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A step-by-step guide on creating beautiful art with string, nails, and wood
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Looking for a cute way to spruce up your home? Well, look no further because we have the perfect, customizable craft for you! String art is super simple, fun, and quick to do—not to mention the design options are absolutely endless. In this article, we’ll teach you how to make string art step-by-step and give you plenty of tips along the way. Stuck on what to create? We’ve got that covered too.
Things You Should Know
- Use a thin string, like embroidery floss , for more delicate designs and thicker string, like crochet thread , for larger designs.
- Space your nails about 1 ⁄ 4 in (0.64 cm) apart, so your strings aren’t too far apart or too close together.
- Weave your string around your nails clockwise for a smooth outline or alternate between clockwise and counterclockwise for a wavy line.
Steps
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Print or sketch your string art design on a piece of paper and cut it out. Think of this as your outline. It’ll help guide you as you hammer in your nails later on. [1] X Research source
- A template isn’t necessary, as you can go wild and create the design as you go, but it does make things much easier.
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Tape your template to your canvas. The most popular canvas for this type of project is a piece of wooden board, such as plywood, a rustic wood disk , or a cutting board . Decide where you want your string art design to be on your piece of wood, and secure the template in place with pieces of tape. [2] X Research source- Paint your piece of wood to match your decor if you’d like. [3] X Research source
- Play with medium by covering your wood with felt , ribbon , or lace .
- Use double-sided or rolled-up tape to keep the tape on the back of the template.
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Hammer the nails around your template about 1 ⁄ 4 in (0.64 cm) apart. Use your template as a guide and outline it with your chosen nails or pins . [4] X Research source The standard is placing a nail every 1 ⁄ 4 in (0.64 cm), but you can place them as far or close apart as you’d like.
- Use a pair of needle nose pliers to help you hold the nails in place while you’re hammering. [5] X Research source
- Only hammer the nail into the wood so it stays in place, leaving enough room to wrap the string around.
- The closer the nails are to one another, the tighter your design and string will be.
- The farther the nails are from one another, the more gaps there will be.
- Add some extra flare to your string art by using gold or colored nails or pins.
- Try using nails with decorative tops for a more eclectic look.
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Remove your template from the canvas. Once all the nails are in place, carefully pull the template away from the wood. If it gets stuck, no worries! Gently tear it away until the wood is clean. [6] X Research source
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Tie a knot around your first nail. Take the string of your choice and do a simple overhand knot on one of the nails. Any excess string can be cut off or tucked into your design later.
- Embroidery floss works well for delicate and intricate designs, while yarn and crochet thread look best on large and wider patterns. [7] X Research source
- Consider using color-changing string to make your string art even more mesmerizing.
- Opt for glittery thread to add a bit of sparkle.
- Try to start on a nail that’s on a corner of your design so the knot isn’t as noticeable. [8] X Research source
- Put a drop of super glue or hot glue on the knot to help it stay in place.
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Loop your string around the nails to outline your design. Focus on the outline of your design first. Begin wrapping the string around each nail individually in whatever direction you deem fit. If you mess up, unwind and reweave! [9] X Research source
- For a smooth outline, wrap the string around each nail clockwise.
- For a wavy outline, wrap the string around each nail in an alternating pattern: clockwise, counterclockwise, clockwise, counterclockwise.
- Keep your string or thread on its spool while you do this.
- If you run out of string, no biggie! Tie another knot on the nail you left off on and continue weaving.
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Weave the string around the nails through the middle of your design. Once the outline is in place, start to bring the string across the center of your design. Where you place the string doesn’t matter! Continue crisscrossing until you’re happy with the results. [10] X Research source
- Try using another color of string for the center of your design for a more artistic look.
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Tie a knot to the final nail when you’re finished. After you’ve filled the middle of your design, cut the string or thread from its spool. Tie one final knot around a nail, just as you did to start. Trim off the excess string or tuck it into the design, and you’re done! [11] X Research source
- If you’re worried about the knot unraveling, dab a bit of glue on it.
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Try a heart to add love to any space. Simply cut out a heart for your template and get crafting! Personalize your design by doing multiple hearts in different sizes—maybe one could represent each member of your family.
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Show off your astrology knowledge by making a string art of a constellation. This design is super simple and great for beginners. All you have to do is make each point or star of the constellation a nail and then connect them with string.
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Bring the great outdoors to your living room with a mountain design. Draw your own mountains or copy the silhouette of your favorite peak. You could even bring your design to the very edge of your canvas.
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Write your first or last name with string to hang in your room. This is a great way to say, “Hey! Here I am!” [12] X Research source Clipping polaroids or pictures of yourself or your family around your design can add an extra personal touch.
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Remind yourself to be “brave,” “strong,” or “faithful” with your string art. Simply pick out an inspirational word that resonates with you. Then, outline it onto your canvas and loop in your string. You could even make multiple canvases with different words to form a sentence. [13] X Research source
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Make a paw print design to represent your furry friend. Cut out each part of a dog’s paw print for your template, and place it on your canvas accordingly. This creates 5 separate sections for you to outline and fill with string.
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Create a multicolored butterfly to show off your string art skills. Butterflies are one of the more trickier designs to make, but the effort is so worth it! Create 5 sections of nails for your outline: 1 for the body, 2 for the upper wings, and 2 more for the bottom wings. Make each pairing section a different color to represent a butterfly’s unique and colorful design. [14] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat's the difference between string art and macrame?Nicole Bolin is a Crafting Specialist and the CEO of Stencil, a DIY Craft Studio in Phoenix, Arizona. Nicole specializes in interior design and various craft and DIY projects. Nicole holds a Certificate in Interior Design from the New York Institute of Art and Design. She opened Stencil in 2017 to teach others to create DIY projects that fit their home and lifestyle.String art involves stringing a design around nails that have been hammered into a piece of wood. Macrame involves weaving or braiding the yarn or string itself. They're both decorative, but macrame can also be used to create things like plant hangers and keychains.
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QuestionCan I use any type of string to make string art?Community AnswerIt is best to use a string based on the type of pin you are using. If you are using pins similar to that in the video, then you might want to stick with a thinner/finer string, since it would be easier to weave. If you are using something thicker, then you may want to go for a thicker yarn, twine, etc.
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QuestionIn this picture, you use straight common pins with pearl heads, not nails. Can I use the straight pins with pearl heads on canvas with just a wood frame?Community AnswerYes. It will hold the string or wool in place at the top of the pin, and make it a bit harder to slide down. That's the only real difference between the types of pins.
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Things You’ll Need
- Embroidery floss , yarn , or crochet thread
- nails or pins
- Wood
- Small craft hammer
- Needle nose pliers
- Template of your design
- Scissors
- Tape
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/PjS76mp-LcA?t=78
- ↑ https://youtu.be/UMnleEBT9SY?t=83
- ↑ https://youtu.be/yC63bvHtE_0?t=55
- ↑ https://youtu.be/TxSl7-YmVoM?t=46
- ↑ https://youtu.be/5fc_cF7yQnI?t=69
- ↑ https://youtu.be/UMnleEBT9SY?t=209
- ↑ https://www.thecreativefolk.com/best-string-for-string-art/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/UMnleEBT9SY?t=237
- ↑ https://youtu.be/UMnleEBT9SY?t=261
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To make string art, first draw a design you want to create out of string on a piece of paper. Then, cut the design out with scissors. Tape the design to a piece of soft wood. Next, gently nail veneer pins into the wood around the edges of the paper so they're evenly spaced. Gently peel the tape and paper off of the wood so just the pins are left. Now, tie the end of a piece of string around one of the pins. Weave the string around the rest of the pins in whatever pattern you like. You can weave the string around the outside of your design to outline it, and you can weave it through the inside of the design to fill in the empty space. When you’re satisified with your design, tie the end of the string around one of the pins. Clip the excess string off with scissors and enjoy your new piece of art! For tips on creating patterns with your string, read the article.
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Reader Success Stories
- "It was my first video on string art. I saw some on TV on a "House Hunters International" show where a woman was selling her art online, and it fascinated me. I have done many different types of crafts all my life, and have cabinets full of yarn, croquet thread for doilies, embroidery thread, and various other mediums of a myriad of colors. I found your video a good place to start to learn the basics. I am curious if there are colored headed pins that are strong enough to put firmly into wood." ..." more
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"It was my first video on string art. I saw some on TV on a "House Hunters International" show where a woman was selling her art online, and it fascinated me. I have done many different types of crafts all my life, and have cabinets full of yarn, croquet thread for doilies, embroidery thread, and various other mediums of a myriad of colors. I found your video a good place to start to learn the basics. I am curious if there are colored headed pins that are strong enough to put firmly into wood."
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"Thanks to this easy tutorial, my kids, ages 8 and 5, were able to make a two string art designs for their cousin's birthday present. The older did a name string art, and the youngest a heart. Both pieces are decorating the room of my niece! Thanks."
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"This article helped me understand the preparation (tack a measuring tape at the middle, measure all the way around) for a string art piece. "
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"I wasn't sure if there was a particular way to weave the string between pins. It seems there is not, just artistic preference."
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"I have been wanting to do string art for awhile so I was excited to learn the basics. WikiHow never disappoints."
