New Textiles 2011

I’m interested in traditional weaving combined with the modern technology. I initially wanted to make a luminous yarn. However after long time try I found that using optical fibers could only produce shining points. So up to now I create a shining yarn instead. It can be used in art works or decorations for the holidays.

My yarn is constructed on wool, hemp and optical fibers. The optical fiber is 0.25mm in diameter. I twisted 15 optical fibers in different length with wool and hemp. The optical fibers are almost invisible if you do not check very closly at the yarn. Then when you light up an LED at the end of the optical fibers, shining points will be dotted along the yarn.

Observation & Measurements of the shining yarn:
length: 2 yards
twist direction: S
2 ply
fiber length: wool: 3-5inches, hemp: 4-6 inches, optical fiber: filament
diameter: 3-6 mm
conductivity: no

I tried an alternative way of making the shining yarn. I used the 3 pieces of 1mm optical fibers and cut dents along them. Then I twisted wool and hemp along each of them. I braided the three plies together to make a thicker yarn. I used the LED at both ends but the light could only travel less than 20 mm. This character limits the length of the yarn, though it is beautiful!

Measurement of the alternative yarn:
length: 20 inches
twisted direction: S
3 ply braid
diameter:5mm
conductivity: no