Create a pressure sensor using:
– Needle-felted wool
– Thin muslin
– Velostat
– Conductive thread
This sensor can be used an analog input for Arduino code.
Step 1: Prepare the Core Components
Component 1: A felted wool ball. This can be made using unwoven wool (I used Leicester wool), a felting needle, and a piece of foam. There are several tutorials specific to felting online. Here, we just have a basic ball.
Component 2: Two fabric swatches, each in an “+” shape. I used a thin muslin here.
Step 2: Add Conductive Thread to First Swatch
On one of the two swatches, sew a trace of conductive thread. I used stainless steel thread, and a couch stitch. Leave a few inches of extra thread at one end.
Step 3: Attach First Conductive Layer to Ball
Sew this first swatch onto the ball, with the conductive thread facing outward.
Step 4: Add the Second Conductive Layer
On the second swatch, create a new trace of conductive thread. This trace should be different than the first.
Not pictured here, but very important: cut a layer of velostat in the same “+” shape as the two conductive swatches. The velostat is a pressure-sensitive conductive sheet, and is essential to this sensor functioning.
You are going to wrap the second “+” swatch around the first one– so that the conductive thread on each face each other. But! before attaching, make sure the velostat is sandwiched between the two.
Source: Needle-Felted Pressure Sensor
