All Aglow: Light-up Clothing to Homemade Flashlights

When you were a kid, did you ever rip the light out of a lightning bug and stick it to your shirt? If so, then you're a prime candidate for rigging your clothes with pre-fab lights to make them glow.

For this project, you'll need light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, which is really just a fancy name for the tiny light bulbs that can be squeezed into an electrical circuit. Think about any digital readout in your home and you'll have the right idea—alarm clocks, DVD players, rope lights. What separates LEDs from regular bulbs is the lack of a filament and the absence of heat, which is why you can use them alongside sensitive electronics.

There's also another option for your light-up craft projects called electroluminescent wire, or "EL wire." This is a thin wire with a phosphorus coated copper center. Add two tiny transmitters, a colored outer covering and a power source, and you have a wire that glows in the dark.

Light-up Clothing Tools
In addition to EL wire or LED light rope, you'll need hot glue, needle and thread or a soldering gun. Both your light rope and EL wire will also require a power source. Lucky for you, battery-powered drivers can be purchased online that will safely meet your power needs.

EL Wire or LED?
LED rope lights are made up of many tiny lights in a strand. EL wire has a current running through the wire itself, allowing the entire length to glow without interruption. You can buy LED rope lights at any store that sells Christmas decorations (in fact, that's the perfect time to stock up). EL wire is a little harder to come by, but some auto stores carry it for use as license plate and tire rim borders. And you can always find both online.

Tip: Do yourself a favor and buy pre-soldered EL wire. This will speed your project along. They both come in a variety of colors and thicknesses. EL wire holds its shape when bent, so it's a little more versatile than LED rope lights, but it's also more expensive.

Designing Your Project
Choose your fabric wisely. You want something that has a similar stiffness as the EL wire you're working with. Denim, leather, suede and vinyl are all good choices. Stretchy or lightweight fabrics are not recommended. Other than that, the design is up to you. If it's your first try, you might want to pick something simple like a hat.

Executing Your Project