The Sparkling Sari Brooch is an exquisite and sophisticated accessory crafted to elevate the elegance of your traditional attire. Adorned with three intricately designed handmade flowers, this brooch captures attention with its beauty and features vibrant RGB LEDs nestled within each bloom. These lights come alive to produce a mesmerizing display of colors, enhancing the overall aesthetic charm. Powered by a compact microcontroller and a reliable battery, this innovative accessory ensures both portability and user-friendly operation, making it an ideal addition to any festive wardrobe.
Hardware SelectionWe aimed to select a low-powered microcontroller that is easily accessible and straightforward to program. After considering various options, we decided on the Adafruit Circuit Playground Bluefruit. This versatile microcontroller features a Nordic nRF52840 Cortex M4 processor, known for its efficiency and performance. Additionally, it comes equipped with 10 mini NeoPixels RGB LEDs, which we will creatively incorporate into our project to enhance its visual appeal and interactivity.
We wanted to add a few more LEDs to accompany the main design, so we chose the Adafruit Flora RGB Smart NeoPixel, which comes in a set of 20; however, we will only be using two of them.
To connect the external NeoPixel to the fabric, we used stainless steel conductive thread.
To ensure safety and reliability in our project, we decided to use two CR2032 coin cell batteries, providing 6V, rather than opting for a Lithium Polymer battery. This choice was made to minimize potential risks associated with lithium batteries, such as overheating and leakage while maintaining the necessary power supply for our needs. We will use a battery holder with a JST PH connector and an on/off switch for convenience and easy connection.
We utilized copper wire as a structural support for the fabric design in our floral arrangement.
Large Flower: This stunning centerpiece of the brooch showcases an intricate design adorned with a vibrant RGB LED ring at its core, radiating a spectrum of colors that draws attention.
Two Smaller Flowers: Each of these delicate blooms features a singular RGB LED, emanating a soft glow that complements the larger flower, enhancing the overall beauty of the arrangement.
We used Satin fabrics to make the petals and base of the flowers.
We used a sewing machine to stitch the edges of the petals.
We used copper wire to support and shape the petals. However, it would have been better to use a harder material, as creating rounded flower petals, especially for the smaller flower, was quite challenging.
RGB LED Integration
The RGB LEDs are capable of displaying a wide range of colors, allowing for customizable lighting effects. The large flower's LED ring provides a vibrant and dynamic light show, while the smaller flowers add complementary accents.
We secured paper cardboard at the center of the flower to enhance its structure and stability.
We used cotton fabric to attach the flowers and decorated them using pearls and stars.
The conductive threads are sewed in sequence to link the neopixels on the smaller flowers to the microcontroller. We also attached a safety pin on the back to secure it to the sari.
We created a compact pocket to accommodate the battery holder, ensuring that it is securely fastened and protected. This careful construction not only keeps the battery holder in place but also prevents any potential damage during use.
Please follow the instructions here to download and install Arduino IDE. After installation, open the Arduino IDE and install the board package for the Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense by going to Tools > Board > Boards Manager. Search the board package as shown below and install it.
After the board package installation is completed, choose the AdafruitCircuit Playground Bluefruit from the Tools > Board > AdafruitnRF52 boards menu and select the serial port of the connected board from Tools > Port menu. We need to install the AdafruitNeopixel library using the Library Manager (Tool > Manage Libraries...) as shown below.
Below is the Arduino sketch for the application.
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#define PIN_A 8
#define PIN_B A1
#define NUMPIXELS_A 10
#define NUMPIXELS_B 2
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixelsA(NUMPIXELS_A, PIN_A, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixelsB(NUMPIXELS_B, PIN_B, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
const int colors[10][3] = {
{255, 100, 203}, // Pink
{0, 255, 0}, // Green
{0, 0, 255}, // Blue
{255, 255, 0}, // Yellow
{0, 255, 255}, // Cyan
{255, 0, 255}, // Magenta
{255, 165, 0}, // Orange
{128, 0, 128}, // Purple
{255, 255, 255}, // White
{255, 0, 0}, // Red
};
void setup() {
pixelsA.begin();
pixelsA.setBrightness(50);
pixelsB.begin();
pixelsB.setBrightness(50);
}
void loop() {
pixelsA.clear();
for (int i = 0; i < NUMPIXELS_A; i++) {
pixelsA.setPixelColor(i, pixelsA.Color(colors[i][0], colors[i][1], colors[i][2]));
pixelsA.show();
colorWipe(pixelsB.Color(colors[i][0], colors[i][1], colors[i][2]), 50);
delay(25);
}
}
void colorWipe(uint32_t color, int wait) {
for (int i = 0; i < pixelsB.numPixels(); i++) {
pixelsB.setPixelColor(i, color);
pixelsB.show();
delay(wait);
}
}
Power MeasurementWe measured the power consumption using a USB tester meter. The average current draw is about 50mA, which allows the wearables to run continuously for 4 hours using a 200mAh coin cell battery.
We added a diffusion layer using white fabrics to soften the LED lights. The brooch can be easily attached to any sari or dress, adding a touch of glamour and sophistication.
ConclusionThe Sparkling Sari Brooch combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology to create a stunning accessory. Its handmade flowers and dynamic RGB lighting make it a standout piece, perfect for adding a touch of elegance and innovation to any sari.
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