How to Sew StitchLits

StitchLits are hand little sewing kits that contain everything you need to stitch tiny, sewable LEDs that into pretty much anything! Mod your favorite jacket, sneakers, purse, or toy! These little lights can live just about anywhere.

Step 1: Materials

Open up your kit and familiarize yourself with each item.
The kit (available on Etsy) contains:
(3) white sewable LEDs
(1) needle
(1) needle threader
(3) yards of conductive thread
(1) coin cell battery
(1) sewable battery holder
(1) snap to use as an on/off switch

You can also find these items through online electronic vendors (like Digikey and Sparkfun) and your local sewing store!

Comments

[inspiredideas]

Hello all, I've just ordered my kit...never seen sew on LEDs before, really quite excited their arrival to me in the UK! Kate Really hoping you might get chance to respond to my email to you on etsy....which I've just sent

[westfw]

Cute little "intro to conductive sewing kit"! (Ordered!)

• note that these LEDs are hand soldered

That's a bit too bad; it'd be neater if you had figured out a semi-automatic way to solder the beads (?) to the LEDs... I hope you have some sort of neat little fixtures that helps; otherwise you'll go blind!

[katehartman]

I'm glad you like it!

Yes, soldering crimp beads to these LEDs by hand is a bit tedious. For the kits, I use a slightly faster method using solder paste and a hot plate. I'll try to post Instructables about both of these methods soon. But in the meantime, check out Leah Buechley's instructions (published in the first issue of Craft magazine), which I base my hand-soldering technique off of.

[scoochmaroo]

I've had problems in the past with the "beads" soldered onto the leds breaking off. Have you had this problem at all? I know it's sometimes the tension of my stitching, but I'd really prefer a more fool-proof way.

[katehartman]

The only trouble I've had with the beads breaking off is if it is a weak solder or if the beads are crooked. So long as the bead is flush with the LED and ample solder is used, I find the connection to be very sturdy.

For a more fool-proof option that's not handmade, you might consider trying the Lilypad LEDs - the LEDs are mounted on a circuit board and might be a good option for stitching with very high tension.

[akinich]

hey dude this rules where do you get these things?

[katehartman]

The complete kits are available on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18817493

And if you'd like to assemble your own, just check the parts list!

[thepelton]

Could you sew it onto the hooky half of a velcro strip so that it could just be pressed into a wool scarf or sweater?

[katehartman]

Sure! You'd need to be careful that your conductive thread doesn't get tangled with the hooks while you're sewing, but the circuit can be sewn onto any non-conductive material of your choosing. Just be sure that the positive and negative threads never touch.

[joejoerowley]

cool!!