Making an e-Vest (electronic vest)
Added Jun 1, 2010
The trick of developing a scene using the fiber optics cable is to pass the cable above the fabric where you want the line to be seen, then pass the cable behind the two layers of fabric where you want it hidden. While it is hidden, you can loop it around and then pass it back through a small hole in the two layers of fabric so that it starts a new line segments. In this way, passing the cable back and forth through small holes, one can build up a scene. The process is tricky and somewhat frustrating - as the complexity increases, it becomes harder to think about where the cable needs to pass in front, and where behind, and the cable tends to slide around about through the holes. Note also the ends of the cable hang loose on the back side - you need to leave enough cable here so that the end doesn't creep back to the front side. The diagram shows the back side of the finished panel (I've turned the panel inside out so you can see the chaotic structure more clearly). Also shown are the 9-volt batteries, although these are not placed within the panel, but within the vest.