Weaving eTextiles or at least the design of them has grabbed hold of me.

After reading Lynne Bruning’s article in WeaveZine, I couldn’t resist buying some components from SparkFun Electronics to have a go.

Most references in eTextile electronics mention the memories of ‘6th grade electronic projects’. This must be a distinctly American concept as I have never heard of electronics education in primary or high schools here in Australia and I was never exposed to it in any way. Thus, as school can tend to immunise you against some activities, I was just totally enthralled having had no exposure at all.

When the componets arrived in their neat little box I just looked at them wondering how I would proceed. A bit scared of tiny little, harmless looking dynamos. Then I bought Switch Craft and Fashion Geek, while searching the net for tutorials. (Threadbanger has loads.) …just to give me the confidence to go.  As I was weaving conductive threads to Lynne’s suggestion using the clasped weft technique, my husband suggested that I test the circuits by just tying the thread to the power source. In this case I used a coin cell battery holder which is sewable without taking bits off it. Guess what – it worked! the little LED lit up brightly and happily adding new dimensions to my usual textile weave.

But I was still worried about the battery holder. Yes, I can sew it on here and there etc. etc. But wouldn’t it be better if the weaver in me could contribute more. Double weave, of course. Weavers are made to do double weave. So I experimented with a hand manipulated double weave pocket situated in the middle of the fabric. The pocket had to be accessible to take the battery in and out and change it. So I wove a slit on the front top only. Then the battery holder and battery could be inserted and connected, hidden from view and incorporated into the textile design itself. You can see the emergence of this in the photo. It has far more applications when I get onto a 24 shaft loom to further control the double weave with shafts. Another new adventure…