Light Up Bag Accessory

This is a light up bag accessory in which can be detached and moved from product to product. It's primary purpose is to be a light source for products such as bags, and purses, however also has the aesthetic function of being appealing to view.

This simply designed product can be used on a wide range of products, in order to provide light, or have an aesthetic function. These include: Bags, Purses, Coats, and Clothing.

All of the electronic components I brought from Kitronik's Electro Fashion range.

For this product you will need the following:

• Fabric Shears
• Embroidery scissors
• Black cotton
• 1 sheet of black felt
• 1/4 of a metre black cotton material
• Hand sewing needle
• 7 x LED boards
• 1 x Cell holder
• 1 x Cell
• A bobbin of conductive thread

Using the pattern pieces and the black felt, cut out the desired number of circles dependent on the pattern piece. For example, on the "Middle Circle 1" pattern piece, you will need to cut one, as this goes in the middle, and is what will hold the circuit.

Once again, using the pattern piece, and the black cotton material, cut out the rectangular pattern piece which will be the "Handle" to our accessory. Make sure to transfer any key markings which may be shown.

Once all of the relevant pattern pieces are cut out, take the "Middle Circle 1" pattern, and lay it flat. Here is where you can begin to plan where the different circuit elements are going to go.

I placed the cell holder and cell in the centre of the circle, followed with the positive of the battery, being connected to the positive of the on/off switch; then followed by an LED, before returning to the battery. This is then the start of the parallel circuit in which an extra LED can be added on, each time you work around the circle.

It is important within a circuit to connect the positive of the battery, to the positive of the switch, then to have the negative of the switch leading to the positive of the LED. This is so that the current can flow.

This comes in two different stages. The first stage is to start with the handle for our accessory. Using a rectangular shaped piece of material, I folded it in thirds to desired size, in order to produce a neatly edged handle. Stitch this using a hand sewing needle and black cotton thread. A sewing machine can be used at this stage in order to get a straight line, however it is important to remember the positioning of the on and off switch. For the rest of the handle, use either small embroidery scissors or an un-picker in order to create the small slit for the opposite end of the handle to slip through. On the other end, it is important to make two small inserts on identically opposite sides, in which will sit nicely when pulled through the slit. Secure the bottom of the handle to the Middle Circle piece in order to secure it. Once the handle is secured, make a small square shaped cut around where the on/off switch is. This will then make it visible as well as easy to use for the users.

The next stage is to use the two large circle pieces previously cut, and place one on the front and one of the back. The front one will be the one in which the LED's will be brought forwards through and the decoration will be attached to, and the back one will be the plain background covering the conductive threads. Secure this around the edge, using a hand sewing needle and black cotton thread. This again could be secured by using a sewing machine, however the consideration for the different electronic components may be a high risk factor when using a machine. When coming back to the end of the circle, make sure you catch the bottom of the handle into the stitching. This adds extra strength and support to the product. The next part of this is to bring the LED's through the first layer of the felt materials. This is done through marking where the LED's faintly show through when turned on, and a small mark using tailors chalk gets placed on the fabric. Apply this for all 7 LED's.

Now that the LED's have been brought forward through one layer of the fabric, is is time to create the main decorative frontage. For this design, I have chosen to create a messy appearance. In order to do this, I have cut 8 small strips of the black cotton material and laid them in a star like order over the front circle. Secure this down using a small X formation on the front centre of the circle. This then makes it aesthetically pleasing for the user to look at.

Once the front design is secured on, the LED's need to be brought through each of the individual fabric strips if needed. I found that the best way of doing this is through using tailors chalk in order to mark where each of the LED's shine through when turned on. This then indicates where the small appropriate square will need to be made in order for the product to function. By making holes it allows the LED's light source to come through.