Project 2 for Wearable Media class, at University at Buffalo

For the second project of the Wearable Media class at UB, it was expressed that it would be preferred that we, as students do our next projects to explore either soft-circuitry/sewable circuits, or arduino. As suggested by Eric, I tried to think of a way to integrate my tatting skill (which is using a series of knots to create lace), into a project. Having my mind on my finace, I thought of a light-up LED engagement ring where when the clasp was put together around the finger, completing the circuit, the led would light up, acting as the 'diamond'.

The main components used for this project were a small led, two small watch batteries and conductive thread.

This project was a learning experience in that I had to come up with creative solutions for difficult problems. The battery voltage decreased by half (to 1.6 volts) every time I would make a pocket to hold the battery. To solve this problem I had to try to come up with a direct connection so the battery would not lose voltage to power the LED. I needed at least 3V to properly power the LED. to solve this problem I used heat wrap around the batteries themselves and heat wrapped both the batteries to the magnetic clasp. When the magnetic clasp was connected to the other magnetic clasp, it completed the circuit and the LED lit up. This project was not as well built as the previous one. While testing the knots connecting the conductive thread unknotted itself. Knots using conductive thread--compared to cotton or slik thread, which are standard for tatting--seem to be more 'slippery' and undo themselves easier. There is definitely room for future experimentation and improvement.

There is promise for the future with this project. In further research online, I saw no one else integrating leds into tatting, or tatting using conductive thread, so there is a possibility that I could turn this into a small business for craft-fairs, comic conventions and Etsy. I look forward to using conductive thread in my tatting, and experimenting with different tatting patterns and/or designing my own to get them to work as wearable light-up jewelry.

Here are pictures of the led ring: