Conductive thread acts like uninsulated wire, which makes it great for sewing components together, but once a project is finished, the movement of fabric can let some pieces of thread accidentally touch. When working with conductive thread, make sure to pay special attention to insulating any power and ground lines so that they don’t short out your battery. Insulating stitches, once a project is complete, adds protection from potential short circuits created by movement, folding, or contact with conductive surfaces, as well as adding an extra barrier during wear and tear or washing.

Using stretchy fabric glue is a great way to cover conductive thread without interfering too much with the flex of the fabric it is sewn into. This type of glue is typically used to fuse two pieces of fabric together, but can also provide a nice protective layer if applied on top of fabric.This technique is one we learned from How To Get What You Want – a website full of tools and techniques around e-textiles and e-crafts.