Project Description
For our first assignment, I created a simple circuit with 3 LED outputs and one sensor, a stroke sensor. My intention was to make a soft bird, with multiple textures, that when stroked, would have LEDs light up.
Materials
Conductive thread, conductive fabric, 3 LEDs, 3V battery, battery holder, feathers, embroidery thread, mesh fabric
Goals and Lessons Learned
To begin, it was important for me to sketch out the path of the circuit. Since I have no experience with electronics, it was vital that I understand what needed to be connected before actually beginning to sew. This sketching out worked well. However, I would have been better served to also sketch out the exact placement and direction of the thread and its connections. As it is, the backside, where the circuit is sewn, is very messy. This leads to confusion in understanding how the circuit works, from outside perspective, as well as inconsistency in function. The sensor sometimes does not work, and think this is because sometimes the threads on the back are touching, interfering with the current.
Images
preliminary sketch
the bird - sewn together!
the bird - on the back, showing circuit and backside of embroidering
'the bird - from the side
when the bird's "feathers" are stroked, the leds on the branch light up!
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