Building a Light Up Quilt
Check out this nice e-textiles project from a SparkFun customer.
The thing that is nice about e-textiles is that it doesn't take a lot to get started. Of course, there are projects like the critical corset and the heart beat straight jacket that require many parts and tools to build, but you can also get going in the world of wearable electronics with nothing more than some conductive thread, LEDs, and a battery. This project from SparkFun customer Katie Dektar leans towards the simpler side, but is a great example of what you can do with just some basic electronics know-how, some e-textile supplies, and some skillful craftsmanship.
Katie started by laying out her light array on fabric using conductive thread and LEDs. She also implemented a LilyPad Arduino into the design and programmed it to make the lights flash in a dizzying pattern. She then enclosed the fabric with a homemade quilt.
The results are pretty cool! Warm, snuggly, and (best of all) filled with electronics goodness. This is a great project that is fairly simple and straightforward, but nicely designed and implemented. Read more about the project at her website. Nice work, Katie!
