Making an E-Textiles Safety LED Dog Collar in the Classroom

2024-09-12 | By Kitronik Maker

License: See Original Project LEDs / Discrete / Modules

Courtesy of Kitronik

Guide by Kitronik Maker

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Safety is a great concept to build a project around. It Lends itself beautifully to ‎some very engaging Lesson Objectives in a classroom environment.

This is why we are bringing you this guide - an in-depth Instructional blog from ‎Emma on making your own LED dog collar to keep your dog safe on night walks!‎

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WE USED:

Electro-Fashion 60 Student Bulk Pack - Flat LEDs
Conductive Hook & Loop Strip
Alternatively grab some metal snap fasteners
Then, just add - Fabric, Needles, Fabric Working Tools, Printer & Paper
This Template

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STEP 1 - PRINT OFF THE TEMPLATE

Print the amazing template from SeeKateSew! We used the large size but check ‎out how Kate suggests you using the template for the size of the dog which you are ‎designing for.‎

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‎STEP 2 - TRACE AND CUT:‎

Trace the collar size you have chosen on your fabric. We have added an optional ‎neckerchief onto the collar at this stage by drawing a triangle underneath the ‎template. Stack your fabric onto another piece and pin inside the template, then cut ‎both pieces out and stitch together around the perimeter as shown below. Leave a ‎small area unstitched as per the right image.

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‎STEP 3 - SEWING PART 1:‎

Flip it inside out! Feed the whole piece through the hole you left in the last step, ‎using a blunt item such as the back of a pencil to poke it through if you’re ‎struggling. Topstitch about 1cm from the edge after it’s been flipped to secure.‎

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STEP 4 - SEWING PART 2:‎

Repeat the previous steps on two long pieces which are each half of the same ‎collar pattern used originally. Once cut, flipped and topstitched, sew each ‎rectangular piece onto either side as shown.‎

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STEP 5 - ADDING THE ELECTRONICS:‎

Now add your e-Textiles! An important note here is to make sure that your choice ‎of conductive connector will meet when closed, so one part should be on one side ‎of the collar, and the corresponding part should be on the other side.‎

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This diagram shows how the circuit is sewn together in the collar.‎

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STEP 6 - HIDING THE CIRCUIT:‎

Now that the circuit is in place, the main collar needs to be folded down to encase it ‎all as in the below images. It will fold down twice as shown.‎

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Then, accounting for the gap needed to account for the coin cell to be accessible, ‎sew the bottom of the collar together. This will be a thick bundle of fabric to get a ‎needle through so it should be hand sewn with a sharp needle, since it may be too ‎much for a sewing machine to sew through.‎

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