Class Description:

This class will introduce you the world of soft circuits and eTextiles - a field that combines traditional electronic components with sewing, fabrics, and crafts. The first part of the workshop will include a presentation on soft circuits, inspirational projects, and information on available technologies and kits to work with. Next get some hands on experience sewing circuits with conductive thread using Aniomagic’s Sparkle board to add some blinking lights to your clothes, plush toys, or embroidery.  The 3-hour class will include a 1 hour intro to materials/soft circuit presentation and 2 hours of hands-on project building.

Class Goals:

Learn how to build a simple soft circuit and explore different techniques for getting started in crafting with electronics.

Prerequisites:

None. Ability to hand sew helpful.

Materials:

Total materials fee: $25 ($30 w/ bracelet kit)

Please bring any clothing/fabric/project you’d like to add electronics to. If you have a sewing kit (scissors, thread, needle) feel free to bring to the workshop - some basic supplies will be provided.

Students will need to purchase the following supplies at the time of the workshop:

- Sparkle Kit from Aniomagic - color: White (other colors available: blue, green, pink - if you’d like one of these please email Angela@SoftCircuitSaturdays.com with your preferred color at least 2 weeks prior to workshop)
- Conductive thread

Optional materials

If you don’t want to bring your own clothes/toys to augment, you can make a felt bracelet/cuff (felt, velcro, ribbon) for an extra $5

Extra materials to build an etextile toolkit or for future projects:
Please email instructor if you’d like to purchase these extras (at least 2 weeks prior to workshop).
-Conductive thread and fabric samples ($10)
-LED Sewing Kit: ($15)

Instructor Biography: Angela Sheehan

Angela Sheehan is a maker/crafter who is interested in digital arts, wearable and physical computing, crafts, and how all these things can combine. She runs the website Soft Circuit Saturdays where she documents her experiments in crafting with electronics, interesting projects she finds, and how-tos. She has been featured on the Make and Craft blogs, publishes tutorials on Instructables.com and Make:Projects, and is a frequenter of Maker Faire.

Class Times:

Session 1:  6/12/11, 12 PM - 3 PM @ 13 Joy St, 2nd Floor, Somerville MA 02143