Wearable Tech

Wearable tech is big business from health tracking hardware to clothes lighting up the runway to DIY crafters bringing their creations to life. Sewing with conductive thread, you'll make a circuit and create a battery-powered LED electronic bracelet.

LED Electronic Bracelet

  • Materials: conductive thread, 3V coin batteries, LED lights, battery holders, sew-on snaps, felt, sewing needles, scissors, hot glue fun, small pliers

  • Notes: Good intro to wearable tech and sewing circuits

  • Subject areas: Computer Science, Science, Art

Before you jump right in, you may want to investigate what a circuit is and how conductive thread is used to create a circuit.

Start creating! You'll also find these directions in a form that you can print and hand out. You can expect this activity to take approximately 2 hours.

  • Draw a sketch of your electrical circuit on a paper pattern. Remember, thread paths cannot cross or you will short circuit!

  • Gather supplies: coin battery & holder, 1 snap & 2 LED lights.

  • Mark negative side of LED lights (shorter leg).

  • Curl legs of your LED lights using small pliers, making loops that you can sew your conductive thread into.

  • Optional: Test your circuit design with alligator clips. Use wires with alligator clips to represent the conductive thread you will use, just like youve drawn in your circuit sketch.

  • Cut out a felt strip for your bracelet (remember to test around your wrist).

  • Mark with pen or pencil on the felt where you want your LED lights, battery holder and snaps to go.

  • Attach LED lights, battery holder & snaps with just a little hot glue. You don't want to block the holes you need to sew through later with the glue. Remember to line up positive & negative end of lights to match your circuit sketch.

  • Get a needle and some conductive thread. Begin sewing circuit. Loop through the holes in snaps, LEDs and battery holder several times to ensure a strong connection. Most likely you will need 3 separate threads to sew your circuit and don't let those thread paths cross or you will short circuit!

  • Complete the circuit by snapping your creation together. Tada - you have sewn a circuit & created your first wearable tech!

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