Light-Up Handkerchief Skirt Using Circuit Playground Express (CPX)

A handkerchief skirt that lights up when you walk. NO pattern, NO zippers, NO elastic, and NO prior coding experience necessary.

• Sewing Machine
• Thread
• 2 rectangles of fabric (measurements depend on what length you want)
• 2 long, skinny strips of fabric (about 2 inches wide and length depends on your waist measurement)
• Embroidery Needle
• Scissors
• Circuit Playground Express kit
• laptop
• MakeCode

Using AdaFruit MakeCode (https://makecode.adafruit.com), copy this exact code. Below is each aspect of the code explained:

1. on 2g (step) - this means that for each time the CPX board senses a step movement, it will do the following code
2. show ring (custom light display) - this means that once the board senses the step movement, it will display your desired color sequence. You can customize this however you'd like by tapping the color you want and then tap the circle that you want the color to occupy
3. show animation [desired animation] for 1000 ms - this means that after your desired color sequence lights up, it will then project the desired animation that you can choose in the dropdown menu. It will project for the desired amount of time you want, which you can select from the dropdown menu. I set it for 1000 milliseconds
4. clear - this turns off all lights

You can add as many light sequences you would like and as many animations you would like - or none at all!

Now download the code onto your board using the cables given in the kit, and test it out. It should light up now projecting your desired light sequences and animations.

Now that we have our code down, we can move onto the garment construction.

First, pick out your fabric. I decided to have only 2 layers, but you can have as many layers as you'd like. The steps are the same each time.

Once you have picked out your fabric, lay them out and measure 2 rectangles. The length and width of the fabrics do not matter as they will only determine how long your skirt is. My bottom layer was 46in long and 34in wide, and my top layer was 35in long and 25in wide.

Now, hem your fabric so that the edges are finished and the fabric will not come undone. You must do this for all 4 sides of each layer that you have.

(Images are models only, not the actual thing and not to scale)

Now, complete the following steps for each layer that you have:

1. Measure the circumference of your waist (or where you want the skirt to sit)
2. measure to the center of the fabric from the length side
3. measure down from the center half the measurement you got from measuring your waist.
4. cut down to the final measurement listed

Now take the holes of all the layers, and pin them together right-sides facing out.

Now, all of the layers together ensuring that the holes line up with each other.

Then, fold the hole edge inwards about 1 1/2 - 2 inches, and topstitch it down to the body of the rest of the skirt!

Now, cut a slit into the casing that you just made by folding the hole edge inwards. This will be the casing for one of the long strip of fabrics to enter into.

Now, attatch a clothing pin to the long strip of fabric, and thread the strip through the casing hole.

Next, grab your second strip of fabric and handsew the CPX board onto it. Guide the needle through the many holes in the board as a means to attach it. Make sure you attach it with the bottom of the CPX board about a centimeter above the bottom edge of the fabric.

Once you have successfully attached the board onto the strip of fabric, fold the fabric over the board in order to dampen the light.

Finally, put on the skirt, tighten it with the strip of fabric that you threaded into the casing, tie the strip of fabric with the light onto your waste, attach the battery onto it from the inside, and walk!