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Sensors
  • 3D Printed Sensors
  • Adjustable Slider
  • Analog Pin Stroke Sensor
  • Balloon Sensor
  • Beaded Sway Sensor
  • Beaded Tilt Sensor Swatch
  • Bonded Bend Sensor
  • Button Buttons
  • Button Switch
  • Capacitive Fabric Slider/Wheels
  • Cast Pressure Sensor
  • Circular Knit Inflation Sensor
  • Circular Knit Stretch Sensors
  • Conductive Pompom
  • Constructed Stretch Sensors
  • Copper Pompom
  • Crochet Button
  • Crochet Conductive Bead
  • crochet crotch lemon
  • Crochet finger Sensor
  • crochet pressure sensor
  • Crochet Tilt Potentiometer
  • Crochet/Knit Pressure Sensors
  • Crochet/Knit Squeeze Sensors
  • dangle data gloves
  • Danish Krown Slide-Switch
  • Dataglove Flex Sensor Rig
  • Donut Pot
  • Resistive Sensors Overview
  • Elastic Button Fabric
  • Embroidered Potentiometers
  • extreme knobbly knee sensor
  • Fabric Button
  • Fabric Potentiometer
  • Fabric Stretch Sensors
  • felted crochet pressure sensor
  • Felted Pompom Pressure Sensor
  • Finger Sensor
  • Fingertip Contact Switch
  • Fish Scale Sensor
  • Fleckerlteppich Pressure Sensor
  • Position Sensing on the Body
  • interested sensor #2
  • interested sensor #1
  • JoyButton
  • Kinesiology Tape bend sensor
  • Knit Ball Sensors
  • Knit Contact Switch
  • Knit Stroke Sensors
  • Knit Touchpad
  • Knit Wrist Sensors
  • Knit Accelerometer
  • Knit Stretch Sensors
  • Light Touch Pressure Sensor
  • Magnetic Pincushion Sensor
  • Matrix: Anti-Static Foam
  • Matrix: Kapton + Copper
  • Matrix: Neoprene
  • Matrix: Simple (by hand)
  • Matrix: Simple (by machine)
  • Matrix: Soft Fabric
  • Matrix: Stretchy Touchpad
  • Matrix: Woven (non-stretch)
  • Matrix: Woven (stretchy)
  • Needle Felt Squeeze Sensor
  • Neoprene Bend Sensor
  • Neoprene Pressure Sensor
  • Neoprene Stroke Bracelet
  • painted stretch sensor
  • Paper + Aluminum foil pressure sensor
  • Paper + Aluminum foil contact switch
  • Piezoresistive Fabric Touchpad
  • Pin Pot
  • Pin Stroke Gauntlet
  • Pompom Tilt Sensor
  • Pressure Button
  • Sheath Bend Sensor
  • Simple Fabric Pressure Sensors
  • DON'T TOUCH, MOVE
  • Skin Sensor
  • Sole Sensing
  • Spikey Stroke Sensors
  • Spinning Sensor Yarn
  • Stickytape Sensors
  • Stocking Skin Stretch Sensor
  • Stroke Sensor
  • Textile Sensor Demos for Summer School
  • Tilt Potentiometer
  • Tilt Potentiometer II
  • Tilt Sensor
  • VOLTAGE DIVIDER worksheet
  • Voodoo Sensor
  • Wimper Switch
  • Woven Pressure sensors
  • Wrist-Flick-Sensor
  • Zebra Fabric Stroke Sensors
  • Zipper Slider
  • Zipper Switch
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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

    dangle data gloves


    photos >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/albums/72157713884362741 ideas for how to solve the sensing and connections to the sensors: knitting pattern for two gloves joined at the fingers: making-of:

    Skin Sensor


    Instead of using fabric as the base for the sensor, it is funny to use transparent medical foil for skin protection. it creates sensors that is proximate to skin like tattoos. I bought this medical foil at the local Apotheke (drug/medicine store) in Germany. I have also asked the Tattoo shops near-by. They were happened […]

    Stocking Skin Stretch Sensor


    A stretch sensor made of skin colored stockings and thin resistive yarn (Bekinox BK50/2) embroidery.  It is sensitive to stretch and distortion of the main fabric.

    Paper + Aluminum foil pressure sensor


    This is a quick way to prototype pressure sensor with velostat/ESD foil. You will need a piece of velostat/ ESD foil, Aluminum foil, a sheet of paper, stick glue and scissors. (the photo below does not include velostat!) In this example, I am using 5cm x 5cm piece of velostat. The size and shape could […]

    Paper + Aluminum foil contact switch


    This is a paper contact switch made with a piece of paper and aluminum foil. You will need a piece of Aluminum foil, a sheet of paper, stick glue, scissors. If you do not have stick glue, you can also use any sticky tape. Cut out strip of paper. this will be a base shape […]

    interested sensor #2


    interesting sensor #2

    read more >> http://etextile-summercamp.org/swatch-exchange/interested-sensors/ interested sensor #1 >> https://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=8770 photos >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/albums/72157719264482974

    interested sensor #1


    read more >> http://etextile-summercamp.org/swatch-exchange/interested-sensors/ interesse = inter as ‘between’ + esse as ‘be’ = to be between Interested sensors are sensors expressing their interest in things without knowing in advance why the things are of interest. The process of making and using the sensors is the act of discovering what is interesting. Interested sensors are […]

    extreme knobbly knee sensor


    as you can see the knob of this knee is so extremely knobbly that is detaches from the knee almost completely. the result are unique sensing properties that include being able to tell which direction the knob is knobbling. based on the same construction as the interested sensor nr2 but connecting to different pins of […]

    Kinesiology Tape bend sensor


    When prototyping quickly and rehearsing with performers to test out different sensor placement set-ups, I do not always have time to create whole sensor garments. I learned about this kinesiolosgy tape from a fried who had a muscle injury. The tape is made so that by taping on body directly it supports and massages muscle. […]

    crochet crotch lemon


    i learned the term “crotch lemon” from rachel freire. a lemon shaped insert to the crotch to avoid wear and tear from leg movement…. the perfect position for a sensor! i made this sensor as part of the goooch suit:

    DON’T TOUCH, MOVE


    6 really wearable sensors The textile sensors on our website are often not designed to be manipulated with your hands. In an attempt to move away from manual control, towards bodily entanglement, this post shows 6 wearable textile sensors that are designed to be worn on different parts of the body. The idea being that […]

    Sole Sensing


    Sole Sensors

    Rather simple way of making insoles with 3 pressure sensors located at different pressure points of the foot on the ground. The entire circuitry is sewn with conductive thread on sewing machine. The piezoresistive (pressure sensing) material is taped in place until finalized and can then also be sewn in place by machine (with regular […]

    VOLTAGE DIVIDER worksheet


    Ohm - Volt - ADC worksheet

    A worksheet for taking note of: The electrical resistance range of an analog sensor (Ohm). Picking a mean resistance in that range. Using a resistor of that resistance to build a Voltage Divider that will translate resistance into voltage. Taking note of the min and max voltage range this gives you. Connecting this variable voltage […]

    Donut Pot


    Crochet donut potentiometer

    A potentiometer, a potential devider, with the resistive track as the big donut and the conductive wiper as the small donut.

    Copper Pompom


    copper pompom

    Copper of thread, pigment of change…..

    Spinning Sensor Yarn


    Piezo/resistance

    A little goes a long way. Stainless steel fibers blended with wool roving and spun and plied on on a drop-spindle. Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/albums/72157711023086991 This is not a recipe but an attempt to share things to think about when you approach spinning your own conductive yarn. Or “sensor” yarn in the sense that it’s electrical conductivity […]

    Needle Felt Squeeze Sensor


    felt

    A Pressure Sensor made with conductive wool. You can mix a bit of wool to increase the range of resistance change.

    Pin Pot


    Pin Pot

    A lengthy pin potentiometer. Something like a slug on the back of your hand. Filled with polenta. You poke the sharp pin through layers of conductive fabrics (and the polenta), one is highly conductive the other has lots of resistance. The pin is conductive and makes an electrical connection from the conductive wiper layer to […]

    Tilt Potentiometer II


    Making-of sensor demos

    Instead of treating each conductive petal contact of the this fabric tilt sensor as an individual digital input, the petals are connected through a resistive fabric ring. The end petals in this “resistor ladder” connectto GND and VCC to create a voltage divider (just like inside a potentiometer) and the bead makes for a voltage […]

    Matrix: Soft Fabric


    Matrix

    10 x 10 matrix: Photos >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/albums/72157680387415118 TinyTextileTouchpad 7×7 rSkin Matrix rSkin – Open Source Robot Skin

    Matrix: Stretchy Touchpad


    Textile Stretchy Pressure Matrix Sensor

    Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/albums/72157708415706295 5 x 5 3 x 3

    Matrix: Kapton + Copper


    Type-pad pressure matrix

    A simple pressure sensor matrix made from two Kapton film sheets with 7×7 copper tape traces and a piece of Velostat or Eeonyx piezoresistive material in between.

    Beaded Sway Sensor


    Sway sensor

    swing, sway, wave, trail, quiver, quake, judder, jiggle, jig, joggle, jog, jerk, waggle, wiggle, wriggle, wobble, shake, shiver, shudder, squirm, slant, lean, tip, slope, incline, dip, angle, twitch, totter, teeter, tremble, rock, roll, flutter, flap, vibrate, oscillate, convulse …work in progress… This beaded sway sensor was designed to capture the swinging, swaying, jerking, tilting movements […]

    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 Step by Step Cut a hole on the fabric. Make […]

    Pressure Button


    Button button

    See also Button Button >> http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=7328

    Button Buttons


    Button button

    Surely a button Is self-explanatory And yet causes stress (haiku from Kate Fletcher’s Craft of Use, p20) This post covers a few different ways you can construct your own electrical “pushbutton” or embed a ready-made mechanical pushbutton (also known as momentary switch) into a textile button. What is nice about the mecanical mechanism is that […]

    Dataglove Flex Sensor Rig


    After tearing apart some classic and novel datagloves, I realized it would be so simple to layout and produce a version of these multiple flex sensor rigs using a vinylcutter, some Kapton film and tape, copper tape sheets and Velostat – to make an extended version of this stickytape sensor design.

    Magnetic Pincushion Sensor


    Magnetic pinholder

    This sensor is designed for the KOBA Uniform which is part of the Wearable Studio Practice concept. The idea being that the maker’s tools are tracked in order to capture the motions of making. Both out of an interest to study my own tool use, as well as to be able to add an additional […]

    Wrist-Flick-Sensor


    VID_20210416_161830

    Made during PIFcamp 2017, this textile sensor detects the impact of a conductive pendulum slapping against the wristband when the wrist is twisted back and forth in a flicking action. The conductive pendulum is made from a small heavy stone collected by the Soca river that has been sewn into a stretch conductive pouch.

    Textile Sensor Demos for Summer School


    Making-of sensor demos

    These textile sensor demos were made for the Soft Circuits for Soft Bodies workshop at the eTextile Summer School 2017.

    Bonded Bend Sensor


    As I got a new stretchy fusible/heat bond from Bemis, I started to experiment with bonding fabrics with iron. Making bend sensor with this technique is super quick, super easy and works very very well as a sensor. Rachel Freire has been working a lot with the heat bond and eTextiles as second skin project […]

    Capacitive Fabric Slider/Wheels


    Flickr set >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/albums/72157682852303805 Video: Front and back: Capacitive Sensing Cap sense shapes: Circular sliders: Linear sliders: Code /* Visualizes the movement of a finger over a series of capacitive sensors. >> http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=6607 Based on the CVDSense Library Demo Sketch by Admar Schoonen 2016. >> https://github.com/admarschoonen/CVDSensor IMPORTANT: Needs a minimum of 2 capacitive sensors. When […]

    Matrix: Anti-Static Foam


    Inspired by Pauline, Paul and Jussi‘s foam switch that they submitted to the 2016 E-Textile Swatch Exchange, I made a quick try at constructing a pressure sensor matrix with the rows and columns sewn directly into a piece of anti-static/piezoresistive/ESD foam. It works!

    Fingertip Contact Switch


    At the tips of your fingers, this contact switch is closed by touching the tips your thumb and index finger together. Conductive fabric pads are fused underneath stretch fabric.

    Analog Pin Stroke Sensor


    During PIFcamp 2016 Cedric Honnet got the analog version of the pin stroke sensing working!

    Fish Scale Sensor


    This sensor is inspired by the “design” of fish scales and bird feathers: how single elements are repeated, and how it allows the main body to bend smoothly by sliding over the others. The scale in this sensor is made with Eeonyx non-woven conductive textile. The carbon is infused on non woven textile in order […]

    Elastic Button Fabric


    Tilt Potentiometer


    or: “Analog Tilt Sensor“ Instead of treating each conductive petal contact of the this fabric tilt sensor as an individual digital input, the petals are connected through a series of fixed resistances (conductive thread or fabric with a high resistance) and the last or first petal is this resistor ladder is connected to an analog […]

    Woven Pressure sensors


    Just like Felted Pompom Pressure Sensor and felted crochet pressure sensor, it also works as pressure sensor when conductive yarns are woven into a textile structure. Here I tried two types of woven structure, satin and honeycomb. The honeycomb is a structure often used for tea towels and blankets. It creates 3D structure when taken […]

    JoyButton


    A 4-way pressure sensor with a central “button” that acts as a joystick. Constructed from conductive (silverized lycra), piezoresistive (Eeontex) fabrics and a metal bead. The metal bead acts as the common side of the 4-way switch and is covered in a layer of piezoresistive stretch fabric. Each of the directions is created by fusing […]

    Neoprene Stroke Bracelet


    Stroke sensor bracelet

    An experiment in how to apply and adapt the stroke sensor principal to be worn and operated on the body.

    Zebra Fabric Stroke Sensors


    Zebra fabric stroke sensor (version 3)

    Switch and Momentary

    Pin Stroke Gauntlet


    Spiky stroke sensor for arm

    Using metal pins as conductive fur to construct a pokey stroke sensor.

    Spikey Stroke Sensors


    Experiments in creating spiky stroke sensors from pins….

    Position Sensing on the Body


    Slider fabric (version 1)

    For the longest time (since 2008) I’ve wanted to build a full body suit that can track a point of contact on the surface without being disturbed by contortions of the body itself.

    Matrix: Simple (by machine)


    Sewing or fusing the conductive traces directly onto the piezoresistive fabric.

    Matrix: Simple (by hand)


    Sewing or fusing the conductive traces directly onto the piezoresistive fabric.

    Adjustable Slider


    Using a strap adjuster to slide along two parallel resistive tracks, making contact between them and varying the amount of resistance between their ends.

    Resistive Sensors Overview


    Resistive sensors

    This post documents a series of experiments using Eeonyx coated fabrics (called Eeontex) to create various fabric sensors. Eeontex fabrics are electrically conductive and can be coated to produce different resistances. Applications for Eeontex fabrics include electrostatic dissipation (ESD), microwave/radar absorption, resistive and microwave heating, but they can also be used to do a variety […]

    Sheath Bend Sensor


    A textile bend sensor constructed by sewing two parallel sheaths. Two separate pieces of conductive thread are housed inside these two sheaths, thus running in parallel without touching each other directly. Part of the sheath contains and extra layer of piezoresitive fabric. When this part of the sheath is pressured or bent, the electrical resistance […]

    Fleckerlteppich Pressure Sensor


    Using the technique of weaving strips of cut fabric in a plain weave to create colourful carpets, to make pressure sensors. Instead of sandwitching the piezoresistive material with the conductors ontop and onbottom of the pressure application direction, this design sandwitches the piezoresistive material (stretchy Eeonyx, Velostat or Stainless steel Nm10/3 yarn) with the conductors […]

    Wimper Switch


    Wimper in German translates to “Eyelash”. This contact switch is made from conducive thread stitched into neoprene to create “lashes” that hover over a band of silverized nylon stretch conductive fabric. Contact between a lash and the band closes the switch.

    Light Touch Pressure Sensor


    To make custom fabric pressure sensors that react to even the lightest touch. Ideally less than 10g of force.

    Balloon Sensor


    Sewn from pieces of non-conductive stretch jersey and Eeontex piezoresistive knit stretch fabric. The fabric of this ball with a balloon inside stretches when the balloon is inflated and the Eeontex fabric becomes less conductive the more it is stretched. Two contacts sewn with conductive thread on either side of one of the Eeontex segments […]

    Danish Krown Slide-Switch


    Two danish 1 Krone coins strung on conductive thread. When the coins meet the electrical contact between the threads is bridged, thus closing the “switch”. There are so many different kinds of materials in the world! Conductive, resistive, pizeoresistive, semi-conductive, non-conductive. We use them every day, in all kinds of different ways. Why not use […]

    3D Printed Sensors


    Attempts to 3D print a variety of sensors from conductive ABS material in collaboration with FabLab Berlin. Interestingly the resistance of the material decreases when bent, implying that the electrical connections are being broken in the material because it is being stretched or damaged. When pressured the resistance through the material decreases.

    Knit Ball Sensors


    A series of balls knit on double-bed flat-bed knitting machine that incorproate conductive and resistive yarns to allow them to be stretch, pressure, scrunch and touch sensitive. Using LilyPad Arduinos with FTDI and USB cables as well as ATtinys with Bluetooth to send sensor data to computer for visualization and sound feedback.

    Crochet Conductive Bead


    If you don’t have a heavy metal bead at hand to make a Fabric Tilt Sensor with, you can make a heavy conductive bead by crocheting conductive thread around a glass marble.

    Knit Wrist Sensors


    Using resistive yarn to detect movement and angles of the wrist.

    Matrix: Woven (non-stretch)


    Interweaving layers of conductive fabric, non-conductive fabric, velostat or Eeontex to create a pressure sensitive matrix/grid.

    Beaded Tilt Sensor Swatch


    A heavy metal bead strung on conductive thread and surrounded by conductive fabric petals, makes for a simple six way digital tilt switch. When the metal bead makes contact with one of the petals it completes the circuit to an LED light, causing it to light up. This very simple technique for detecting direction of […]

    Matrix: Woven (stretchy)


    The piezoresistive layer “coats” the thread… stretch conductive strips covered by stretchy piezoresistive tubes… woven into stretch fabric… Flickr set: https://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/albums/72157682272299853

    Voodoo Sensor


    Also: poke sensor, pin prick sensor, prick sensor, sting sensor… Two layers of conductive fabric with isolating spacer in between.

    Finger Sensor


    A sensor that captures the movements of your pointing finger. Crochet from steel yarn that has stretch sensitive properties (electrical resistance decreases when steel fibers in the yarn are compressed through pressure or stretch)

    Piezoresistive Fabric Touchpad


    This fabric touchpad was inspired by the properties of piezoresistive materials to measure both amount of pressure applied through the materials and increase of resistance across distance. It is made by layering piezoresistive material between two conductive layers and using the piezoresistive layer to alternatively measure position and pressure.

    Crochet/Knit Squeeze Sensors


    This squeeze sensor can be made by knitting or crocheting a ball including resistive yarn. The ball can then be stuffed with different materials to achieve different kinds of squishiness. The ball can also be hand or machine felted, giving the surface a more uniform appearance.

    Cast Pressure Sensor


    Cast Pressure Sensor

    Flickr set >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/albums/72157627692284100 Making-of: Graph: Prototypes/Process:

    Knit Accelerometer


    When you knit with conductive yarn, it changes the resistance when stretched. So, I thought of making an accelerometer with same principle. The weight at the end pulls and stretches the knitted structure as it gets accelerated. It works the best when this sensor (more of an object) is turned around like hammer throwing, or […]

    felted crochet pressure sensor


    Here, I have crochet conductive yarn with felting yarn and felted it afterwards. It works great as pressure sensor. Making Here is the crochet piece before felting. I mixed Schoeller Nm 10/3 conductive yarn with hippy rainbow color felting yarn. Now it is time to felt. Place the crochet piece on the bowl. Pour hot […]

    Zipper Slider


    By using high-resistance conductive thread instead of conductive fabric, you can make a slider (potentiometer) with zippers. Unlike zipper switch, this sensor gives analog values instead of “ON/OFF”.

    Zipper Switch


    A Zipper is a great clothing material that can be converted into sensors. Zipper switch is a known technique used in many projects like TV-B-Gone-Hoodie by Becky Stern. It is also introduced in “Fashioning Technology” book by Syuzi Pakhchyan.

    Pompom Tilt Sensor


    This is a combination of conductive pompom and tilt sensor. The advantage is that the pompom has much bigger and softer surface than metal bead, which helps for it to touch the tilt detecting conductive fabric. Also it gives a certain look, that may be desired for some projects.

    Felted Pompom Pressure Sensor


    also see: conductive pompom, pompom tool Make pressure sensor ball by felting a pompom composed of wool and conductive steel fibers.

    Circular Knit Stretch Sensors


    Use of a circular knitting machine to knit a circular stretch sensor from combinations of conductive and non-conductive yarns.

    Embroidered Potentiometers


    also see: crochet tilt potentiometer, fabric potentiometer, time sensing bracelet, Made using the zig-zag stitch on the sewing machine to sew/embroider a conductive and a resistive trace side by side. Then any conductive object can be used to bridge the contact between the traces and measure the position/distance from measuring point through the change in […]

    Crochet finger Sensor


    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 […]

    Conductive Pompom


    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 […]

    Circular Knit Inflation Sensor


    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.

    Crochet/Knit Pressure Sensors


    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.

    Crochet Button


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

    crochet pressure sensor


    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 […]

    Crochet Tilt Potentiometer


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

    painted stretch sensor


    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.

    Knit Stroke Sensors


    Ruffle Knit by Hillary Grant Knitting with taught elastic, causing the knit structure to bunch up and create ruffels of loops that can be used for stroke sensing. Samples knit by Hilary Grant at Distance Lab: Samples of knitting elastic from Uppington Yarns >> http://www.wools.co.uk Switch in Loops by Pauline Vierne >> http://etextile-summercamp.org/swatch-exchange/switch-in-loops/ Knit sensors […]

    Constructed Stretch Sensors


    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.

    Knit Stretch Sensors


    WORK IN PROGRESS Exploring different possibilities to knit stretch sensors.

    Knit Contact Switch


    This sensor is the very first example of something I made with the circular knitting machine.

    Stroke Sensor


    This sensor senses stroke in multiple directions. Using a technique similar to that for carpet making, conductive threads are distributed in patches and patches are connected together on the back side. Within the patches the threads are connected and when the threads of one patch make contact with the threads of another patch, this can […]

    Fabric Potentiometer


    Following the same principal that you’ll find inside a traditional round and slider potentiometers. Both contain a wiper finger (conductive) and a resistive track. Normally both ends of the restive track end in separate measuring point tabs, as does the wiper finger. Thus you can choose to measure from either of the restive track tabs […]

    Stickytape Sensors


    These sensors measure pressure and can also be designed and placed to measure bend. They work on the simple principal that Velostat reacts to pressure with a decrease in electrical resistance. When sandwiched between two conductive layers, this change in resistance can be easily measured and used as an indication of how much pressure is […]

    Simple Fabric Pressure Sensors


    Variations of very simple fabric pressure sensors made from various resistive fabrics sandwiched between conductive layers. This is an ongoing experimentation. Similar to the Neoprene Bend and Pressure Sensors and the Stickytape Sensors, these also make use of the resistive changes of various materials under pressure. Variations in pressure sensitivity and stability can be achieved […]

    Knit Touchpad


    This rectangular piece of knit, cut from an anti-static glove, has different resistance ranges, depending if you measure across the rows or columns of the stich. >> Instructable The range of resistance across the columns of stiches is about 30K Ohm. The range of resistance across the rows of stitches is about 90 K Ohm. […]

    Matrix: Neoprene


    Four separate pressure sensors not only give feedback about where I’m pressing, but also how hard.

    Fabric Stretch Sensors


    Creating stretch sensors from stretchy fabrics that have conductive/resistive properties that change depending on the stretching of the fabric. I’m hoping this will allow to make super simple stretch sensors and lead to other interesting possibilities.

    Tilt Sensor


    Combining beads and other decorative elements with conductive textiles to create tilt sensitive designs. A bracelet decorated with six conductive fabric petals and a row of beads with a metal bead on the end, makes for a simple six point tilt detection. It is also designed so that the metal bead will make contact with […]

    Neoprene Pressure Sensor


    Pressure Sensor (thread)

    also: Neoprene Pressure Sensor, Conductive Thread Pressure Sensor Stitching conductive thread into neoprene to create a pressure sensitive pad. This sensor is very similar to the Fabric Bend Sensor or vis-versa. And also close to the Fabric Pressure Sensor, but the difference is that the conductive surface is minimized by stitching only a few stitches […]

    Fabric Button


    Fabric Button

    also: soft button, textile button, soft switch These super simple fabric buttons are soft, fun to push and can come in handy when building various prototypes. They all share the same ground or plus, depending on what you hook what up to.

    Neoprene Bend Sensor


    also: Neoprene Bend Sensor, Conductive Thread Bend Sensor, Bend Sensor (thread) This bend sensor actually reacts (decreases in resistance) to pressure, not specifically to bend. But because it is sandwiched between two layers of neoprene (rather sturdy fabric), pressure is exerted while bending, thus allowing one to measure bend (angle) via pressure.