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How to Make an LED Flower Power Hair Accessory

20

2024-06-20 | By Kitronik Maker

License: See Original Project LEDs / Discrete / Modules

Courtesy of Kitronik

Guide by Kitronik Maker

Description

Add a bit of fun to a flower hair accessory by inserting an LED into the centre. As ‎the flower is quite small there is only space for a small circuit to be hidden on the ‎back. The miniature cell holder is therefore an ideal component for this project as it ‎can be tucked away very discreetly. This circuit has no switch, so the battery has ‎to be removed in order to switch the LED off.‎

project_1

hair_2

Learn how to:‎

• Create a basic circuit using a standard LED and miniature cell holder.‎

Level of difficulty:‎

• Beginner

Parts list

In order to make your LED flower power hair accessory you will need:‎

parts_3

You will also need the following equipment:‎

 

Step by Step guide to making an LED flower power ‎hair accessory

Step 1‎

step1_4

Use a braddle or drill to carefully make a hole in the centre of the flower.‎

step1_5

Flower hair accessories might look delicate, but most have plastic or metal centres ‎holding them together. Try to choose one that doesn’t feel too thick in the centre.‎

Step 2‎

step2_6

Push both legs of the LED through the hole to the back of the flower. Use round ‎nosed pliers to twist the negative leg into a small loop.‎

step2_7

Use conductive thread to oversew stitches to stitch the negative leg to the flower. ‎Make sure the stitches are tight to ensure a good connection.‎

step2_8

Using the same length of thread stitch small running stitches to the position where ‎the cell holder will be. Oversew the negative side of the cell holder to the backing ‎fabric. Note there are two holes on the negative side of the cell holder. Use the one ‎with the silver rim. The other hole is stitched using ordinary thread and is there to ‎add stability rather than being part of the circuit. Finish off the thread neatly at the ‎end making sure there are no loose tails.‎

Step 3‎

step3_9

Use round nosed pliers to twist the positive leg into a loop. Make sure the legs of ‎the LED aren’t touching as this will short out the circuit.‎

step3_10

Using a new piece of thread oversew the positive leg to the flower.‎

step3_11

Using the same thread stitch small running stitches to reach the positive side of ‎the cell holder and oversew it in place. Note there are two holes on the positive ‎side of the cell holder. Use the one with the silver rim. The other hole is stitched ‎using ordinary thread and is there to add stability rather than being part of the ‎circuit. As the flower is small the distance between parts of the circuit is short. ‎Take extra care to make sure the positive and negative sides of the circuit don’t ‎touch.‎

Step 4‎

step4_12

Use ordinary sewing thread to stitch the remaining holes in the cell holder. These ‎just provide stability rather than being part of the circuit.‎

Step 5

step5_13

Slide the cell into the cell holder with the positive side facing upwards. If you don’t ‎want the circuit to be visible on the back of the flower, use a piece of non-fraying ‎fabric to create a cover. Poppers or small strips of hook and loop fastener attached ‎to the fabric would allow access to the battery. Download a pdf version of this ‎page here. This tutorial was produced for Kitronik by Julie Boyd who is a specialist ‎in e-textiles design.‎

‎©Kitronik Ltd – You may print this page & link to it but must not copy the page or part thereof ‎without Kitronik's prior written consent.

Mfr Part # 2718
SEWABLE MINIATURE COIN CELL HOLD
Kitronik Ltd.
Mfr Part # INL-3AW30
LED WHITE CLEAR 3MM T/H
Inolux
Mfr Part # 2744
ELECTRO-FASHION, CONDUCTIVE THRE
Kitronik Ltd.
$501.12
View More Details
Mfr Part # 2443P
2443P ROUND NOSE PLIER 146 MM
Apex Tool Group
$771.83
View More Details
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