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Yarning Connections

The Yarning Connections project is a STEM exploration of eTextiles. The research challenge is to engage knitting and crochet crafters in electronic textile STEM related activities.

Tags:

  • Pervasive Sensing
  • Research
Yarning Connections banner

Funding

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Discover Programme 2022 22/DP/10439

Duration

12 months

Vertical alignment / Department

Mobile Ecosystem and Pervasive Sensing (MEPS)

Click on the image to the right to access the Yarning Connections guide which features detailed information and the project’s patterns.  

Overview

Yarning Connections is a research project that brings together traditional yarn crafters, knitting and crochet community groups from Waterford city and county with technical experts from Walton Institute’s electronic textiles (eTextiles) lab, to actively engage in a STEM exploration of e-textiles. The project aims to create a new and sustainable network of skilled e-textile crafters, who learn from each other, keeping the old traditional craft methods alive, while encouraging the practice of e-textiles as potentially complementary disciplines.

Implementation

Phase One: Beginning May 2023, a core group of knitters and crocheters including local knitting and crochet groups and Waterford ICA guilds participated in peer-to-peer investigation and experimentation workshops, delivered by Walton Institute and industry partners; Caroline O’Toole (knitting designer); and Jacqui Kelleher, (crochet designer). The participants were introduced to various conductive yarns and fabric circuits and collaboratively worked on conductive yarn integration and experimented with construction techniques to realise their own knitted and crocheted circuits and soft switches.

With the knowledge gained from the workshops, the project partners embarked on an inclusive pattern design whereby crafters can make, and children can play. A video with a call to action for pattern testers was created for Phase Two of the project – The Pattern Testing.

The Yarning Connections booklet of knit and crochet patterns can be downloaded by clicking HERE.

Phase Two: Over a two-month period between November 2023 to January 2024, knitting and crochet volunteers embarked on testing the draft patterns and provided invaluable feedback before their release.

The Patterns: The Yarning Connections booklet was launched on 22nd April 2024. It includes step-by-step instructions to craft 2D robot figures in either knit or crochet, with a diverse selection of knit/crochet accessories that illuminate when attached to the robot figure.

State of the Art and Limitations

Electronic textiles is multi-disciplinary in nature, yet the practice doesn’t currently include crafters highly skilled in working with yarn. This project introduces knitters and crocheters to the electrical properties of conductive yarn, simple circuit integration and circuit testing but in a language that is familiar to them, i.e., through patterns.

Novel approach to solving the problem

The novel approach to solving the research problem encompasses:

  • Design e-textile knitting and crochet patterns as a STEM education tool for yarn crafters
  • Engage knitters and crocheters to test the patterns and provide feedback
  • Release the final version under a Creative Commons License, making it free to share and modify

Benefits to Society

To date, there is a lack of e-textile instructional information for needleworkers to understand the STEM side of e-textiles. We see this as a huge gap in moving e-textiles forward and bringing skilled makers to the arena. The advancement of knitting and crochet is built upon the creative modification of existing patterns. As such, our plan to release electronic knitting and crochet patterns free to share and modify, is in keeping with the tradition of pattern sharing and re-mixing that has kept yarn crafts alive for centuries.