LED Cuff (Advanced)

by iamgracie in Circuits > Wearables

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LED Cuff (Advanced)

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Make a the advanced version of the wearable LED cuff! This cuff allows for multiple LEDs and requires some basic sewing know-how. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Materials

You will need:

Conductive Thread

Sewing Needle

Magnetic Snaps

Conductive Fabric

Colored Felt

Embroidery Floss

LEDs

Sewable Battery Holder

Coin Cell Battery (CR2032)

Cut the Top and Bottom Layers of Your Wristband

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Cut two pieces of felt from Template A. Adjust their length so that they are long enough to wrap around your wrist, plus about 1.5" of overlap.

Sew the Battery Holder

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Place your piece of conductive fabric and battery holder next to each other on the base layer, with the conductive fabric strip along the left edge and the battery holder to its right. Orient the battery holder so that the positive lead is at the top.

With conductive thread, stitch down the positive lead of the battery holder with a whip stitch, then make a straight line to the conductive fabric, connecting the two. Make a knot and do NOT cut. Stitch the conductive fabric to the base layer with the conductive thread. Knot and cut.

Sew the "ground" of Your Battery Holder to Conductive Fabric

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Flip the base layer over, so that the negative lead of the battery holder is now at the top. Sew the negative lead of the battery holder to the base layer with conductive thread (just like you did with the positive side). Take a length of conductive fabric and sew it along the top of the cuff, making sure that it is connected to the negative lead of the battery holder. The length of the silver fabric should end about .75" from the right edge of the cuff. If it does not, cut accordingly and secure the end of the thread with a knot. Cut the thread.

Sew a Second Piece of Conductive Fabric to Base Layer.

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Take a length of copper conductive fabric and secure it to the bottom of the cuff. The length of the copper fabric should end fairly close to the edge. Note: be very careful not to let the copper fabric touch the stitches that are connected to the positive lead of the battery holder.

Time to Create a Switch Using Magnetic Snaps! Part One

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Take the top layer and stitch a small piece of conductive fabric to the right hand side. Knot and cut your thread. Flip the top layer over so that the conductive fabric is now facing away from you. Attach the male sides of the magnetic snaps so that the legs are in contact with the conductive fabric. Attach the washer and use pliers to bend the legs, securing them.

Time to Create a Switch Using Magnetic Snaps! Part Two

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Affix the female sides of the magnetic snaps to the base layer of the cuff. The body of the snap should be in contact with the conductive fabric next to the battery holder.