Top Five Tips: Different Ways to Use Light Pads
Posted on 09th April 2025
Discover the many ways a light pad can enhance your quilting and sewing projects! From precision tracing to effortless pattern adjustments, this simple tool can make a big difference. Try these five creative uses- plus a few DIY tricks if you don’t have one yet!
By Amy Ball
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Light pads are a really handy tool and have a lot of different uses in quilting and sewing. They can vary quite a lot in price but I have always had an inexpensive one and never had an issue for the occasions I need to use it. However it might be worth investing in a higher quality one if you use a light pad on a very regular basis. Of course there are ways to create a DIY light pad at home, if you’d like to try out the idea without buying a new tool. All of the uses I’m going to talk about can be done using a large window (although some might be a bit fiddlier when working on an upright surface rather than a flat one), or if you have a glass-topped table you can shine a light from underneath and use the table top as your light pad surface.
Tip One
Foundation paper piecing (FPP): Sometimes it can be hard to see the guidelines on a foundation paper piecing design, especially if you have a few layers of fabric overlapping. Using a light pad can help with positioning your fabric pieces so they fill the correct sections of the FPP design, and it can also help if you are trying to get parts of a fabric print in specific places. By adding a clear cutting mat onto your light pad, you can use it for your cutting surface too and work in a more streamlined way.
Tip Two
Drawing embroidery designs onto fabric: Place your paper embroidery design onto the light pad and tape it in place with washi tape. Then place the fabric over the top and tape this in place too. It doesn’t matter if you can only tape it along one edge, it’s to help keep it in place while you work. The light shining through the paper and fabric will make the embroidery design much easier to see and you can trace it onto the fabric using your fabric pen/pencil of choice.
Tip Three:
Tracing appliqué templates: Use the light pad in the same way as you would for drawing embroidery designs onto fabric but instead have your appliqué template on the light pad with your fabric over the top, then trace the edge and cut out your appliqué piece.
Tip Four
Fussy cutting: Fussy cutting can be used in English paper piecing (EPP), FPP, appliqué and more but sometimes it can be hard to see all the details of a fabric print, especially if you are working from the wrong side of the fabric. A light pad will help you to see the fabric print more easily with the light shining through.
Tip Five:
Sticking together pattern pieces: PDF patterns with templates are really common in the sewing world but if you print at home on an A4/letter/legal paper sized printer and are working with larger pieces (maybe a bag pattern or large embroidery/appliqué design) then you’ll probably need to start sticking sheets together before you can cut out or trace the full design. Sticking sheets of pattern pieces together inaccurately can have an effect on the size and/or shape of the design so it’s really important to be as precise as possible. Using a light pad with help with this accuracy as you’ll be able to see the lines and guides much more clearly.
About the Author
Amy creates beginner patchworker digital courses and designs modern quilts with a traditional twist. At Coffee Rings Studio you’ll find her own blog with patchwork, quilting and general sewing tips and tutorials, plus her quilt pattern and digital course shops.
