Skip to main content

Materials

In the eTextiles Lab we have a range of different materials, both conductive and non-conductive, that can be used when creating projects.

Yarn and Thread

Non-conductive

In the lab, we have a variety of yarns and threads for you to use to practice or for small projects. If you are going to make a large scale project, please buy your own yarn or thread.

For yarn, we stock Uppingham Yarns 100% Lambswool Yarn, 2/17Nm (2-ply) in a range of colours as well as a variety of miscellaneous other yarns such as cotton and mohair. When practicing, start with the lambswool (as it will break when tangled instead of breaking the knitting machine), then move on to other materials once you are competent enough to not regularly get into tangles.

For thread, we have a variety of Brother and Madeira threads.

Madeira silver plated thread

This silver plated thread is highly conductive meaning it can be used to create sewn circuits or embroidered touch sensors. We have two different varieties: HC12 which is thicker and has a resistance of < 100 Ohm/m, and HC40 which is thinner and has a resistance of <300 Ohm/m. If using this on the embroidery machine, use the thinner HC40 thread.

This should only be used for sewing and embroidery, NOT knitting.

Uppingham Yarns steel & polyester yarn

This yarn is made from 80% polyester and 20% steel spun together to create a conductive yarn. Because of the low metal content, this cannot be used for sewn circuits but is perfect for use as a stretch sensors or connected to a capacitive touch sensor.

Because of the partial metal content, this yarn acts as a variable resistor under tension as the metal fibres are pulled together, allowing electricity to flow more easily. This makes it perfect for stretch sensors when used in combination with a voltage divider (find out more here)

Other conductive materials

  • Woven conductive tape

  • Conductive fabric - has a paper-like texture

  • Silicone covered strand-core wire - thinner than regular wire ~1mm

  • Sewable snaps - these can be used to create connections and switches between conductive materials (see here)

Sewable components

A sewable component is different to a regular one only because of the size of the through holes. For a regular component, these are made to be soldered to standard pins and are usually 2.54mm apart. A sewable component has much larger holes, big enough to fit a needle, that are further apart to stop threads from adjacent pins touching.

In the eTextiles Lab, we have:

  • Adafruit Flora - available from the Greencoat Kitroom

  • MPR121 capacitive touch sensor

  • LEDs

  • Button cell battery holder with switch

  • Switch

  • Button

If you are interested in using any of these components, talk to Rosie or Agnes for help!

Other sewing supplies/materials

  • Velcro
  • Hemming tape
  • Safety pins
  • Fabric markers/pencils
  • Embroidery floss
  • Hand sewing needles
  • Sewing pins
Back to top