reader.

Originally tweeted by 🎃 Creeping Cognitive Shadow 👻 (they/he) (@RChanneler) on 4th October 2021.

You could try using:

• large print instructions
• online patterns that you can enlarge
• a magnifier
• an app that reads out printed text

Gadgets and technology

Who doesn’t love a gadget?! Yet these don’t need to be fancy, sometimes it’s about thinking outside of the box.

I sew, I made a wrist pin cushion for myself and am thinking about using a bright colour needle so I don’t lose it & thimbles are a must!

I use tutorials online over books because I have yet to find an audio book of dress patterns.Originally tweeted by Em {they/she} 🌿 (@ghostlycomplain) on 4th October 2021.

One gadget I enjoy using is the OrCam Read. It’s a small device which can be used to capture and read out text. It’s speed and accuracy is the best I’ve ever tried. However, it is an expensive product.

For this reason, I’m a big fan of my iPhone. Apple have always had accessibility at the heart of their products. It has a built in digital magnifier and there are loads of apps that can help with accessibility. When crafting I’d recommend Seeing AI by Microsoft. It has a range of functions, these include:

• reading out text
• identifying colours
• describing photos

Seeing AI app (Microsoft)

When thinking about things that are specifically for crafting, it can be about trial and error. You know your level of sight and the things that help you complete daily tasks. Could those same things help with crafting?

I have tried:

• magnification lamp
• needle threader

Yet this seems to be fraction of what is available. The RNIB Shop have a range of products for visually impaired people who want to do some arts and crafts.

Art, crafts and DIY (RNIB Shop)

Have a go!

It might sound clique, but you never know unless you try. As a disabled person, I’m no stranger to adapting and making things work for myself. If it goes wrong, what’s the worst that happens?

It has also been amazing to see what other visually impaired crafters have been up to. Lynne has Charles Bonnet Syndrome and before their sightloss, they were a keen crafter. Like myself, they assumed sightloss meant an end to all things crafty. Lynne wrote a blog post about how they adapted things and got back into quilting.

I can still do that (Was that a dinosaur?)

If you’re a visually impaired crafter, what tips would you share? What is your next craft project? Let me know in the comments.

I should probably go and do some crocheting. I’ve been making a blanket for about 4 years now! It’s big enough to be use as a blanket while I continue to make it. One day it’ll be big enough…

~Chloe x