On getting power to the threads:

So there are two ways of getting heat (created from putting power...) down the threads:

- short-circuiting the battery either end of the threads are attached to
- using peltier junctions or some other heating element

So far, sending current down the wire seems to work well. but there are sparks generated when power is connected! kind of scary..

On thermochromic inks:

There are a few different kinds of thermochromic ink out there. From cti inks, aside from being able to buy different colors, there are also inks designed to respond at different temperatures.

I've found that inks which turn color at body temperature work best when working with conductive threads.

I will try mixing the thermochromic ink with regular speedball screen inks. The idea is to get the thermochromic ink to turn to a different color when they are heated. There are a couple colors available from cti inks, which turn from one color to another, but I didn't like the color combinations they had available. Otherwise, the inks turn from their original color (the cold color), to clear. By mixing in regular screen inks (which will change the thermochromic ink's cold color, so don't forget your color theory), you can create a mixture that goes from one color when cold, to another after heated. When the thermochromic ink turns clear, you will be left with the original regular screen ink color.

I'm going to be using black thermochromic ink, so I won't have to deal with my cold color being changed (since black will mask whatever regular ink i add in). I want to go from black to pink, black to orange, or black to blue. Or maybe all three! We'll see.

I give thanks to Mouna for her advice so far, and have also been digging through Joey Berzowska's pages on working with thermochromic inks.