December 5th and 12th, 5:30-8:30pm
This workshop is not open to the public, but will be held as part of One Love Generation‘s mentoring sessions in Atlanta, GA.

The aim of this workshop is to explore embroidery as a contemporary medium, in terms of both content and material. Participants will use conductive thread to embroider and “illuminate” personally meaningful sayings, slogans, phases and imagery.

Also see Electric Embroidery Tuesday >> http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=3338

Embroidery is a historic craft that is used in many cultures, not only for decorative designs but also as a means of personal expression. More recently embroidery styles and cultures such as subversive cross-stitch, sublime stitching and radical cross-stitch are using embroidery as a medium for portraying more contemporary cultural and personal reflections.

While a range of established embroidery stitch techniques are well documented, embroidery is open to all kinds of stitching and “drawing with yarn”. Although, the time it takes to achieve results similar to scribbling with a pen on paper can be much more involved, thus patience and concentration become part of the embroidery experience that very much shape the outcome.

The emergence of conductive textiles, threads and yarns has meant that circuits can be embroidered using both traditional and contemporary styles and techniques. The aim of this workshop is to introduce participants to the idea of embroidering with conductive thread in order to create designs that are circuitry. When using conductive thread to embroider circuitry, electricity becomes a visual medium.

Participant Creations

“Fuck me gently…”

“Life”

“Anatomical heart…”

“Live, Love, Laugh”

“Are you still there?… and more…” by Ahmara

“Sign…”

“Logo”

“Latin?”

“Pac Man”

“Eat or Be Eaten”

“Cool Bean”

“TV”

“Pushbutton”

“Space Alien”

“Decorative”

Example

Inspiring Work

Radical Cross-Stitch>> http://radicalcrossstitch.com/

Subversive Cross-Stitch >> http://www.subversivecrossstitch.com/

Jenny Heart >> http://www.jennyhart.net/

Aza Kakeda >> http://www.ayakakeda.com/first.html

J Schrom >> http://fluxprojects.org/secrets/

Dezsoa >> http://a.parsons.edu/~dezsoa/DRAWING_embroidered.html

Tracy Emin >> http://www.emininternational.com/

Becky Stern >> http://sternlab.org/2008/04/lilypad-embroidery/

Sublime Stitching >> http://www.sublimestitching.com/howto.html

E-Embroidery Workshop >> http://eembroidery.wordpress.com/

How-to Embroidery Instructions

Embroiderers Guild >> http://www.embroiderersguild.com/
Instructable >> http://www.instructables.com/id/Embroidery-101/
Needlework tips >> http://www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com/embroidery-stitches.html
Soft Circuit guide >> http://web.media.mit.edu/~emme/guide.pdf

Materials and Tools

Conductive thread (thick) >> http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8549
Conductive thread (thin) >> http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8544
Conductive fabrics >> http://lessemf.com/fabric.html
Tiny LED lights:
green >> http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?keywords=516-1405-ND
yellow >> http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?keywords=516-1402-ND
red >> http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?keywords=516-1398-ND
Sewable battery holder >> http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products/BA2032SM/BA2032SM-ND/257743
Coin-cell batteries >> http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products/CR2032/P189-ND/31939
Embroidery floss >>http://www.hancockfabrics.com/DMC-Color-Variations-Floss-Pack—12-Pkg-DMC-Embroidery-Floss_stcVVproductId47566295VVcatId539892VVviewprod.htm
Embroidery loop >> http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Wood-Grain-Flex-Hoop-7—-Hoops—Stretcher-Bars_stcVVproductId121158343VVcatId539910VVviewprod.htm

Links

Download workshop handout >>
Download Powerpoint presentation >>
Local electronics >> http://www.acksupply.com/
One Love Generation >> http://onelovegeneration.org/