LED stands for light-emitting diode. When turned on the action of electrons within the light releases photons, causing an effect known as electro-luminescence. The semi-conductor's energy gap determines the color of the light. LED lights have many uses, including on your car's dashboard. Because these lights use little energy, they are cool and safe to wear on clothing.
Although many types of LED lights are used in costumes, some are more difficult to install than others. I recommend using EL Glow wire and LED light necklaces. EL Glow wire is available on Amazon for about $14 (see link below). It's also available from Extreme Glow in the United States and Clubber Toys in the UK, as well as from other online retailers. Light necklaces are also available from these sources.
Choose your lighting system according the effect to want to achieve. If you would like a long outline of light highlighting the shape of your body or costume, go for EL Glow wire. This is also a great product if you just want to wrap it around your arms or legs for a stunning display.
EL Glow wire is very flexible and easy to attach to clothing. It is run with two AA batteries. It comes in nine colors and three different lengths: 7ft, 12ft, and 20ft. This product produces a long line of light. It can be run as a continuous line of light or in blinking mode.
It is great to attach around a jumpsuit or any type of costume that has a distinctive outline you would like to show off. EL Glow wire can be used with just one strand or you can use several strands connected to a center power source. The 20 foot and 12 foot kits will cover a lot of territory with just one strand. Instructions for using one strand are included here.
EL Glow wire works better with some fabrics than others. The stiffness of the fabric and the stiffness of the wire should be similar. While the wire is very flexible it can be damaged if too much strain is put on it, so you will want to apply it only to garment parts that do not flex or stretch a great deal. EL wire will not work well on stretch fabric or sheer, lightweight fabrics, but it can be used under sheer fabrics.
This product is best for thick fabrics: suede, vinyl, leather, imitation leather, velvet, faux fur, denim, thick cotton/polyester, and quilted or padded clothes. EL Glow wire will last longer on these fabrics because it will not be subjected to as much wear and tear.
Before beginning work, plan your design.
It is best to avoid putting the product on areas of the body that flex a lot—the knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders, because it will wear out quicker. Glow wire down the front of a garment or twisted into a design on the front will not receive much strain.
As part of your planning, decide what you will do with the battery holder. If the garment already has a pocket, it may be possible to tuck it in there. Alternatively, you can make an interior pocket with a scrap of fabric to hold the batteries. You can make a small hole in the garment to thread the wire to the outside of the item.
Mark where the wire will go before you begin attaching it. The best method of attaching Glow wire to a garment is by hand sewing it to the garment with nylon (see-thru) thread or fishing line. Gently slipstitch the wire in place, being carefully not to twist it excessively or pull the thread too tight.
Connecting strands together so that they can be run off a central battery source requires soldering and more detailed instructions than can be shared here. For complete instructions on soldering more than one wire strand together have a look at this well-illustrated article on creating a Tron bag from Lady Ada (www.ladyada.net/make/tronbag/)
Get EL Glow Wire on Amazon
Have fun designing your light up costume. LED lights are not just for shirts, jackets, pants, and jumpsuits. A light up dress is an instant conversation starter, especially at costume parties!
