Well, hello there, my friend! Ready to take a peek at one of my favorite needlework helpers, CraftOptics glasses?!
I first saw these unique-looking glasses at market. Kelly Clark was wearing them in her booth while she was doing a stitch demonstration. 🙂
So, what are CraftOptics magnifying glasses?
CraftOptics magnifying eyeglasses are high-resolution telescope magnifiers that double the size of your view. The “WOW” Package comes with custom prescription glasses/telescopes, an LED light, a handy travel case, and a battery pack.
Gone are the days of craning your neck forward and straining your back and eyes! These glasses are just the ticket to make stitching more enjoyable.
Let me tell you a little about the glasses’ features…
then, we’ll dive into what they do so you can decide if you need them. 😉
CraftOptics glasses have titanium frames with telescopes that attach to the frames. You may use your prescription for eye correction if you need it. If not, the company will put in blank lenses. And you can wear them with contacts, too.
Of course, fashion is essential, so the frames come in three colors: purple, red, and black. My glasses are purple and I L-O-V-E them!
You can get the glasses with or without the “Dream Beam”.
The “Dream Beam” is an LED light – and I recommend getting it because, when you have it, you can use your glasses literally anywhere! (The light has two settings: high and low.)
There’s a head strap attached to the arms, so you can secure the fit. The strap keeps your glasses snug and prevents them from sliding down your nose.
There’s also a clip on the cord. I wasn’t sure what it was for at first, but I finally figured it out: you can fasten it to the back of your collar to keep your battery pack cord out of the way. YAY!
The telescopes and light can flip up, too. In other words, they adjust up and down so you can lift them to see what’s going on around you. Remember, the lenses are your exact prescription, so they’re practical beyond the magnification and light.
One thing I especially love about these glasses is how comfortable they are to wear. They don’t weigh very much and the piece that fits across the bridge of your nose makes them feel even lighter. (I think it helps distribute the weight more evenly.) And the hinges are spring-loaded.
The company seems to have thought of everything!
What makes CraftOptics magnifying eyeglasses so special?
CraftOptics magnifying eyeglasses have oodles of truly terrific benefits.
First, they make seeing those teeny tiny canvas holes (think 18 mesh) as easy as 1 – 2 – 3! Remember, these glasses offer a fantastic magnification of two times. And this 2x magnification isn’t the same as the 2.0 you find on a pair of reading glasses (a.k.a. “cheaters”). Two times means the telescopes literally magnify what you’re looking at by doubling it in size.
Next, CraftOptics are handy for stitching on the go. You won’t have to worry about finding a place with good light; You can use CraftOptics (with the Dream Beam) instead. 🙂
Finally, the company requires several measurements from you, so these glasses are very custom. Knowing the distance between your irises means the telescopes focus precisely where you’ll be looking when you’re working on your canvas. And the glasses fit the width of your face perfectly.
There are three ranges: short range, regular range, and long range.
The range you choose will depend upon your particular stitching “set up”. Personally, I use the regular range and recommend it if you stitch using a floor stand, like the Needlework System 4 or the Lowery Work Stand.
If you stitch at a table and use a frame weight, or if you use a lap stand, the wonderful folks at CraftOptics can answer all your questions about which range you’ll want to get. They’re happy to help you decide, so you don’t have to guess.
And it’s not just their product…
CraftOptics, as a company, is top notch, too. CraftOptics is a family-run business with a commitment to service. Everyone who works there is super helpful.
Dr. Charles Caplan, a dentist, is the founder of the company. He initially came up with the CraftOptics concept after needing to see inside his patients’ mouths better. And now, all types of creatives use them: crafters, jewelers, quilters, woodworkers, and, of course, stitchers. 😉
CraftOptics has an excellent customer service department. 5 stars! Actually, all the stars! I’ve never contacted them and had less than superb service.
As you already know, the company adds your prescription to the glasses. They make it super simple, too. I didn’t have my prescription handy when I called, so they cheerfully contacted my optometrist for me.
I should note that I usually wear progressive lenses (lenses without a bi-focal line), but CraftOptics doesn’t offer progressive lenses at this time. Instead, I’m using bifocal lenses (with a line) – and it didn’t take long for me to get used to it.
The company also allows you to choose lenses just for distance vision OR just for close-up vision. You have options—and the prescription lenses don’t cost extra.
Finally, the folks at CraftOptics really want you to be happy with your purchase – which becomes clearly evident when you take a look at their warranty.
Their very generous warranty includes…
- A lifetime warranty on the telescopes.
- A lifetime warranty on the hinges that attach the telescopes to the frames.
- Three-year coverage for the Dream Beam light
- Three year coverage for the titanium frames
- A one-year guarantee on the battery pack
And there’s a money-back guarantee, too! If you don’t like your CraftOptics glasses, they’ll fully refund your money within the first 45 days.
Another bonus is that if you find the range you chose isn’t the best for your work – or perhaps you want different lenses – they’ll switch them out within the first 45 days, free of charge.
Finally, if your prescription changes, the company will switch your glasses lenses out for you. It costs $85 (plus shipping), but that’s only because you’re pay for the new lenses. They install them and ensure your CraftOptics glasses are ready to go – just like new!
Now, you may be thinking, I really need a pair of CraftOptics Magnifying Eyeglasses!
After all, they’re so easy to use, and the convenience of having magnification and light in one travel-friendly tool is ahhhh-mazing.
As with all good things, though, these eyeglasses are a wee bit on the expensive side. You’ll want to view them as an investment. On the up-side, there are payment plans available through PayPal Credit and CareCredit. They also accept FSA/HSA cards.
And I have some more good news— my friends at CraftOptics have created a special offer just for my followers!
If you decide to order the CraftOptics WOW package (magnifying eyeglasses and DreamBeam light) you will receive a $100 discount off your purchase price.
Just use the coupon code ELLENJOHNSON100 when checking out to receive this special offer!
You can find all the details on the CraftOptics website here >>> https://craftoptics.com/ (which, by the way, is the only place to buy these glasses).
Hop over and check them out… or call the company with any questions. I know they’ll be happy to help.
Alrighty, my friend – that’s all for now.
Thank you ever so much for dropping by to learn about CraftOptics magnifying glasses.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. 🙂
And until next time, happy stitching!
XOXO!!
PS: Be sure to check out my new episode of Needlepoint TV™ about them over on our YouTube channel, too. And if you want to know about some of my other favorite needlepoint “helpers”, click here and here!
