LED wearables let you change colors to match your outfit or your mood. This customizable cuff, made from simple craft materials, uses two LED strips which diffuse and mix their colors into hot glue "gems" to produce dynamic color gradients spanning the spectrum.

The small, versatile QT Py board can create complex color patterns with simple CircuitPython code, and the bracelet itself is a surprisingly straightforward build - using tools no more complex than a hot glue gun and soldering iron.

There's no need for an power switch, because the board and LEDs obtain power from a LiPo battery with a male USB C connector soldered to the leads. The USB C connector doubles as a clasp, turning the QT Py board and LED strips on when closed.

The EVA foam casing makes this cuff soft and flexible, fitting comfortably on the wrist, but also protects and secures electronics and wires. Memory wire loops, sandwiched between the foam layers, add structure and define and maintain the cuff shape while preventing strain on solder joints and connections.

Adafruit Parts

Parts for the Cuff:

Animation of Adafruit QT Py with onboard NeoPixel in a rainbow swirl.
What a cutie pie! Or is it... a QT Py? This diminutive dev board comes with our favorite lil chip, the SAMD21 (as made famous in our GEMMA M0 and Trinket M0 boards).This time it...
$7.50
In Stock
Top down view of an Adafruit NeoPixel Digital RGB  60 LED-per-meter strip.
Fancy new side light LED strips are a great alternative for folks who have loved and used Adafruit LED strips for a few years but want gorgeous, glowy light emitting at...
$17.95
In Stock
Angled shot of a rectangular lipo battery with a 2-pin JST connector. The battery specs are listed on the body: 3.7V 250mAh.
Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This...
Out of Stock
USB Type A to Type C Cable - approx 1 meter / 3 ft long
As technology changes and adapts, so does Adafruit. This  USB Type A to Type C cable will help you with the transition to USB C, even if you're still...
$4.95
In Stock

If you need wire and heat shrink tubing:

White Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire
Silicone-sheathing wire is super-flexible and soft, and its also strong! Able to handle up to 200°C and up to 600V, it will do when PVC covered wire wimps out. We like this wire...
$0.95
In Stock
Black Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wie
Silicone-sheathing wire is super-flexible and soft, and its also strong! Able to handle up to 200°C and up to 600V, it will do when PVC covered wire wimps out. We like this wire...
$0.95
In Stock
Orange Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire
Silicone-sheathing wire is super-flexible and soft, and its also strong! Able to handle up to 200°C and up to 600V, it will do when PVC covered wire wimps out. We like this wire...
$0.95
In Stock
Array of many colorful heatshrink tubes.
Heat shrink is the duct tape of electronics which I guess makes this heat shrink the colorful and exciting duct tape they sell at craft stores.  This heat shrink comes in six...
$4.95
In Stock

Parts for the Battery Charger

Adafruit Micro-Lipo Charger for LiPo/LiIon Batt w/MicroUSB Jack connected to battery.
Oh so handy, this little lipo charger is so small and easy to use you can keep it on your desk or mount it easily into any project! Simply plug it via any MicroUSB cable into a USB...
$6.95
In Stock
Angled shot of a Adafruit USB Type C Breakout Board.
Throw out all those Mini and Micro B USB cables you have in a plastic bin - the next generation of USB connectors is here with USB C! You will start to see these...
$2.95
In Stock

Additional Parts/Materials

  • 1x USB C male breakout with solder pads for power connections. These breakouts from Amazon come with housings that aren't needed for this project.
  • 2x Sheet of 2-3mm Thick Adhesive EVA Foam, like these from Amazon.
  • Translucent white hot glue sticks. These ones with glitter add an extra sparkle to the project, but any translucent white color glue stick will do.
  • Memory wire (only 2 coils are needed for this project), available on Amazon or in many bead and craft stores
  • Electrical tape

Tools:

  • Hot glue gun compatible with the glue sticks
  • Soldering iron/solder
  • Wire cutters
  • Pliers
  • Craft knife or sharp scissors

This guide was first published on Oct 16, 2020. It was last updated on Mar 29, 2024.

This page (Overview) was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

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