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    Content by Mika Satomi and Hannah Perner-Wilson
    E-Textile Tailor Shop by KOBAKANT
    The following institutions have funded our research and supported our work:

    Since 2020, Hannah is guest professor of the Spiel&&Objekt Master's program at the University of Performing Arts Ernst Busch in Berlin

    From 2013-2015 Mika was a guest professor at the eLab at Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weissensee

    From July - December 2013 Hannah was a researcher at the UdK's Design Research Lab

    From 2010-2012 Mika was a guest researcher in the Smart Textiles Design Lab at The Swedish School of Textiles

    From 2009 - 2011 Hannah was a graduate student in the MIT Media Lab's High-Low Tech research group led by Leah Buechley


    In 2009 Hannah and Mika were both research fellows at the Distance Lab


    Between 2003 - 2009 Hannah and Mika were both students at Interface Cultures
    We support the Open Source Hardware movement. All our own designs published on this website are released under the Free Cultural Works definition
    Sensors

    Button Switch

    A metal clothing button and a button hole that works as state switch. When it is fastened, the connection is made, and if you open the button, the connection gets broken.

    *This sensor is inspired by the Swatch exchange sample “Button Switch” by Ricardo O’Nascimento

    button switchbutton switch

    Step by Step

    button switchbutton switch
    Cut a hole on the fabric. Make sure the hole is big enough for the button you have. You can use non-metal (non-conductive) button too, but I think it is better to use metal button to have stable connection.

    button switchbutton switchbutton switchbutton switch
    Sew the button hole with conductive thread. In this example I used Statex silver plated 4 ply thread as it is nicely thick and soft. Stitch around the hole with plain stitch first. Then stitch the edges of the hole by wrapping around the open edges.

    button switchbutton switch
    continue the stitch to the bottom of the fabric. This will become a point to connect to your multimeter probe, or further connection to microcontrollers or circuits.

    button switchbutton switch
    Mark the position of the button.

    button switchbutton switchbutton switchbutton switch
    Fasten the button with conductive thread just like how you do the normal buttons with normal thread. Continue stitching the thread down to the bottom of the fabric so you can connect your probe.

    button switchbutton switch

    When you close the button, the connection is made, and when you open it, the connection brakes. Unlike push buttons, this sensor keeps the state unless you change it. For example, you can use this sensor as on/off switches.



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