July 28+29 2012, 10am – 5pm, MQ, Vienna/Austria
Info and registration: office@mqw.at Location: Raum D, MuseumsQuartier

This workshop will take place in the year 2037. Imagine a future in which electronics have become expensive goods, that only the rich can afford and only skilled craftsman are trusted to work into functional electronic artifacts. In this future scenario it has become common practice for wealthy individuals to commission custom handcrafted electronics reminiscent of pre-industrial eras.

Workshop interview by OE24 >> http://www.oe24.at/video/summer-of-fashion/videoArticle/Austro-Hungarian-Embroidery-gone-Electronic/73825394

Video of workshop atmosphere:

Participants will experience first hand the making of Exquisite Electronics and produce their very own piece of hand-embroidered electronic Haute Couture. The workshop will cover traditional embroidery techniques, using contemporary conductive materials, such as conductive threads, fibers, fabrics and yarns, to create highly decorative circuitry with unique functionality.

The workshop not only introduces a range of e-textile techniques, but also draws attention to issues surrounding electronic textiles, such as e-waste, diminishing resources, the industrialization of craftsmanship and the impacts of globalization. By raising these topics we hope to start a discussion among the makers of electronic textiles in order to project a more futuristic future vision of skilled craftsmanship as it may be applied to electronics. The workshop will last 2 days and will be open to the general public. A maximum of 15 participants will be able to attend the workshop, and while previous experience working with either textiles or electronics is encouraged, the workshop is open to everybody eager to learn and master a new set of skills.

Participants at Work

Workshop Directions

Technosensual Visit

Participants

In the workshop we will focus on embroidery techniques for making soft circuits and fabric speakers. We ask that each of you imagine yourself in this future scenario as an artisan commissioned to make a unique textile electronic. Your commissioner is looking for a custom designed handkerchief that allows them to interact with sound coming from a fabric speaker. Imagine who has commissioned you to do the work and how you will tailor it to their person. There is no need for you to prepare anything in advance of the workshop, but if you get excited about your commission, you might want to do some research on handkerchiefs, and on the person you are working for. Look at the history of handkerchiefs and their roles as utilitarian, but also decorative items. The person you are making the handkerchief for could be somebody famous, somebody fictional or somebody you know. What style of embroidery would suit them, what colours, and how will they interact with their handkerchief to make sound?

Participant Creations

Luba’s Warm/Cold Handkerchief for ladies to indicate attraction or distance to a man.

Cecilia’s Jewelry Handkerchief for rich ladies to show what they can afford.

Karen Marie’s Relationship Handkerchiefs that play unique sounds depending on which two handkerchiefs come together.

Lydia’s Camelion Handkerchief that plays different sounds, depending on how you play with it.

Vanessa’s Eye Handkerchief that plays sounds when it blinks.

Marcela’s Spider-web Handkerchief commissioned by a rich and lonely lady with no time or skills to make social contacts, to help her catch her pray.

Jimmy’s Fashionable Pocket Handkerchief that plays a note when squeezed.

Uta’s Alarm/Family Melody Handkerchief that can be worn fashionably and set to either play and alarm sound or a recognizable family melody when squeezed at the corner. Unfolding the handkerchief allows for the additional soothing interaction of playing music.

Anneliese’s Jellyfish Handkerchief that looks beautiful and makes sound when you touch its tentacles.

Barbara’s Handkerchief made by a rich individual for children to explore space.

Monika’s Rememberance Handkerchief commissioned by the Government Office of Elderly Affairs for elderly people to have as a tactile item they can physically interact with to play melodies that remind them.

Maya’s Scarf for David Bowie.

Martina’s Speakers.

Karina’s Handkerchief for rich ladies to fall asleep with at the opera.

Schedule

Saturday 28 July 2012
9am meet in Raum D at the MuseumsQuartier, introductions
10-1pm introduction to embroidery techniques and embroidering circuitry
1-2pm lunch break
2-5pm sketch and finalize designs
5:30pm tour of Technosensual exhibition with curator Anouk Wipprecht

Sunday 29 July 2012
9am: gather in Raum D
9-1pm work
1-2pm lunch break
2-4pm work
4-5pm show and tell
5-7pm chance to go see the Technosensual exhibition

Resources

Links

>> MQ Workshop announcement
>> Fabric Speakers
>> Handkerchief
>> The Crying Dress
>> HOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANT
>> Microcontroller code
>> Download presentation (pdf)
>> Hannah’s workshop photos

>> Mika’s workshop photos

Handout PDF: Embroidery Stitch

Photos of Example Handkerchief

Materials and Tools (20 Euro total per person)

Here is a list of costs for materials that participants will receive:
– 5.71 Euro (4.49 GBP, plus shipping) for Lipo battery
>> http://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/catalog/lithium-polymer-battery-110mah-p-778.html
– 0.38 Euro for JST socket
>> http://at.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6881353P/
– 2.61 Euro for ATtiny85 microcontroller
>> http://at.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6962327/
– 0.33 Euro for TIP122 transistor
>> http://at.rs-online.com/web/p/products/3136900/
– 2 Euro for strong magnets (plus shipping)
>> http://www.magnet-magnete.eu/ndfeb-magnete-zylinder-klein-g1-231.html
– 2 Euro for Fabric
– 2 Euro for embroidery floss
– Karl Grimm conductive thread (call them to ask for samples or find out about prices!)
>> http://www.karl-grimm.com/navi.swf
– Fusible interfacing from your local fabric store or online
>> http://www.joann.com/heat-n-bond-ultra-hold-iron-on-adhesive-17-x12-/prd49052/
– Extra: to charge your Lipo battery,we recommend the following USB charger: 8.60 Euro for Lipo charger
>> http://physicalcomputing.at/shop/article_A-1121100/LiPo-Basic-Lader.html?shop_param=cid%3D4%26aid%3DA-1121100%26