DIY: String Art Projects

Colorful string can turn into geometric art.

String art is a way of creating artwork, through using unique design, string and some tools, such as a hammer and penny nails. String art was a popular craft during the 1970s based on geometric designs and mathematic equations. String art patterns range from animals or flowers to detailed patterns. You can buy a string art kit to create your string art or make a design of your own creation.

Things You'll Need

• 12-inch square of plywood or corkboard
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrushes
• Hammer
• Penny nails
• Paper plate
• White paper
• Scissors
• Colorful string

Instructions

1. Place a flat 12-inch square piece of plywood or corkboard on a work surface. You can paint the wood a solid color of your liking using acrylic paint and paintbrushes before working on your string art design or leave it plain.

2. Create a design for your string artwork. A basic circle design can be created using a paper plate as a base. Trace the outside edge of a paper plate onto a white sheet of paper. Cut the circle out of the white paper. Fold the circle in half, and then in half again. Fold the paper in half twice more, so when the circle is unfolded, it has 16 sections.

3. Tape the circle to the 12-inch square piece of plywood, so it is centered on the board. Use a hammer to drive 16 small penny nails into the wood, one at each fold around the outside of the paper circle. Remove the paper, leaving a circle of nails.

4. Tie the end of a piece of colored string to a nail to begin the string art design. Wrap the string around the nails to create a unique geometric design. Experiment with designs, such as winding the string around the starting pin and then the 6th pin, and then the 2nd nail to the 7th nail and so on.

5. Add a second color of string in another pattern to the string art design or add a second ring of nails within the outer ring of nails for a secondary pattern.

6. Hang the finished string art design on a wall for others to enjoy when finished.

References

• Family Fun: String Art
• Teachers Network: An Adventure in Line Designs
• Stitching Cards: From string art to stitching cards: a brief history