Illuminating Fashion — Circuit Cards
Big picture
Young designers will practice the running stitch in the parallel lines of stitching required for wearable electronics.
What’s the goal?
By the end of this activity, young designers will understand how to create a working parallel circuit and incorporate electronics into fashion design.
Grouping
Each young designer will do this individually.
Preparation
- Print the cards onto card stock or thick paper. If you want a reusable option, you
may glue the printed card onto cardboard, such as a cereal box. Cut the cards apart and punch out the marked holes. - Precut yarns and tape ends.
Example of the circuit card. NOTE: this is not actual size – download the template to print actual size!
Let’s Get Started!
- Demonstrate the running stitch: Use a circuit card and cord/shoelace to demonstrate the running stitch to the group of young designers. Pull the cord up through an end hole until the knot is snug. Go down through the next hole, and continue to the end of the card. Stress that it is important to sew in a straight line
from one hole to the next. - Have each young designer take two yarns, one of each color, and knot the yarn ends opposite the taped end.
- Instruct them to pull a yarn through the square hole next to the battery image on the plus side of the battery, coming up from the back. Have them use a running stitch to sew up and down through the holes in the card to the end opposite the battery, ending on the back at the final hole. Repeat beginning from the negative side of the battery image with the second yarn.
Tips
Make sure the young designers understand they are sewing up and down through the paper, not around the edge of the card.
Take It Further
- Ask: What do you notice about your stitching when you have finished?
- Answer: It is in two parallel lines.
VOCABULARY
Parallel: Lines that follow the same path a distance apart, but never touch or cross.
0 Comments
Activity Details
Module
Prep time
30 minutes
Activity time
15 minutes
Difficulty
Level 1
Materials
For the students
- 1 punched circuit card
- 2” x 36” yarn, 2 colors
For the instructor
- Circuit Card template (3per sheet)
- Cereal box or other lightweight cardboard (optional)
- Paper cutter or scissors
- Hole punch
- Tape for end of yarn
- Shoelace or cord with taped end, 42”
Popular activities
DIY Wrap Skirt 5,417 views
Spectacular Skirts 2,310 views
Fabric Structures: A Close Look 1,699 views
Sketchstorming 1,074 views
Confetti Rain 870 views
Style Engineers Community
Share your style
-
3 members
-
3 members
Join the conversation
-
Space dough is awesome
7 years, 8 months ago
-
GASP and Better Bodies: Providing Class Apparels For Fitness Freaks
5 years, 10 months ago