Light Up Crochet Filipiniana Bolero

Inspired by my cultural background, I crocheted a modernized Filipino top worn by women. I incorporated aspects of the Philippine flag into my design, such as the sun and three stars. Using LED lights and the touch sensor on the Circuit Playground Bluefruit, each star lights up when their respective sun's ray is touched.

1. Circuit Playground Bluefruit
2. Lithium Ion Polymer Battery
3. Lilypad LEDs (1 blue, 1 red, and 1 yellow)
4. Conductive Thread
5. Electrical Tape
6. Yarn for Filipiniana (off white)
7. Yarn for Sun/Stars (royal, cherry, and sunny day)
8. Crochet Hook (size 6.5 & 5.5 mm)
9. Tapestry Needle (size 18)

NOTE: these are the supplies I used but feel free to use any alternatives

Filipiniana

Feel free to use any pattern online that best fits the style you want. I used the off white yarn and 6.5 mm hook and referenced a three-part tutorial by Crystal Handicrafts on YouTube.

Stars

Using the 5.5 mm hook, crochet three stars: one in royal, one in cherry, and one in sunny day. I used a pattern from a knitting/crochet blog by Crazy Hands.

Sun

Using the sunny day yarn and 5.5 mm hook, crochet the sun with these basic stitches (STS): slip stitch (SL ST), chain (CH), single crochet (SC), half double crochet (HDC), double crochet (DC), magic ring (MR).

Round 1: Create MR. CH 2. 8 DC into MR. SL ST to first DC. (8 STS)

Round 2: CH 2. 2 DC eight times. SL ST to first DC. (16 STS)

Round 3: CH 2. 2 DC sixteen times. SL ST to first DC. (32 STS)

Round 4: CH 1. *1 SC, CH 1, 2 DC two times. Turn to back. CH 2, 2 DC, 1 DC three times. Turn to front. CH 1, 1 SC, 1 HDC, 1 DC, CH 2, 1 DC in same stitch, 1 HDC, 1 SC. 3 SC along the side, SL ST into the same stitch as the 2 DC, 1 SC in the next stitch.* (Repeat the sequence in the * * until there are 8 rays.) SL ST to first SC.

This is the basic Arduino Code I used for 3 LED lights. The LEDs just light up when the touch sensor is activated, but the code can easily be edited to create different flashing/light patterns.

Sun/Stars

On the (wearer's) left side of the filipiniana, arrange the pieces so that the sun is on the top, the blue star is on the (wearer's) right, the red star is on the (wearer's) left, and the yellow star is on the bottom. Use the needle and respective colors to sew each of the pieces to the filipiniana.

Circuit Playground Bluefruit

On the inside of the same side of the filipiniana, use the needle and off white yarn to attach the Circuit Playground roughly between the sun and the stars. Position the Circuit Playground so that the A1, A2, and A3 pins are on top and the A4, A5, and A6 pins are on the bottom and attach using the 3.3V and VOUT pins.

Lilypad LEDs

Using the needle, wrap a strand of the conductive thread around the A4 pin about five times and secure it with a knot. Without cutting it yet, pull the same thread to the outside of the filipiniana through the red star. Wrap the thread around the positive (+) side of the red LED about five times and secure it with a knot. Cut off any excess thread. Repeat this sequence to connect the A5 pin with the yellow star/LED and the A6 pin with the blue star/LED.

Using the same technique to secure the thread, take another strand and connect the rightmost GND pin to the negative (-) side of the blue LED. Pull the same thread to the inside of the filipiniana through the blue star and then back to the outside through the yellow star to connect to the negative (-) side of the yellow LED. Pull the same thread again to the inside and outside to connect to the negative (-) side of the red LED. Cut off any excess thread. NOTE: make sure the threads don't touch or intersect.

Touch Sensor

Using three different strands, secure each strand of thread to the A1, A2, and A3 pins. Then wrap the thread around the points of the sun's rays so that each pin is connected to two different rays. This would leave two rays not connected to pins. For design consistency, take another strand to wrap around the remaining rays' points. NOTE: make sure the threads don't touch or intersect.

To prevent the lights from being activated by simply wearing the filipiniana, use the electrical tape to cover the A1, A2, and A3 pins and the strands connected to the A1, A2, and A3 pins on the inside.

Lithium Ion Polymer Battery

After applying the code, plug in the battery to the Circuit Playground. Watch as the LEDs light up when the different rays are touched.