E-Textile Basics
This Tutorial is Retired!
This tutorial covers concepts or technologies that are no longer current. It's still here for you to read and enjoy, but may not be as useful as our newest tutorials.
View the updated tutorial: LilyPad Basics: E-Sewing
Contributors:
Mando
Mando 
LilyPad Basics
There are a few things that are helpful to keep in mind when working with LilyPad components and e-textiles in general:
- Do not sew any components in with the battery installed. There is no risk of getting hurt, but you might drain the battery.
- There are many different types of thread. Compare texture, thickness, and resistance to make sure you choose the correct one for your project.
- Any time you make a connection between a component and the thread, make a few loops through the connection hole. The section of metal on the outside of the connection hole is where current will flow between the thread and the component. Often, if there is a short or break in your circuit it is because the conductive thread does not always touch this pad on the component.
- Stainless steel threads can handle the heat of a soldering iron just fine, but that doesn't mean the fabric of your project can; be careful!
- Threads of any metal that have a nylon or cotton base cannot be soldered. The non-metal materials will go up in smoke!
- If you have two threads that need to cross, there must be an insulator between them, otherwise the circuit will not work. Try a piece of fabric, a layer of glue or paint, or a tube of heatshrink.
- There are other conductive e-textile materials such as buttons, fabric, yarn, paint and velcro. There are many different ways to use the materials as switches, sensors and more. Have fun and experiment!