Thermochromic Ikat Weaving

Currently I’m working on a woven piece that puts a new spin on a traditional technique. This work draws on the Ikat technique of resist-dyeing warp and weft fibres before working them on the loom. In place of the dye I am using a unique thermochromic solution that will bring about colour change behaviours in the final work. The work will be driven by an Arduino + Wifi connection for actuation based on a real-time data set (TBA). Electronics kindly supplied by my friends at Farnell UK. Finished work to be posted soon! Stay tuned!

Upcoming Courses at OCAD University – Fall 2014

 

If you are looking to learn more about electronic textiles, soft circuits, and wearable technology, I will be teaching some upcoming courses at OCAD University.  Intro to Wearable Media covers sewing electronic circuits, weaving fibre optics and LEDs, felting with conductive fibre, and machine knitting soft sensors.  Following this 6-week course is Clothing and Code, which covers the Arduino IDE, Lilypad Arduino microcontroller board, introductory code writing, sensors and actuators, and clothing allowances for electronic components.  

 

For more information please follow these links:

Intro to Wearable Media

Clothing and Code 

Check me out in the Huffington Post

Take a peek at this article in the Huffington Post (pub. July 4/13) in which I am a featured artist speaking about wearable technology and some of my personal projects. There is a short video as well.

Kinetic Textiles

Who says propane and knitting can’t play together?
Yesterday we spent the afternoon making fabrics move using nitinol springs, knit and embedded muscle wire. We made a mess, and it smelled like burning hair, but gosh it was fun!

Machine knitting with Muscle Wire

This week I’ve been making machine-knit circuit samples using conductive thread, in preparation for a Wearable Technology course that I teach at OCAD University.  Bridging out from this, I’ve also created some samples of machine-knit muscle wire (SMA) that contracts the knit at 12V 1300mA.  Because I am using wool, it does not burn.  However, the contraction is slight partly due to the weight of the material and the tension of the knit.  I’ll be experimenting with finer wool knits later today, and will some photos and video of successful experiments.  For now, here is a photo of muscle wire in a knit.  It is difficult to see, but if you look carefully you can see a thin black wire coursing through one row.

Above: sample of machine knitting with muscle wire

Below: sample of machine knitting with conductive thread

Below: Teaching OCAD students to create machine-knit complete circuits

Tomato Drums

I had my hands on a MakeyMakey in the lab today, and conveniently had some leftover tomato slices from lunch.

The result? Tomato drums!

See me at StyleCasting at TIFF

I’ll be exhibiting the Earthquake Skirt and Stock Market Lingerie at this TIFF exhibition for fashion, film and tech. Eventbrite tickets are available — come and say hi!

Upgrading the Kegel Organ

With a new 3D printer at the Social Body Lab, I’ve taken to upgrading the Kegel Organ by designing and printing molds, and later casting the “insertable tech” in silicone rubber. Still playing with the design a bit, but here is where I’m headed.

Upcoming Wearables Courses in Toronto

Here are a few courses I will be teaching in the coming months.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, the organizers of the event, or simply leave a comment on this post.

September 20: Interaccess Media Arts Centre “Intro to Xbee”

October 6 – November 11th: OCAD University Continuing Studies “Intro to Wearable Media” – a 6 week course

December (exact date TBA): Interaccess Media Arts Centre “Soft Circuits”

January (exact date TBA): Interaccess Media Arts Centre “Intro to Lilypad Arduino”

World Maker Faire

I’ll be exhibiting my data-driven wearable tech projects at the World Maker Faire in New York next month. Come by the E-Textiles Lounge and say hi!