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As it mentioned in CROCHET OR KNIT SIMPLE PRESSURE SENSOR post, the properties of the conductive yarn is sensitive to pressure or stretch. So, if you knit or crochet the conductive yarn to shape of finger, it can be a finger sensor like Sensitive Finger Tips project, but with crochet material instead of fabrics.

These example [...]

This soft LED light pouch is easy to make and runs with two AAA batteries. The design is super simple and fits really well with the lilypad components. Though you can also modify a regular LED and slide switch to be sewable by soldering little loops on the end of their leads. The light is [...]

Using the Sparkfun uLog module to log three channels of data and then read it out and graph it in Processing.

Use a circular knitting machine to knit a stretch sensor with regular and conductive yarns in five minutes! The values of the sensor range from roughly 2.5 Mega Ohm when relaxed, to 1 Kilo Ohm when fully stretched or pressured.

also see: circular knitting machine, sock knitting machine
also: knitting nancy, knitting wheels, knitting frames, rake knitters, French Knitters, knitting doll, flower tool, corkers and spools, German: Nahliesle
These are so easy to make by hand!!!

also see: circular knitting loom, circular knitting machine, sock knitting machine

Also see: circular knitting machine
These things look amazing. I have not got one of my own yet, but I would love to.

I never though I’d use one of these, but for threading conductive yarn into small needles for stitching to components with small holes they really are perfect!

This is a very simple project that uses conductive thread stitched into some rope ribbon as an on/off switch. When the bow is tied, the circuit is completed and thus the light lights up, when the bow is untied there circuit is interrupted and the light is off.

From conductive yarn you can make a conductive pompom, just like you would make a regular pompom. You can also mix conductive and regular thread to both save on the conductive yarn and also for aesthetics. Use conductive thread to fasten the pompom together, both because it is more conductive and will make for a [...]

Knit from conductive thread, resistive yarn and regular yarn. This bracelet is off when you wear it and does not light up until you stretch it.

Using the circular knitting machine to knit a circular tube with the Schoeller 50/2 conductive yarn, makes for an excellent stretch sensor that can be used (among other things) to capture the pressure of a balloon inflating and deflating.

Because of the properties of the conductive yarn to be sensitive to pressure or stretch it can be knit or crochet into any shape and will react to to pressure with a decrease in resistance. By setting a threshold in software this sensor can also be used as a switch.

28th + 30th September 2009
IDC, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg as part of the Physical Computing course
Gothenburg, Sweden

25th September 2009
Smart Textile Salon
Ghent Belgium

By using light sensor with transistor switch, you can make a “LED that turns on when dark” circuit without bothering with microcontrollers.

LED throwie is a great project from Graffiti Research Lab.
So, as a contribute to their project, I made a “Granny Throwie”, LED throwie made with crochet.

Thin nose pliers are useful for making loops at the end of components like LED, capacitor, resistor.. so on.
Also, it is often used to pull out needle when sewing in neoprene.

By using conductive yarn as electrodes, you can create a simple button with crochet. The construction idea is very similar to fabric button.

A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. Sometimes the term solar cell is reserved for devices intended specifically to capture energy from sunlight, while the term photovoltaic cell is used when the light source is unspecified. Assemblies of cells are used to make [...]

You can find the basic crochet tutorial videos online. This is how we taught ourselves.
Here is some links to our favorite tutorials.

Here is the crochet pressure sensor.
The main principle is same as regular pressure sensor. Instead of conductive fabric or thread, I used conductive yarn from Schoeller, Nm 50/2 60/40 Pes/Inox @ Euros 65.00/kg (25,000 metres/kg). Since this yarn is very thin, it is mixed with normal yarn and crochet, which is what you can see [...]

also see: conductive thread

also see: conductive yarn
conductive threads are usually manufactured for anti-static, electromagnetic shielding, intelligent textiles, wearable technology, data transfer and heating purposes. Most threads are metalized with an alloy of various metals, which can include silver, copper, tin and nickel. The core is normally cotton or polyester.
Conductive threads are uninsulated and sewing them tightly to metal [...]

Combination of tilt sensing and potentiometer using regular wool and conductive wool from Schoeller.

The experiment results of carbon paint painted on various stretchy fabrics. It shows resistance difference when stretched. The paints are applied by simple stencil method with sticky tapes.

25, 26 July 2009
Constant, foam, okno, nadine
Brussels, Belgium
To explore the possibilities of bringing electronics closer to bodies and plants we are organizing a workshop in which you will learn how to use textiles and electronics to interact with humans and plants.

I have tried various methods, such as knitting and stitching with resistive thread, applying carbon paint to jersey, mixing conductive fibers with stretchy fabric glue, stretching various conductive materials to see if this changes their conductive properties… and some of it worked, sometimes inconstantly or even incoherently or just wore out over time too quickly.

WORK IN PROGRESS
Exploring different possibilities to knit stretch sensors.