Each participant will receive a canvas (a piece of textile) the size of a credit card, roughly 85 × 54 mm, with a few proposed designs such as memes, tech designs , or hacker puns, or they can come up with a design of their own. Alongside colorful thread, there will be sewable LEDs available in many colors (red, orange, green, blue, purple, pink, and yellow), and most excitingly, “smart” self-blinking LEDs that only require power (no software) to blink and really bring the project to life.

The power comes from a sewable battery module running on a CR2032 battery, accompanied by a small switch so the creator does not need to remove the battery every time they want to turn the patch off. The circuitry is connected using conductive thread.

Simpler designs can be completed during the session, but there is no pressure — each participant will take their own kit with them and can finish anywhere at the conference or at home. (I carry mine in my wallet.) These patches can be then sewn into clothes, accessories or whatever creative idea the maker comes up with.

During the day they will be able to show their embroidery design and during the night the real magic comes out when everyone starts glowing and blinking.