Fluorescent Tie on Skirt
This tutorial is a step by step procedure to create a tie on skirts with lights. This tutorial is explained through drawn images and a photo and video of the final piece at the end. If you want to know how to learn how to create this wearable tech piece continue reading!
For this creation you will need:
- 2 by 2 meter cotton fabric (any preferred colour and print)
- 1 by 1 meter tulle fabric
- 1 large spool of coloured thread (a thread that matches your choice of cotton fabric)
- 1 large spool of conductive thread
- 8 Neopixel lights from Adafruit
- 1 Circuit Playground Express
- 1 Battery pack
- 3 batteries
- 1 pair of Scissors
- 1 Needle
- 20 pack of bobby pins
- 2 different coloured chalks
- 3 different coloured markers
- 1 flexible meter stick
- Unwrap bought cotton fabric and spread out evenly on a large surface.
- Fold the fabric evenly in half horizontally.
- From the right hand upper corner place a measuring stick from the 0cm mark on the very edge of the fabric. Then make a mark at the 12 cm mark next to the measuring stick on the fabric with a coloured piece of chalk.
- Mark an even half circle by marking the fabric at the from the corner 12 cm mark, moving the end of the measuring stick every 10 cm.
- Draw out an outline of an even half circle.
- Cut out the half circle, following the line drawn.
- Even out the fabric to make sure the cut is even.
- Using a measuring stick start from 0cm mark on the edge of the fabric and measure the top of the cut edge and mark the fabric on the 20 cm mark.
- Mark an even half circle by marking the fabric at the from the corner 20cm mark, moving the end of the measuring stick every 10 cm.
- Draw out an outline of an even half circle.
- Cut out the second half circle.
- Unfold the fabric.
- Fold the hem of the fabric by 4 cm upwards.
- Sew the 2 pieces of cloth together with a coloured string that matches the cotton fabric.
- To power the lights on the skirt that will be sewn on during the end of the tutorial, the lights will have to be powered with a battery pack. To create a clean and aesthetic looking skirt cut out a 6 by 6 square with a diamond shaped bottom to create the front of a pocket.
- Sew on a 6 cm lace piece of fabric to decorate the pocket.
- Sew on the edge of the pocket onto the right upper hand side of the skirt.
- To decorate the front of the skirt add a layer of tool to add character and charm to the skirt. Cut out a 24 cm by 16 cm piece of tulle fabric.
Sew the top of the tool to the top of the skirt.
- To add the technological aspect onto the skirt, a belt will need to be created. Cut out a 24 cm by 6 cm piece of left over cotton fabric, the fabric used to create the base of the skirt.
- Fold the fabric evenly and horizontally.
- Draw three even lines across the entire piece of the folded fabric. Each line should be drawn in a different colour for clarity for future sewing. Draw the line using a measuring stick.
- Using conductive thread stitch on top of the the first line. Then, also using conductive thread, stitch the on top of the bottom line creating 2 24 cm line of stitching of conductive thread.
- Now you will connect the lights onto the belt. Use 6 lights 3 cm apart. Using conductive thread, stitch through the + and - hole, connecting the conductive thread with the conductive thread on the line previously stitched.
- Arraigning the arrows all in the same direction, stitch the <- holes onto the middle line. Then when all of the lights are held onto the fabric connect the middle line with the lights.
- Make sure the arrows are pointing towards the CPX in the same direction and make sure to stitch the <- arrows by tying the stitch firmly on using a knot.
- Sew on the CPX using specific holes which are shown in the next step.
- Connect the + hole to the Volt hole, the - on the GND hole and the <- to the A1 hole on the CPX.
- To cover up the neopixel lights use the same lace fabric used on the front of the pocket to cover up the neopixel lights. The lace will cover up the lights but when turned on the lights will be able to shine through the thin fabric.
- Sew the edges of the belt together. After that is done, sew on the belt with the skirt already created. To turn on the neopixel lights turn on the shift on the battery pack. The lights should turn out if the lights are stitched on properly. To make the lights blink or flash there are specific codes that can be programmed on the CPX. I used the original code where I just turned on the lights, because the technological aspect of this project is quite complex and time consuming.
All Done!
- Finished! Here is my wearable tech skirt that I created. I hope this tutorial was clear. Good luck :)