It arrived!

When you get your electronic sewing kit, it will come in an envelope like this one. Of course, it will have your name on it.

We are excited that you want to make really neat designs with your kit, so we'll show you how we did ours. You can click on the pictures to make them bigger. Please email us if you have any questions.

Unpack

First, unpack your electronic sewing kit.
Make sure it contains:

• a 5"x4" patch of fabric
• some conductive thread
• one soft-cloth electrical switch
• two tiny lights
• one flat battery
• one battery holder

Design

Next, you can use fabric markers or paint to draw and decorate your designs.
When you finish, wait for 10 minutes to let the paint dry.

Sewing

Now you're ready to start making your circuit. Before you begin, try and arrange your pieces to see how they look on your design. You will also need:

• a needle
• a pair of scissors
• some fabric glue

Make sure that the conductive thread can pass through the needle.

Also, make sure the needle can pass through the holes in the battery holder.

Unwind the first series of conductive thread looped around the holder. Carefully thread the needle, tie a knot at one end, and trim off excess.

Battery holder to switch

Now, we're ready to begin. This first run will connect the thinner (positive) end of the battery holder to a tab on the switch. It doesn't matter which tab on the switch.

From underneath the cloth, pass the needle through the hole in the metal tab. Pull the thread through until it's taut, held in place by the knot.

Pass the needle back through the cloth, outside the hole in the battery holder. Tighten loose ends, and see that your loops are as close as they can be.

Repeat your passes at least 4 times through and over the metal tabs to improve the electrical connection.

Using your favorite stitch (we used a simple running stitch), work towards the switch.

When you get to the switch, make several passes through the tab like you did with the battery holder.

On the other side of the cloth, make a knot near your final stitch, and cut the thread after this knot.

You must cut the thread after connecting the battery holder to the switch. If you just continue without cutting, your project won't work. This is because the electricity will go through the thread instead of through the switch or the lights. We call this a "short circuit", and you don't want that.

Connecting switch to light

Using the same methods you just used, make some stitches through the other tab of the switch.

Don't forget:

• tie a new knot
• start from the under side
• sew through the tabs four times

Before connecting the lights, let's take a closer look. These special lights must be connected in a special way.

See the brown bead? This is positive and will be connected to the switch. The silver one is negative and will be connected to the battery.

When you get to the other flower, pass the thread through the light's brown bead. Then go down through the cloth. Bring it up and through the brown bead again. Do this four times.

Again, turn over the cloth, make a knot in the thread, and cut it.

Time for the third (and final) connection. Make four new stitches through the light's silver bead. Turn over the cloth to make sure these are not touching the ones on the brown bead. When you get to the flat side of the battery holder, make four more passes like before. Make a knot, and cut.

Glue

In order to keep your knots from untangling, it is often helpful to add a dash of fabric glue. You can get it at craft stores, and it becomes clear after it dries for 10 minutes. Watch out for pieces from one thread touching the other. Trim and glue them down, so they don't touch.

Twinkle

Insert the battery into the holder. Make sure the + is up and visible.

Now, press the switch. Your light should shine red.

If your light isn't working, try the battery upside down, maybe the lights are connected backwards. Also check your connections. Make sure there are no short circuits, and that the thread makes good contact with the tabs. You can ask an adult to help you.

If you want to use more than one light in the same project, connect all the brown beads together first. Cut your thread. Then connect all the silver beads together.

Now that you've seen how we did ours, good luck with your designs!