MAKE!

Madison County Library SystemMadison Library

Liz Turner-Children’s Specialist

Fun with Circuits

Materials

a. Conductive thread

b. Needle threader--(optional)

c. Sewing needles

d. Sewable coin cell

battery holders

e. Coin cell batteries

f. LEDs

g. Sewable snap

h. Sewable snap

Additional Materials

i. Scissors

j. Foam bracelet

k. Embellishments

l. Fabric glue

POSITIVE END NEGATIVE END

Positive is Red

“Inny” “Outty”

1. Make sure you have the “outty” part of the snap facing up at one end of the cuff.

2. The LED will be placed in the center of the cuff with the red (positive) leg facing the snap.

3. With the conductive thread, sew 3 loops around the red leg of the LED, making a good connection; then sew a running stitch and connect to the snap.

4. Sew 2 or 3 stitches into each hole of the snap.

Sewing red LED leg to snap

• With a new piece of thread, sew short (negative) leg of LED with 3 loops.

• Use a running stitch to sew thread about an inch, towards other end of cuff.

• Then flip it over! This is where your battery holder will be sewn.

Sew all of the parts tightly, with small stitches. Use running stitch (sew in and out).

1. Locate the negative end of the battery holder. This end will face toward the center of cuff. Sew this on with 3 loops using same piece of thread that sewed on negative leg of LED.

Sew all of the parts tightly, with small stitches. Use running stitch (sew in and out).

1. With new thread sew the positive end of battery holder to cuff with 3 loops.

2. Use a running stitch to connect to the “inny” snap.

1. Insert battery into battery holder with the plus side up.2. Snap and the LED will turn on!

Test your bracelet!Does it turn on when you snap it together?

If not, let's trouble shoot.1. Do you have thread running across any component?2. The LED positive should not be connected to the LED Negative 3. The battery top (+, with writing) should not be connected to the battery

bottom (-, blank). 4. If they are, then cut the thread, and re-sew each point.

Does your circuit flicker?5. Your stitches may be making intermittent contact. 6. Add some short stitches between components, or sew more

stitches to tighten them down. Are your components floppy?

Add stitches to tighten them down.

Enjoy and see what else you can do!