Sensors are pervasive – from homes to battlefields, and everywhere in-between. They are facilitating information processing anytime, anywhere for anyone. Likewise, textiles are pervasive and span the continuum of life from infants to senior citizens. The invention of the Jacquard weaving machine led to the concept of a stored “program” and “mechanized” binary information processing. This development served as the inspiration for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine – the precursor to the modern day computer, which has since spawned the growth of sensor networks in recent years. In this paper, we explore the potential synergy between sensor networks and textiles, and identify the need to bring about a seamless “integration” between the two domains. We then present the i-Textiles (Interactive Textiles) paradigm and its role in realizing this type of integration for creating a technological solution to enhance individual protection and safety. We discuss the design of the Wearable Motherboard in the context of sensor networks. Finally, we present an overview of the major applications of i-Textiles-based sensor networks and conclude the paper with a look at the future of the paradigm of “fabric is the computer.”