Description
Add a bit of fun to a flower hair accessory by inserting an LED into the centre.
As the flower is quite small there is only space for a small circuit to be hidden on the back. The miniature cell holder is therefore an ideal component for this project as it can be tucked away very discreetly.
This circuit has no switch so the battery has to be removed in order to switch the LED off.
Learn how to:
- Create a basic circuit using a standard LED and miniature cell holder.
Level of difficulty:
Parts list
In order to make your LED flower power hair accessory you will need:
You will also need the following equipment:
Step by Step guide to making an LED flower power hair accessory
Step 1
Use a braddle or drill to carefully make a hole in the centre of the flower.
Flower hair accessories might look delicate but most have plastic or metal centres holding them together. Try to choose one that doesn’t feel too thick in the centre.
Step 2
Push both legs of the LED through the hole to the back of the flower.
Use round nosed pliers to twist the negative leg into a small loop.
Use conductive thread to oversew stitches to stitch the negative leg to the flower.
Make sure the stitches are tight to ensure a good connection.
Using the same length of thread stitch small running stitches to the position where the cell holder will be. Oversew the negative side of the cell holder to the backing fabric. Note there are two holes on the negative side of the cell holder. Use the one with the silver rim. The other hole is stitched using ordinary thread and is there to add stability rather than being part of the circuit.
Finish off the thread neatly at the end making sure there are no loose tails.
Step 3
Use round nosed pliers to twist the positive leg into a loop.
Make sure the legs of the LED aren’t touching as this will short out the circuit.
Using a new piece of thread oversew the positive leg to the flower.
Using the same thread stitch small running stitches to reach the positive side of the cell holder and oversew it in place. Note there are two holes on the positive side of the cell holder. Use the one with the silver rim. The other hole is stitched using ordinary thread and is there to add stability rather than being part of the circuit.
As the flower is small the distance between parts of the circuit is short. Take extra care to make sure the positive and negative sides of the circuit don’t touch.
Step 4
Use ordinary sewing thread to stitch the remaining holes in the cell holder.
These just provide stability rather than being part of the circuit.
Step 5
Slide the cell into the cell holder with the positive side facing upwards.
If you don’t want the circuit to be visible on the back of the flower use a piece of non fraying fabric to create a cover.
Poppers or small strips of hook and loop fastener attached to the fabric would allow access to the battery.
Download a pdf version of this page
here 
This tutorial was produced for Kitronik by
Julie Boyd who is a specialist in e-textiles design.
©Kitronik Ltd – You may print this page & link to it, but must not copy the page or part thereof without Kitronik's prior written consent.
