Introduction
Creating fun wearables using conductive thread is a great afternoon project. The Pirate Owl Bracelet is a variation on our Conductive Sewing Bracelet activity which is shown below. Print off the Sewing Bracelet guide and our Owl Template then get to work making your own!
Please note that the guide below is our basic guide for making a bracelet, also found at this link. The build is identical, but the embellishments are different.
Video Overview
Featured Document
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Cut some fabric to a length that will fit around your wrist.
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It helps to sew down your parts with regular thread before connecting them with Conductive Thread.
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If you have any embellishments, such as our tree, that you want your parts to sit on top of you should sew them down first.
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Using Conductive Thread, make several TIGHT loops around one of the Orange holes on your battery holder.
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Stitch out to the LED.
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Stitch several TIGHT loops around one of the Black holes on the LED board.
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Tie off your one end of thread, trim any excess.
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A strong electrical connection requires tight loops around the holes. If your connection is bad you can always go back and add more Conductive Thread loops.
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If at all possible, try NOT to use Conductive Thread in the same holes you used to tie down your parts back in Step 2.
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Using Conductive Thread, make several tight loops around one of the white holes on your battery holder.
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Stitch out to the end of your fabric, to where you want your button snap to be.
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Sew down the snap using that same Conductive Thread.
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Using Conductive Thread connect one of the white holes on your LED to the other button snap on the opposite side of your fabric.
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Make sure your snaps are on opposite sides of your fabric. One on top, one on bottom. Otherwise your wristband won't connect!
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Put your battery in and see if things work.
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If your LED is not lighting up, make sure your loops are tight.
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If your LED is not lighting up, make sure you have no loose threads on the back causing shorts.
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If your LED is not lighting up, make sure you connected everything properly.
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If things are STILL not lighting up, try a different battery.
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Using regular thread, fabric glue, or even hot glue, add decorations.
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Use the owl template instead on your bracelet.
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Use fabric glue, hot glue, or regular thread to attach your fabric.
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The LED base is hidden behind a small piece of fabric with a hole cut in it. You can do that to every layer of fabric if you want.
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Attached Documents
