advanced experiments: 2007

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Let's Hold Hands

Okay so the project is finally done...after figuring out all the problems I've finished it! It doesn't look as great as I wanted it to and it doesn't exactly work perfectly but it works and that's all that matters. Here's some process...I hope you guys liiiiike:

Here are lights all connected to each other on small patches ready to be sewn onto the gloves:

A small test to make sure they work:

Here's the finalized circuitry of the gloves (they're inside out):

The white (positive) glove works!

The patches that will connect the gloves:

They're working!

The other side:

Both at sides at the same time:

Okay....so I've learned a lot from this project to say the least. I know I won't be sewing for a LOOOOONG time now. In fact I'll probably burn these stupid gloves and dance around the embers. Thanks for the extra time to finish Katerie. I hope you guys like the results. Have a nice christmas break.

Let's Hold Hands...the problems

Okay so I made a second patch for the gloves and when I was finally done making it I plugged the battery in and....no luck. I thought about what katerie said about the "small experiments" first so I went back and tried lighting the LEDs with just the battery. When I put both the red and the white ones together on the battery they wouldn't light up. BUT...I accidentally found out that if I put two white ones together on the battery they'd work. SO I tried another test by wrapping the thread around the prongs and then touching the battery to it. So the little experiments showed me that the problem was that I was mixing LEDs (which to me made no sense) but whatever. The new plan is to make a NEW patch and keep the same colored LEDs on the same patch. I might make a white (positive) glove and a red (negative) glove instead. Anywho...I provided a picture of the second version below. I'm also changing the placement of the LEDs. They'll be on the back of the hands again...just to make it easier for me to work with.

Here's the second patch - the LEDs have been removed so that I could start on the third iteration of the "glove patch"

Friday, December 07, 2007

FINISHED

So i thought i had a lot more process work...just a bunch of in process pics and 2 sketches that weren't worth posting up. A video should be up shortly...

The Mantra Hat - Process

The hat was hand-knit and hand-sewn. For the exterior, I used Bernat's "Soft Boucle" yarn, mix of acrylic and polyester, which is machine washable and dryable. I picked the mix of black and gray because it's not flashy; I thought a gray yarn would be good, as this hat is tied to denial and depression/stress. It's a calm blend. I used size 10.5 knitting needles. The lining was made of black faux fur, which makes a mess but is luxuriously soft and plush.

The ears were padded with quilt batting for comfort and insulation. The batting does a good job of muffling outside noises while not being too bulky.

I made my own pattern for the pom poms on the hat. With both of these cardboard circles, one on top of the other, to make a pom pom you must loop yarn around the ring of this "donut." It takes way longer than I thought it would to make one.

My failure hat.

It ended up being many inches too wide, and didn't come in enough at the crown. After this, I decided to go with a modified pattern instead of just winging it entirely free-hand.

I ended up using a Stitch 'n' Bitch pattern for the top of the hat, but without ribbing and color changes. I wanted the hat to be super cuddly, and ribbing just doesn't have the same feel. So the front was all knit and the reverse side was purled.

The finished product, from the front.

Side view.

Back view. The lump in the back is the pocket with the mp3 player. It works well with a small mp3 player but I think with larger ones it would be uncomfortable.

Mantra Mode.

The straps can hang free and can be buttoned one of two ways - Mantra Mode or off to the side, in reserve.

I like May's suggestion of having the straps also be a neck warmer. I considered it when I was making it, but there wasn't a very convenient spot for the buttons. I think I'll be able to put another set toward the back of the earflaps and have it work though.

I'm considering making more of these hats and offering them for sale. I'm really happy with this project, because I arrived at a functional object that I will actually use, one that is very comfortable.

Digital Ink-- Projected Tattoos Project

Mine: My grandfather recently passed away. I wanted to remember him in the form of a rabbit tattoo (quiet like him) and a mahjong tile (our favorite one was the green "fat choy").

May: When her boyfriend first gave her flowers. Cute frog image associated with him.

Katherine: When she proposed to her boyfriend at the Morikami Gardens. Bamboo or koi fish images

I like the fluidity of this image.

I liked the scales in this image. After seeing this, I came up with the idea of filling in only a few scales of Katherine's final tattoo to represent the building of memory with her fiance.

Jonathan: When his grandparents died from smoking-related problems. One died shortly after the other. Lung image with both grandparents' names.

Brian: When he bought Frank, his now 6 year old weimaraner. First big independent purchase. Frank's image.

I photoshopped this image for the tattoo of Frank. I cropped in to the dog's face so the tattoo would look more portrait-like. And I added a mole to the dog image cuz it's a defining feature of Frank.

Josh: The mistakes that his father has made. Wants to be reminded of what not to be. Wanted a text tattoo of a bible verse (exodus 20:5) about sons of 3rd and 4th generations paying for the sins of their fathers.