I agree with everyone else. Great light and place a white towel/pillowcase/blanket over your lap while stitching. This will help the holes show better. Also, take frequent breaks so as not to strain your eyes too much. Dark fabric is fabulously dramatic, but Ill only work on it in the summer months when I can sit outside. Otherwise, I make too many mistakes.
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I have stitched on black fabric, and it was a nightmare after sunset. The better option is to stitch in daylight. You can put a white cloth on your lap. That will help too.
I know Im late to the party! But heres my input, since my first project is on dark navy fabric as well, so I dont know how it is to stitch on white aida...But for me, I purchased a bright LED white light that helps me see things clearly and a good frame(I used Q snap) to stretch out the fabric nicely to see the holes.
Ive recently started stitching on a navy blue piece of aida as well. I hold a small flash light in my left hand pointed to right where Im stitching and stitch as usual with my right. Of course Im using a lap frame to do this. Hand held piece would be impossible....
I stitch on black often, and agree that some type of white fabric on your lap helps a lot. I always use a bright light from above, no matter what the colors, but for darks a small reading light underneath helps. The LED types are quite bright, but light up a smaller area, so you can focus them. This is helpful for me--I find a regular size lamp is too much light directly at my eyes. Plus most of the reading lights I see have clips so they are easy to position and keep steady.
Cuando bordo en Aida negro o azul naval, utilizo un aro o bastidor para que la luz natural o la iluminacion de la habitacion se refleje en el piso ( el mio es blanco ) y como la tela esta extendida se ven perfectamente los agujeros y se facilita bordar.
When board in black or navy blue Aida, I use a hoop or whisk to natural light or the lighting of the room is reflected in the floor (mine is white) and as the fabric is extended holes are clearly visible and facilitates embroider.
In my country they use a special pen - which can easily washed out in water to mark stiched area. For white fabric there are blue, green, pink and red colors; for black fabric there is silver color. Its really helpful but I dont know how to help you get it :L
However, try using sunlight. Its cheap, friendly with environment and work as well!
chekccard