Fabric Process Blog

Context:

For the class HCDE 451, the assignment was to create a fabric prototype of our IoT idea or a part of our IoT device. This prototype was a component of a previous physical prototype, TENSy.

Design:

This design is supposed to resemble an electrode pad component for a menstrual pain relief TENS device. The user of this would be someone who suffers from menstrual or pelvic pain. The purpose of this specific part of the device is to be placed on the area experiencing pain. When the device is turned on, light electric shocks will be sent to that area to relieve the pain. Additionally, when the device is on, the electrode pad will light up. The purpose of this investigation was feasibility. The overall feasibility of something like this in the real world is highly possible. The feasibility of this prototype made in my bedroom? Not so much. I didn’t have any spare fabrics that would mimic what an electrode pad would look like except for an unused towel. Additionally, this prototype is not the most usable as it is very unstable.

Prototype:

My prototype is an uncrustable looking towel pouch meant to resemble an electrode on a TENS device, such as Ovira and Livia.

Materials for the original design:

• Scissors
• Face towel
• Blue thread
• Sharpie
• LED battery
• Battery holder
• LED light
• Sewing Needle
• A UW Husky pin for tracing

Original Design Steps:

1. First, I placed a UW Husky pin on the towel
2. I then used a sharpie to trace around the pin to create a circle
3. I repeated the steps again on another part of the towel
4. Then I cut out the two circles
5. Next, I used the double threading technique to thread the needle
6. After that, I had sewn several running stitches to connect the 2 circular pieces together
7. Then, I stitched over the perimeter of the circular piece and left a small opening meant for a USB cable
8. I didn’t realize we had to use the LED light until later, so last minute I attached the LED light to the battery and shoved it in the pouch through the small opening.

Left: the beginnings of sewing the pouch together Middle: the sewn pouch with an opening Right: the original sewn pouch with lit-up LED light inside

Materials for Revised Design:

• Same as the other materials with the addition of glue and green thread instead of blue

Steps for Revised Design:

1. First, I placed a UW Husky pin on the towel
2. I then used a sharpie to trace around the pin to create a circle
3. I repeated the steps again on another part of the towel
4. After making circle outlines, I cut out the two circles using scissors.
5. Separately, I placed the battery in the battery holder
6. Then, I glued the battery holder on one circular piece of fabric
7. Next, I coiled an LED light so that it could be sewn onto the first circular piece. I had difficulty doing this, and so I never sewed it on the fabric.
8. After that, I attached the LED light onto the battery holder in such a way that gently pressing the fabric above it will cause it to light up, and gently pressing it back will make it not light up.
9. Then I sewed the other piece of circular fabric on top of the battery holder + light with running stitches
10. Next, I left a smaller opening meant for a USB cable. This was more realistic than the huge opening of the first iteration where a USB cable would easily fall out of.
11. Finally, I drew a dot near the center of the top face of the prototype. Pressing this dot causes the device to light up. The dot serves as a reminder of where to press.

The smaller opening meant for a USB cable for iteration #2. Inside is the LED battery + battery holder.

Analysis

This prototype was by far the most difficult one to make. My past sewing attempts in high school were quite dismal, and I was very nervous to try sewing with LED lights and conductive thread.

The first prototype needed much improvement. I didn’t know that we were required to use conductive thread and LED lights, which is why I had to make a second prototype. The first prototype could not be turned on or off, so the usability of it was poor.

The second prototype was an improvement from the first prototype. In the second prototype, it is possible to make the prototype glow whenever a user wants. However, the prototype needs to lie completely flat and in a specific position to do so.

Using conductive thread was a total failure for both prototypes. I could not loop the conductive thread through the needle despite the multiple attempts, nor could I make a knot that wouldn’t untie itself or go through the towel fabric. Thus, I gave up trying to sew the battery and LEDs into the fabric and turned to glue.

For future prototypes, I would try to incorporate the stop switches and conductive thread so that a user can make the component glow on and off. This way, the prototype doesn’t need to lie flat a certain way and can be placed on different services. Additionally, I would try sewing the LED into the fabric instead of attaching it to an angle on the battery holder so that it can stay firm in one place.

To view the new prototype, click here.

To view the original demo, click here.