Ready to take your craft projects to the next level? With "smart" materials, unorthodox assembly techniques, and the right tools, you can create accessories, housewares, and toys that light up, make sounds, or do even more. Fashioning Technology is an introductory DIY book that brings technology and crafts together in a fun and unique way. You get jargon-free primers and lots of how-to projects that will have you making -- and even wearing -- functional works of art. Written for a broad audience, this book demonstrates how to blend sewing and assembly techniques with traditional electronics to assemble simple circuits using conductive thread, solder joints for snaps, and switches for buttons. With the sewing machine as a viable substitute for the soldering iron, you can craft a new generation of objects that are interactive, quirky, and fashion-conscious. Author Syuzi Pakhchyan, a seasoned artist, roboticist, and teacher, explains how to use smart materials such as thermo- and photochromatic inks that change color by touch or sunlight, magnetic and conductive paints, polymorph plastic, fiber optics, and more. In Fashioning Technology, you'll find:

• An invaluable reference section that breaks down the materials, components, and tools with clear, concise explanations and photos

• A wide range of projects, including electronic accessories, interactive plush toys, and color-changing blinds, all using diverse crafting techniques

• Techniques for seasoned crafters interested in incorporating simple electronics into their own projects

• Methods for makers proficient in electronics who are looking for unconventional ways to create novel projects

Each project encourages you to personalize and customize using your own designs, materials, and craft skills. Fashioning Technology translates traditional electronics into fun, fashionable interactive projects for the geek, fashionista, and the craft aficionado alike. Now you really can be the flashiest dresser in town.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 8 Ratings

Fun For Fashion Techies - 2008-08-13
Reviewer Rating:
'Fashioning Technology: A DIY Intro to Smart Crafting' is a great book for fashion hobbyists that love creating things to wear and play with. With this book it's all about making clothes and toys with a tech edge. Over 200 pages are dedicated to make things like glow bags, luminescent tables, and funky headphones. You'll learn about the magic of what LEDs can do for nearly anything and how the electronics work.

Get out your soldering iron and start having fun!!!

***** RECOMMENDED

e-textiles for Dummies - 2008-11-01
Reviewer Rating:
This book is the best introduction into basic electronics, basic sewing and the high class of e-textile technology. Want to know how textile resistors work? Want to see how the connect electronic components to textiles? Just check out this book, everything clearly described for beginners with lists of resources, overviews with easy explained electronic terms and principles. For he more advanced e-textile experts this book serves as excellent source of inspiration using many examples from clothing over accessories and toys to home decoration to show the potential e-textile technologies open up to creative minded DIY enthusiasts.

It's a page turner for crafters looking for the unconventional, the unique and unexplored world of fashion+technology.

A range of projects offer seasoned crafters techniques for blending easy electronics into projects - 2008-10-09
Reviewer Rating:
With 'smart materials and techniques you can make accessories, toys and more that light up, make sounds, or even move. Fashioning Technology is for any crafter who wants more than the typical range of stationary objects: a range of projects offer seasoned crafters techniques for blending easy electronics into projects, and provides clear direction and options for customization. Black and white and color photos throughout offer step-by-step and exciting options highly recommended for any library strong in crafts.

Tech you can use and understand - 2009-06-18
Reviewer Rating:
I picked this up at the library to check it out and was immediately impressed with it's accessible and easily understood explanation of how to read and use electronic components like resistors, capacitors, transistors and LEDs. Just about the best I've ever seen. I had to add this to my personal collection for that attribute alone. However, there's a lot of basic and easy to grasp instruction and information on materials and production techniques, too.

There are plenty of projects in this book to get you started and if you're half-way creative and imaginative you should be able to springboard off them to come up with your own ideas.

I wish more instructional manuals and books were written as clear and understandable as this one.

Outstanding!

Cool book, great ideas - 2009-03-27
Reviewer Rating:
This book is a wealth of information for those looking to start delving into the world of 'soft circuits' and smart materials. It is for the beginner, and includes detailed information on circuits and parts, as well as explanations of the latest smart materials and their usages. In the last section of the book, there are easy-to-follow instructions on making a variety of projects that will inspire anyone on the possibilities for these materials.

Happy crafting!

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