This article reports findings from a one-month design research project in which four textile and fashion designers engaged in collaborative exploration of technical and artistic knowledge inherent in folds and folding. They experimented with textile technologies and construction methods to design, fabricate and analyze three-dimensional dynamic materiality in electronic textiles (e-textiles). The focus was on sensor structures achieved by knitting, weaving, pleating and coating techniques. The analysis of measurements of electrical resistance between one and 36 sensing areas per sample demonstrate the added value of folds integrated into textile sensor structures. The authors discuss types of folding and their aesthetic, textural and sensorial advantages. Detailed information on design, fabrication and experimental results is provided in supplemental materials to the article.

This paper presents preliminary results from a study of pleated electronic textile (e-textile) sensors, focusing on prototyping and measuring electrical resistance of three knitted sensors. This work is part of a larger research project, investigating the interaction between body and e-textiles with a three-dimensional structure for creative performance applications. First, electrical properties of the pleated textile sensors were determined. Sensors were measured in a purpose-built low-cost recording device, which was set up to record electrical resistance, taken from the fabric while it was folded and unfolded. Different modes of connecting the samples to the microcontroller were also tested. Each sensor was tested three times with three different stretch lengths. The results show that one of the most significant factors to use knitted pleats as an input is the combination of yarns combined with the tension of the knitting machine.

This paper presents initial material studies of the project Personal Wearable Lightspace. The aim of the described work is to explore how light can be considered as an inherent property of a composite material, consisting of textiles, electronics, and light. The properties of interactive materials are diverse, combining expression in inactive states with changing appearance during active phases. A series of small design explorations into e-textile composites has been done, with the aim to understand better the characteristics we achieve by varying the construction of their components. We present a series of material studies and designs for composites. In the discussion, characteristics and material choices are compared. Finally, the conclusion gives an overview on design parameters for e-textile composites regarding the function and aesthetics, including the textileness of its interaction design or the involvement of bodily data to create a somaesthetic experience.