Tufting With Conductive Thread
E-Textile Sensor Experiments: combining traditional textile techniques with computer interaction.
Punch needle embroidery, one of the tufting methods, may go back as far as ancient Egypt while some believe it developed in medieval Europe. This experiment shows how needle punch tufting with conductive and nonconductive threads can be used to construct sensors. With this technique, designers could integrate e-textile sensors into furniture design, fashion design, carpet design and other interior design applications with capacitive touch, pressure and gesture sensing input.
Materials and Tools:
- Ultra-Punch® Needle
- Two strands of embroidery thread
- Conductive Thread: V Technical Textiles Inc., 20012123535HCB 235/34 4 ply HC+B Highly Conductive Sewing Thread (Size 92) Industrial Cone
- Embroidery Hoop
- Multimeter, Multitester, or VOM (volt-ohm-milliammeter)
- Upcycled cotton fabric
- Sewing Needle
- Scissors
- Super Glue (to hold the end of the metallic thread to the base fabric)
- Please see our Github for the processing and Arduino Code
Methods:
4 different pile heights were used along with 4 different circuit diagrams. This allowed for 16 test samples. Each test sample was connected to a multimeter and the results were recorded.
Some of the samples allowed for multiple test results. Testing rows A and B would show if electricity flow is possible when pressed from one row of conductive thread to an adjacent row of conductive thread. Testing rows A and H would show if electricity flow is possible when pressed from A through all the intermediate rows to row H.
Results and Findings:
Some of the low pile height samples did not allow for the threads to touch and conduct electricity. The high pile height samples easily connected to let electricity to flow through. Some of the high pile height circuits would connect and not go back to an open condition when released. Some of intermediate samples had more consistent results between the open and closed conditions when pressed and released. One of the most consistent results from pressed (closed) to released (open) was the sample with pile height with 4 rows testing between rows A and B. There was also a decrease in resistance with the amount of pressure applied to a closed circuit.
Conclusion:
Tufting with conductive and nonconductive thread could be integrated with multiple design applications, however refinement on testing and development would be needed for particular usage. Tufting with conductive thread could be developed into carpeting to sense foot traffic patterns and motion through a space. It could be integrated into wearable garments to interface with our ever-growing world of smart devices.
Overall, we are interested in creating a range of texture for us to interact with technology instead of what we currently use such as glass, plastic or metal.
Thank you, our apprentice, Jeremey Ripley from Parsons MFA textile department helped to make this research possible.
Check out our interactive garments at wearablemedia.studio and sign up for pre-order Meter, music interactive streetwear for Spring 2019.
