
Making a Motion-Reactive LilyPad Patch
Sew a patch that lights up when it moves. A LilyPad accelerometer senses motion in three directions, and a short program flashes an LED whenever you shake or swing it — a reactive costume piece, a dance accessory, or a 'don't-touch' bag alarm. Introduces the accelerometer and reading three sensor axes at once.
Instructions
Sew the board, accelerometer and LED
Sew the board, accelerometer and LED
Sew a LilyPad Arduino, a LilyPad accelerometer and a LilyPad LED onto felt. Wire it: the accelerometer's + to the board's +, its - to -, and its X, Y and Z tabs to analog pins A2, A3 and A4; the LED to pin 5 and to -. Keep every line separate.
Materials for this step:
LilyPad Arduino Simple Board1 piece
LilyPad Accelerometer ADXL3351 piece
LilyPad LED - 5 pcs1 pack
Conductive Thread - 60g (Stainless Steel)1 spool
Hand Sewing Needles (Assorted, 30-Pack)1 pack
Wool Felt Sheet1 sheetConnect the programmer
Connect the programmer
Plug the LilyPad FTDI onto the programming header and connect the USB cable. Open the Arduino IDE and select the LilyPad Arduino board and its serial port.
Materials for this step:
LilyPad FTDI Basic Breakout - 5V1 piece
SparkFun Cerberus USB Cable - 1.8 meter1 pieceTools needed:
Computer with Arduino IDEUpload the motion sketch
Upload the motion sketch
Paste this sketch and upload. It watches how much the three axes change between readings and lights the LED when the patch moves.
Test and tune the sensitivity
Test and tune the sensitivity
Hold the patch still — the LED stays off. Shake or swing it — the LED lights. If it's too twitchy or not sensitive enough, change moveThreshold in the sketch (higher = needs a bigger movement) and re-upload.
Go wireless and wear it
Go wireless and wear it
Unplug the FTDI, sew a LilyPad coin-cell holder to the board (+ to +, - to -), drop in a CR2032 and switch on. Sew the felt onto a sleeve, shoe or bag — it flashes whenever you move.
Materials for this step:
LilyPad Coin Cell Battery Holder - w/Switch - 20mm1 piece
CR2032 Coin Cell Battery1 pieceMaterials
10- 1 piece$20.00
- $14.00
- 1 pack$5.00
- $40.00
- Placeholder
- 1 sheetPlaceholder
- $14.00
- $6.00
- 1 piecePlaceholder
Tools Required
1- Placeholder
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