threadtech 1where fashion meets technology

The Edge | Colleen Morgan | Digital Visual Arts Catalyst

TimelineTake a look at some examples

Introduction to workshop materials

Electronics 101

Design-A-Circuit

Short Break

Sewing your circuit with LEDs

Lighting up!

What next, other fun, useful links

Examples

My first foray into the world of conductive thread...

Examples

Examples

fashionnerd.comDiana Eng

ExamplesPhillips DesignSKIN Dresses

Workshop Materialspower supply

CR2032 coin cell battery

conductive threadlilypad light emitting diodes

(LEDs)

lilypad button board

coin cell battery holder

Electronics 101

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power supply

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light sourceLED

conductive thread

Single Light Source

positive (anode)

negative (cathode)

Electronics 101

power supply

light sourceLED

Multiple Light Sources

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Electronics 101

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Multiple Light Sources

Some things to considerPositive and Negative threads should never touch.

The distance between the light source and the battery should not be too long.

Conductive threads have surface resistivity. Surface resistivity is the resistance of a material to the flow of electrical current between opposite sides of its surface. You want conductive threads and textiles with low surface resistivity. Surface resistivity is typically measured in ohms per square.

Conductive thread is not shielded or coated. It can ‘leak’and weaken the electrical current.

Our Conductive Thread

conductive thread

Silver Plated Nylon 234/34 x 4ply

Resistance ~14 ohms/foot (Low resistance)

Thread Weight - Thick

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Design-A-Circuit

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Design-A-Circuit

Keep it fairly simple!just for today

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Design-A-Circuit

Keep it fairly simple!just for today

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Design-A-Circuit

Keep it fairly simple!just for today

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Design-A-Circuit

Keep it fairly simple!just for today

Sewing A Battery

Use pliers to remove the leads on the back of the battery holder

Thread the needle up through the hole under the positive contact.

Loop the thread around the positive connector 2 times

Thread the needle back through the hole and secure to material.

Sewing the Positive Contact

Sewing A BatterySewing the Negative Contact

Thread the needle up through one of the slits at the negative contact

Loop the thread around the negative contact 2 times

Thread the needle back through one of the slits and secure to material

Design Brief3 LEDs

1 x power supply and holder

2 meters of conductive thread

Selection of coloured threads

1 x Garment or piece of fabric

Make something awesome!

Consider this...Where is the battery going to be situated on the garment?

Remember to think about which stitch lines are your positive and negative charge.

Positive and negative threads should never touch

Do you want your conductive thread stitching to be visible? If not what is your solution? A patch of material on the inside of the garment?

Useful LinksHardware

LittleBird Electronics - littlebirdelectronics.com.au

Jaycar - jaycar.com.au

Sparkfun - sparkfun.com (america)

Inspiration

Fashioning Technology - fashioningtech.com

Diana Eng - fashionnerd.com

Other Fun...Materials

Lilypad Products - Lilypad Micro-processor, Tri-coloured LEDs, Sensors (movement, light, temperature)

Pressure Sensors

Electroluminescent (EL) Wire

Conductive Fabric

Fiber Optics

Alternative switches - press studs or zippers as switches.

What Next...Threadtech 2 - March 23 $75

Introduction to programming lights using the Arduino programming language.

Make lights blink, fade, or change in a sequence.

Lilypad Kit

Threadtech 3 - April 6 $90

Introduction to using sensor data to program lights.

Accelerometer (motion sensor), Light sensor, or Temperature

Lilypad Kit