What is it?
This is a poofy galaxy skirt, perfect for any outfit! Add a little light in your life and embody the stars while you go about your day!
Materials and parts
Electronics
White 3V LEDs
Copper Tape
Hook up wires
Materials
Lace
Sewing thread
Conductive thread
A 50’s style crinoline skirt
Planning Process
I went through a lot of ideas and sketches for this project. As mentioned in my proposal, I started out deciding between a galaxy dress (image one on the left), and a space Jellyfish dress (image two), before deciding to stick with the galaxy.
When the base skirt arrived however, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to create my initial design because of the extra piece of fabric, and that there were only two layers of lace in the skirt. I also came to dislike the overskirt I had designed.
I therefore went to Fabricland and picked up lace to poof it up, and also a mannequin because attempting to work on the skirt while I was wearing it wasn’t working. While there, I also picked up a pattern for an overcoat that I loved, and came up with the final design that I wished to create. (image three)
Inspiration & Learning
Some of my biggest inspirations for this project can be found on my Pinterest Mood board
The picture below is actually a part of it – and my final did end up looking quite similar. Unlike them however, I used a parallel circuit and LEDs instead of fairy lights to illuminate the skirt. The batteries would have been way too heavy otherwise!
I also had trouble Figuring out how to create a parallel circuit in the first place. I had tried taking apart a bread board in my head and watching a few people make them, but it wasn’t until this video that I was able to understand and emulate it!
When I was trying to figure out adding the extra layers to diffuse the skirt, I turned to a doll customization channel on YouTube that I used to watch often in first year, and realized the sketches were inspired by her as well!
(Link to the video I watched by her. The dress starts at 18:53)
And finally, my biggest inspiration for this project was my best friend Hannah. She regularly wears poofy skirts, has her own Jelly Fish dress in pink, and was the first person I knew to wear fashion like this. I’m thankful to her, because the styles that’s I’ve found with information she’s given me sparks Joy!
As for the final learning curve, I ordered a soldering kit and used it for the first time! My mom soldered in high school, and it was fun to sit down with her for an afternoon and test create a series circuit with it!
Critique Reflection
I have a very bad habit of forgetting what happens during high stress situations, and I’m sure that I’m missing some of what I noted to be important from critics.
What I do remember, is that if I get complimented on something that was an accidental feature that works, I should take the compliment and not say it was an accident.
Also, that the final product is “galaxy Disney Princess Stim”, which was a compliment that I absolutely adore!
Challenges and failures
I had a few challenges with this project. First and foremost being the struggle to come up with a design I liked. I decided between Jelly and Galaxy, then had to modify my design further because the skirt was a size too big, only had two layers of lace, and a part that I didn’t take into account.
Then was figuring out how to create a parallel circuit, and testing my prototype circuits. That was solved fairly quickly though!
The biggest, was when I ran out of conductive thread. I had to speed test a few different conductive materials to see what would work the best for the project. Conductive fabric wouldn’t connect to the existing stitches if ironed on, and wires wouldn’t be able to pick up the stitch, so I used copper tape.
Successes and moving forward
The diffusion of the skirt ended up working really well! The overall shape of it is poofy, you can just subtly see the layer of sparkle lace, and it’s perfect for what I have in mind next!
Since this piece ended up being an underskirt, I am free to make over skirts, jackets, and tops that will change the theme of it!
I’m definitely going to take advantage of the pattern I bought and create the jacket dress, I can possibly make aesthetic mod parts to give it a jellyfish shape – I’m super excited for it!
