How to Embroider with Circuits and Conductive Thread -- Episode 610

I think it would probably work best on stuff that you wouldn't normally wash/iron with every wear. So was thinking more of outer layers and accessories.

I didn't mention it but one of the visions I had for the tie concept was for a networked version, so you could have a single tie VU meter effect that turns into multiband spectrum analyser as multiple ties join in. Basically potential for synchronising animation affects across ties. Use it as a wearable bar graph display in a school type setting.

This could equally apply to other items though such as panels on bags and jackets.

If you can get the diffusers right then you could perhaps do something a bit larger with curtains where you have a large canvas to play with.

I love that idea, it should be fairly easy to hine under a layer of fabric. I thing playing with diffusers would be quite cool, getting a whole strip lit up going up the tie.
I don't ever wear a tie, but wondering about the flap of a messenger bag or a light up strip along the front of a jacket or something.

Thought I'd be cool to try something a bit different

Wow, the bayeux tapestry would be quite a project!
The first calculator would be a cool idea.

Thats great, I'd not seen that before

I think this Adafruit LED audio level meter tie has some potential 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FbK4wA7hjc

but I think it would work better if the LEDS were contained inside of the tie such that it was invisible until activated.

A dark coloured tie with white diagonal stripes would probably work quite well if you could trap the light in some diffusion material so it lit up most of the stripe evenly. Not sure what fabrics would work well for that and it would probably take some nifty needlework to keep it all in place without any additional stitching appearing on the front.

I guess you could also play around with a zipper as some sort of level control input.

Great project Katie.

I like how you move electronics into wearable items.

Every geek will be envious.

Has anyone released an embroidery pattern for the Bayeux tapestry yet ? You could perhaps create an interactive one

I noticed on the Grove water level sensor they use two ATtiny 1616 microcontrollers to convert the QTouch inputs to I2C to expand the number of capacitive sense channels to the host controller. I'm guessing that this could give you the option for tuning the touch behaviour whilst allowing you to have a scalable design - each I2C slave has up to 12 touch channels or a 6x6 matrix.

I'm guessing that one problem with these designs is how to keep them clean. If you are going to encourage interaction then they are likely to get grubby pretty quickly and then you have the issue of what is washable and what isn't and how to reliably allow separation.

Otherwise you could create something like 'my first calculator' as a soft toy with conductive thread touch buttons and LED sequins.

Eva Hakansson did an 'interior light' for her 3D printed handbag a few years back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iReAFFiEsIE&list=PLt-UKmMs5jyPRm3LolrEtt_v0WFB2BJlY

http://scienceenvy.com/3dbag/

That's a brilliant idea to use a gobo type diffuser, thanks.

It's better in real life than it looks on the camera, the camera sensor picks up the light really strongly, but a diffuser would still make an improvement