Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
4/Making Stitches
Not all wearables use conductive textiles, but those that do
require some special knowledge! This chapter covers the basics
and quirks of stitching with conductive thread.
Threading the Needle
You'll need the entire thread to pass through the eye of the sew-
ing needle to stitch with it effectively, which can be tricky with
springy steel thread. It's OK to moisten it with some saliva to
help the strands to stick together! Make sure you have adequate
lighting to see the tiny needle eye, especially if your vision is less
than stellar. Hold the needle up in front of a light-colored and
well-lit surface so you can see through the eye. Hold the end of
the thread with two fingers on your other hand and guide it
through the eye (
Figure 4-1
). If you can't get it after the first few
tries, snip the mangled end of the thread and start fresh. Once
threaded, pull the tail through the eye a few inches to help pre-
vent it from coming unthreaded as you sew, but keep it shorter
than the main “working” thread.
After threading, you may notice conductive thread's
tendency to become twisted. This is because the
needle smoothed out some of the twist, and you
should let the ends dangle freely to release any built-
up torsion before sewing. Beginners in hand-sewing
often double their thread around the needle and tie
the two ends in a knot. While this does ensure you
won't accidentally pull your needle off the thread, it's
not good for conductive thread, which needs to be
free to untwist as you stitch. Do not knot the ends of
your thread at all just yet!
