LilyPad
The LilyPad system is a set of sewable electronic pieces designed to help you build soft, sewable, interactive e-textile (electronic textile) projects. Using LilyPad pieces is a great way to experiment with electronics through the lens of crafting or fiber arts. Each LilyPad piece has large conductive sew tabs for easy sewing and a rounded shape so as not to snag fabric or cut thread. To get started, check out the article on Getting Started with LilyPad or tutorials tagged with LilyPad for project ideas!
3D Printed Illuminated Wand Prop
November 29, 2018
In this tutorial, we will learn about how to create a theatrical prop for a performance by 3D printing a wand and adding an LED.
Adapting LilyPad Development Board Projects to the LilyPad ProtoSnap Plus
May 24, 2018
An overview of the updates made in the redesign of the LilyPad Development Board to the LilyPad ProtoSnap Plus and how to adapt code written for the old board to the new one.
Cackling Apple Head Witch
October 30, 2014
Make your own cackling apple head witch to scare all of the trick or treaters this Halloween!
Choosing a LilyPad Arduino for Your Project
October 27, 2015
Not sure which LilyPad Arduino is right for you? We'll discuss the features of each and help you decide.
Customizing LilyPad LED Colors
May 19, 2014
A short guide to creating a rainbow of new LilyPad LED colors at home!
Dungeons and Dragons Dice Gauntlet
August 13, 2013
A playful, geeky tutorial for a leather bracer that uses a LilyPad Arduino, LilyPad accelerometer, and seven segment display to roll virtual 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 20, and 100 side dice for gaming.
Firefly Jar Assembly Guide
May 14, 2013
Make a soft circuit firefly jar with conductive thread, LEDs, and the LilyTwinkle!
Getting Started with LilyPad
October 27, 2017
An introduction to the LilyPad ecosystem - a set of sewable electronic pieces designed to help you build soft, sewable, interactive e-textile projects.
Getting Started with the LilyPad MP3 Player
May 8, 2013
The LilyPad MP3 Player is an amazing little board that contains almost everything you need to play audio files. You can use it to create all kinds of noisy projects, from MP3 hoodies to talking teddy bears. Your imagination is the only limit! This tutorial will help you get started.
Glowing Pin
December 16, 2016
Create a quick and easy piece of e-textile art using a LilyPad LED, battery holder, conductive thread, and coin cell battery.
Heating Pad Hand Warmer Blanket
January 21, 2013
DIY Project Idea: Create a custom hand warmer blanket using heating pads.
Illuminated Mask
December 16, 2016
Use LilyPad LEDs, a switched battery holder, and coin cell battery to make a fun light up mask for your next costume party.
Insulation Techniques for e-Textiles
January 22, 2015
Learn a few different ways to protect your conductive thread and LilyPad components in your next wearables project.
LDK Experiment 1: Lighting Up a Basic Circuit
February 7, 2013
The first experiment in the LilyPad Design Kit series. In this exercise, you will learn how a basic e-textiles circuit works, and light up a sewable LED using a coin cell battery holder and conductive thread.
LDK Experiment 2: Multiple LED Circuits
October 2, 2013
Design both parallel and series e-textile circuits with multiple LEDs!
LDK Experiment 5: Make Your Own Switch
October 2, 2013
Learn to create and integrate your own handmade switch into an e-textile circuit.
LDK Experiment 6: Microcontroller Circuits
October 2, 2013
Learn how to build a simple microcontroller circuit using the pre-programmed LilyTiny Board
LED Butterfly Pop Up Card
August 19, 2015
Craft an illuminated butterfly pop up card with copper tape, two LEDs, and a battery.
LED Robot Pop Up Card
August 19, 2015
Craft a paper circuit pop up card with a cycling RGB LED, battery, and copper tape.
Light Up Pennant with E-Textiles
September 17, 2015
Show your school spirit, geek pride, or fandom with a light up pennant using the LilyTwinkle or LilyPad Arduino.
Light-Up Plush
December 16, 2016
Craft a light-up plush with LilyPad LEDs controlled by pressing a button and sliding a switch in the creature's hands.
Light Up Silk Flower Corsage
April 20, 2015
Combine a silk flower with a built-in RGB LED and some LilyPad Switches to create a customizable accessory.
LilyMini ProtoSnap Hookup Guide
December 17, 2016
Explore the LilyPad LilyMini ProtoSnap and learn how to use it.
LilyPad Basics: E-Sewing
December 17, 2016
Learn how to use conductive thread with LilyPad components.
LilyPad Basics: Powering Your Project
September 24, 2018
Learn the options for powering your LilyPad projects, LiPo battery safety and care, and how to calculate and consider power constraints on your projects.
LilyPad Buttons and Switches
July 23, 2018
Learn about the button and switch offerings in the LilyPad line and how to use them.
LilyPad Buzzer Hookup Guide
November 19, 2015
How to hook up the LilyPad Buzzer and make sound with code.
LilyPad Development Board Activity Guide
December 7, 2017
Learn how to program in Arduino with the LilyPad Development Board. This guide includes 11 example activities that use the pre-wired LilyPad boards on the LilyPad Development Board.
LilyPad Development Board Hookup Guide
July 28, 2011
The LilyPad Development Board is a sewable electronics prototyping board that you can use to learn circuits and programming with Arduino, then break apart to make an interactive fabric or wearable project.
LilyPad E-Sewing ProtoSnap Hookup Guide
December 7, 2017
Explore the LilyPad E-Sewing ProtoSnap and learn how to build it into a project.
LilyPad Light Sensor Hookup Guide
November 19, 2015
How to hook up the LilyPad Light Sensor as well as some project ideas and example code.
LilyPad Light Sensor V2 Hookup Guide
June 7, 2018
How to hook up the LilyPad Light Sensor as well as some project ideas and example code.
LilyPad Pixel Board Hookup Guide
September 16, 2015
Add changing colors to your wearable projects using LilyPad Pixel Boards.
LilyPad ProtoSnap Plus Activity Guide
December 7, 2017
Learn how to program in Arduino with the LilyPad ProtoSnap Plus. This guide includes 10 example activities that use the pre-wired LilyPad boards on the LilyPad ProtoSnap Plus.
LilyPad ProtoSnap Plus Hookup Guide
October 5, 2017
The LilyPad ProtoSnap Plus is a sewable electronics prototyping board that you can use to learn circuits and programming with Arduino, then break apart to make an interactive fabric or wearable project.
LilyPad Reed Switch Hookup Guide
November 5, 2015
A guide to using the LilyPad Reed Switch breakout in your projects.
LilyPad RGB LED Hookup Guide
July 18, 2019
Learn how to hook up the LilyPad RGB LED and use a common cathode RGB LED in e-textile projects.
LilyPad Safety Scarf
November 21, 2017
This scarf is embedded with a ribbon of LEDs that illuminate when it gets dark out, making yourself more visible to vehicle and other pedestrians.
LilyPad Simple Power Hookup Guide
January 15, 2015
A basic guide for getting started using the LilyPad Simple Power with LiPo batteries.
LilyPad Temperature Sensor Hookup Guide
January 23, 2018
How to hook up the LilyPad Temperature Sensor as well as some project ideas and example code.
LilyPad Tri-Color LED Hookup Guide
April 20, 2018
Learn how to hook up the LilyPad Tri-Color LED and use a common anode RGB LED in e-textile projects.
LilyPad USB Plus Hookup Guide
June 7, 2018
The LilyPad USB Plus is a sewable microcontroller that you can use with Arduino.
LilyPad Vibe Board Hookup Guide
January 16, 2019
The LilyPad Vibe Board is a small vibration motor that can be sewn into projects with conductive thread and controlled by a LilyPad Arduino. The board can be used as a physical indicator on clothing and costumes for haptic feedback.
LilyTiny Plush Monster
January 27, 2015
Craft a stuffed monster while exploring the LilyTiny preprogrammed microcontroller. This is a project based on the Plush Monster Activity created at MIT's High-Low Tech Lab by Emily Lovell, Jie Qi, and Natalie Freed.
Mario the Magician's Magical Lapel Flower
May 23, 2013
A guest tutorial from the astonishingly talented Mario the Magician showing how to put together your own servo-controlled lapel flower.
Marquee Party Bag
June 2, 2017
This tutorial provides everything you need to know to make your own Marquee Party Bag!
My Drunk Kitchen Apron
September 5, 2013
A fun project that uses the LilyPad MP3 trigger. This apron will dispense helpful kitchen advice and humor from the host of My Drunk Kitchen, Hannah Harto!
Night-Light Pennant with LilyMini ProtoSnap
December 16, 2016
Use the pre-programmed LilyMini ProtoSnap to make an interactive pennant that reacts to ambient light levels.
Night Sky Halloween Costume
October 25, 2017
Make a beautiful night sky costume using the LilyPad LEDs and the LilyTiny.
Planning a Wearable Electronics Project
August 13, 2015
Tips and tricks for brainstorming and creating a wearables project.
Powering LilyPad LED Projects
December 17, 2016
Learn how to calculate how many LEDs your LilyPad project can power and how long it will last.
ProtoSnap LilyPad Development Simple Hookup Guide
September 5, 2013
Interested in getting into LilyPad? Or maybe it's Arduino that tickles your fancy? Just want to add a little white-blinky-LED zest to your vest? All of the above? The ProtoSnap LilyPad Simple is a great tool to explore any of these subjects.
Re-Programming the LilyTiny / LilyTwinkle
September 11, 2014
A quick tutorial showing how to reprogram the ATtiny85 IC found on the LilyTiny or LilyTwinkle boards.
Soft Circuits: LED Feelings Pizza
February 13, 2013
Here we will learn how to say how you feel with pizza. Electric pizza.
Sound Page Guide
May 22, 2015
How to use the Lilypad MP3 Player and some Bare Conductive Paint to make a fandom silhouette sound trigger page.
The Great Big Guide to Paper Circuits
May 22, 2015
Let's take a look at different materials we can use to combine paper crafting and electronics.
Twinkle Zodiac Constellation
August 15, 2017
Create a quick and easy piece of e-textile art based on a Zodiac sign using a LilyTiny, LilyPad LEDs, battery holder, conductive thread, and coin cell battery.
Twinkling Trick or Treat Bag
October 2, 2014
Make a light up goodie bag with conductive thread, LEDs, and the LilyTwinkle!
WS2812 Breakout Hookup Guide
July 24, 2013
How to create a pixel string with the WS2812 and WS2812B addressable LEDs!
Old Tutorials
Looking for the old, archived tutorials? Head on over to the
archived tutorials on the main
SparkFun site.
Please be aware that the tutorials you find there are no longer
actively maintained.