Alpenglow Industries
Super stoked to finally be able to share this! It’s an LED #crochet hat that I made for the maker gift exchange this year! This came out so freakin well that I’m making more and am developing a plug-and-play system/kit so that yarnies without electronics experience will be able to easily add LEDs to their projects. 🧵
Jan 20 at 10:52pmWeb
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 20
It uses a Pixelblaze, which is tucked into a pocket inside the hat, and is powered by a typical single 18650 USB “pack” which is tucked into an exterior pocket of the hat, at the back neck edge. I have a lot of ideas to make it more modular, so that the controller and battery could be swapped out. The LEDs are actually crocheted into the hat, so no swapping there. I’ll do another post soon showing the inside.
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 20
Super shout out to everyone for their support - @wizard for making the best controller around, @GeekMomProjects for earl help and constant wearable inspo, @LaserMistress for constantly rocking wearable LEDs and totally getting the challenges involved, @gdotc for being the first to pick and love the hat, @settinger for being the last to pick and keep the hat, and @ArchiteuthisFlux for bringing the chaos. Kira K Designs had a great instruction sheet for crocheting a simple swatchless hat quickly.
Show threadJWcph, Radicalized By DecencyJan 21
@alpenglow @wizard @GeekMomProjects @LaserMistress @gdotc @settinger @ArchiteuthisFlux This deserves a #maker tag - lovely project! 🤩🙌 also, nice music 😁
Show threadAxWaxJan 20
@alpenglow ooh, sparkly! 
Show threadideaPDishJan 20
@alpenglow
How about a theremin hat?
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 20
@ipd Ha! Only if @wormyrocks does the theremin part.
Show threadFlatbush Gardener 🌈Jan 21

@ipd @alpenglow
Ooh, good idea!

That wouldn't at all get annoying fast ...

😼

Show threadHeather Robinson Fine ArtJan 21
@alpenglow wowww I love everything about this 🤩
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@hnrfineart thank you so much!
Show threadJames AkersJan 21

@alpenglow woweee! That hat is sooooo cool!

The mapping and animation an interactive possibilities are endless

Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@JamesAkers 💯
Show threadJames AkersJan 21
@alpenglow I wonder what other knit shapes could have led matrices in them? Pillows? Sweaters? Exciting stuff
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@JamesAkers yeah, pretty much anything! And just to note, this is crochet, not knitting, and crochet is actually easier to make into freeform 3D shapes that have a little structure and can stand on their own.
Show threadJames AkersJan 21
@alpenglow ooo thanks for the clarification, fiber arts are so neat
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@JamesAkers thank you for appreciating them!
Show threadMoyaJan 21
@JamesAkers My amigurumi crochet projects just took on a whoooooole new look! Utterly stunned I didn't think of this years ago.
Show threadTindraJan 21
@alpenglow ooOoooohhh I am extremely looking forward to plug-and-play lights for yarncrafting!!!
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@TindrasGrove Awesome! I will absolutely make this happen.
Show threadLisa Lorenzin (she/her)Jan 21
@alpenglow @TindrasGrove yes please!!! 💖
Show threadAnnelies Kamran, Ph.D.Jan 21
@alpenglow yes please!
Show threadsnowyfoxJan 21
Instagram video. A crochet hat of mostly beige with orange notes, like a carrot cake, with a lower cylindrical section and a half-spherical upper section, and the latter in particular has latitudes of LED lights within, each latitude blue green yellow red, the light bright enough to extrude out of the hat
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@snowyfox Thank you for the poke! Added this alt text, which is also so much better than what I would have written. Thank you for your time and the opportunity to learn.
Show threadwow_elec_tronJan 21
@alpenglow awesome
Show threadA Daily Violet 💜Jan 21
@alpenglow This is incredible and I want to make one!
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@ADailyViolet Yaaay!
Show threadThe DoctorJan 21

@alpenglow I showed my partner your work and she loves it.

Both of us are interested in that led kit!

Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@drwho Awesome! Thanks for letting me know!
Show threadboigaJan 21
@alpenglow i want one and try to communicate with cuttlefish with it.
Show threadDanny Boling ☮️Jan 21

@boiga

A worthy project for sure 👍

@alpenglow

Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@boiga be doo be dop - skidooo! be doo be dop
Show threadDaneJan 21
@alpenglow That's awesome!
Show threadDanny Boling ☮️Jan 21

@alpenglow

This is so spectacular and I am just in awe of your creativity (and skill set tbh). I wish you all the luck with it!

Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@IAmDannyBoling Thanks! I will abs take all the luck I can get! Honestly, most of the skill set comes from just chipping away and practice over time, both with electronics and with yarn.
Show threadDanny Boling ☮️Jan 21

@alpenglow

That's how I learned to program lol

Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@IAmDannyBoling 👍 That’s totally how everyone learns how to program, no matter if you had formal classes or not!
Show threadDanny Boling ☮️Jan 21

@alpenglow

That's how /the good ones/ learn! I've known those who think they're experts just because they read a few books. I've had to clean up their messes more than once!

Show threadTirrimas  🚫👑Jan 21
@alpenglow a practical question: is it washable?
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@tirrimas It is! Take the battery out first, of course, that part is removable and not washable. But the rest can be hand-washed like a typical piece of crochetwear, rolled in a towel and then gently squeeze the water out, and then I set it over a rolled-up exercise mat to dry. Many circuit boards can be washed just fine as long as they’re not powered, and the controller board in this project doesn’t have any sensitive components. Just make sure it’s fully dry before powering back up again.
Show threadTirrimas  🚫👑Jan 21
@alpenglow excellent!
Show threadMoyaJan 21
@alpenglow Brilliant idea. I will never be crocheting/knitting dragons the same way again!
Show threadPaul J WegeJan 21
@alpenglow OH MY GOD, this is the most lovely hat I've seen in ages. I want one too. 🥰
(Ok, now it's time to learn crocheting)
Show threadanmaJan 21
@alpenglow it's fantastic! What a great idea - brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing <3
Show threadMaarten PelgrimJan 21
@alpenglow I need this for my next party
Show threadoscarfalconJan 21

@alpenglow

This is freaking cool, I like the starlight sparkly effect most.

Show threadKris HowardJan 21
@alpenglow This is amazing! I’ve worked a Lilypad into my knitting years ago but that was sewing it on after the fact with conductive thread. I’m really interested to know how you actually incorporated the LEDs into the crochet!
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@web_goddess niiiice! It looks great! I plan on doing a little video soon, it’s pretty straightforward!
Show threadJo TamarJan 21
@alpenglow awesome!
Show threadBernJan 21

@alpenglow showed this to my kids, and they all said "I want one!"

👍

Show threadElisheva Meira ✡︎ 🌈Jan 21
@alpenglow Oh cool. Wearable seizure triggers. Just what I need.
Show threadAdrian MoralesJan 21
@alpenglow How do I make/order one?
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 21
@adrianmorales This is my first prototype hat, more info coming soon and I’m also developing a plug and play kit for folks that don’t solder or want to mess with controller setup.
Show threadIrisJan 21
@alpenglow That is a spectacular achievement. Truly an awesome creation.
Show threadSpoons ForeverJan 21
@alpenglow
That is fucking awesome. 👍 ❤️
Show threadBruce ElrickJan 21
@alpenglow
Wow that's fantastic!
Show threadboiertJan 22
@alpenglow I can totally see this with accelerometers reacting to you turning your head, shaking it, etc. 😂
Show threadgzJan 22
@alpenglow
Brilliant! 👏👏👏
Show threadAsbestosJan 22
@alpenglow
Cool.
<debbie downer mode ON>
My fear is assholes will now put moving advertisements on these things and idiots will pay to wear them
<DD mode OFF>
Show threadAlpenglow IndustriesJan 22
@Asbestos Nah. It ain’t that kind of hat.