This kind of hand-made art consists in drawing with threads - the threads pulled over the carnations on the board form a picture. "String" with of English language translated as "string" or "rope", this unusual type of needlework is also called "isothread": from "image" + "thread".
There is no consensus on how this art form appeared. According to one version, it was invented by English weavers in the 17th century. They created openwork home decorations using planks, threads and nails.
Several centuries passed, and in the middle of the 19th century, the half-forgotten way of working with a thread was revived by the mathematician Mary Everest Bull. She found an original way to demonstrate the construction of geometric shapes to her students. For her studies, she used a small board with nailed nails, on which she “drew” triangles, squares and more complex shapes with a rope.
The first person to write his name in the history of string art as a hand-made art was American John Eichenger, chief designer of the Open Door Company (Los Gatos, California). Having discerned the "graphic" potential in the "geometric" technique, Einher began to create pictures on tablets using threads and nails. In his work, the designer turned to the oriental art of the mandala (a sacred symbolic and schematic image among Buddhists), noting that the lines of threads pulled over nails can form such patterns. The mandalas, created by Eichenger since 1972, were distinguished by their elegance, unique optical illusions and compliance with the laws of mathematics - in addition, they were very beautiful. The designer gained followers - in practice, it turned out that in the string art technique you can "draw" not only symmetrical, but in general any pictures.
The work of John Eichenger
Today, string art is divided into three main directions:
Creation of abstract paintings and drawing of geometric shapes;
Creation of asymmetrical artistic images (portraits, landscapes - in fact, any pictures);
Volumetric drawing with threads.
Mastering the basics of string art
You will need:
Wooden board (a piece of chipboard or similar material is also suitable, into which it is easy to hammer nails, the main thing is that the board is of sufficient thickness);
If desired, paint, stain or other coating for preparing the board (you can also make a picture on a clean board);
Nails with a head, the length of the nail is 1-2 cm (it can be slightly longer, it is important that the tips of the nails do not come out from the inside out);
Small handy hammer;
Strong threads for creating a pattern (for a start, "Iris" or not too thick and fluffy threads for knitting are suitable, you can also use sewing threads, floss and so on);
Pencil or marker for marking the board;
Pliers;
Scissors;
Picture template (copied, printed or created by yourself).
Technology for creating work in street art technique:
1. Preparation of the base (cut the board, if necessary, sand the edges, paint if desired, and so on).
2. Transferring the drawing to the base, marking the location of the nails.
3. Hammering in nails.
4. Pulling threads between nails.
If the sketch is complex, you can print it out on paper, tape the sketch to the board, hammer in the nails, and then remove the paper with tweezers.
Craftsmen advise: in order to facilitate the process of drawing with threads, you can use the simplest ballpoint pen, more precisely, its body (you need an unwinding body, of two halves, with holes at both ends). You need to remove the rod from the handle and pass the thread through the body - it will be more convenient to work this way.
String art for beginners: master class
Create a multi-level symmetrical geometric string art pattern:
Creating a portrait using string art technique:
More string art for inspiration:
We need:
- plywood;
- wood stain;
- gloves;
- yacht varnish and brush;
- newspapers;
- scissors;
- nails (it is better to choose carpentry or furniture nails, we used - "Blister copper-plated joiner's nail");
- hammer;
- threads.
Stages robots
1. First of all, you need to prepare plywood of the required size. If your plywood is too large, you can use a saw to cut it down to the required size. The thickness of the plywood must be at least 4-5 mm, otherwise it may be difficult to drive in nails.
2. Use wood stain to give the wood a beautiful color. Wood stain can be purchased at a hardware store, or you can make it yourself, as we did. The recipe for cooking it at home. You will need 1 cup vinegar, 1/3 cup ground coffee or tea (we used black tea), and a steel scourer. Place all the ingredients in a jar, close the lid and place for 2-3 days in a dark, cool place (for example, under a closet or bed).
This stain has a very specific odor, so it's worth working outdoors. Wear heavy gloves and use a steel wool to apply the stain in a circular motion.
Do not be alarmed that the stain appears transparent and does not paint the wood at all. Apply in several coats and leave to dry overnight outdoors or in a very well ventilated area. If you decide not to experiment and bought the stain in the store, then apply it to the tree in several layers and leave it to dry completely.
3. When the surface of the painting is dry, proceed to varnish. It is better to apply varnish in 2 layers. The lacquer finish will protect your creation from dust and fading.
4. With the help of a newspaper, make a template for the future painting. This will greatly simplify the work and make it clear how the picture will look at the final stage.
On the newspaper, mark the places where the nails will be driven in to find out the required number of nails.
5. Drive nails just above the line of the newspaper or into the edge of the newspaper at an equal distance from each other. Nails should be driven in quite a bit. They should fit snugly and firmly on the board, but not stick out from the back wall.
6. Keeping the distance between the studs, hammer them around the entire perimeter of the template.
7. Carefully remove the newspaper template. If small pieces of newspaper remain near the nails, they can be carefully removed using tweezers or a large needle.
8. Tie the end of the thread tightly to one of the studs.
Continue tying the threads around the cloves. Sharp corners should form between the threads.
9. Continue drawing until almost all the studs are tied. Tie the thread tightly and cut off the remaining ponytail.
Then you can add threads of some contrasting color and give the picture brightness. Tie a new thread to a loose carnation and continue in the same way. A new thread can be pulled not only over the first color, but also under and between the first threads. So you will achieve the volume of the picture.
Good luck and creative inspiration!
Content
How many exist different types needlework simply cannot be counted, but if banal knitting or embroidery is not for you, you should try to master something new. For example, from ordinary nails and threads, a picture of amazing beauty can be obtained using modern string art weaving technique. Are you interested? Then find out: what materials are needed for this, how to draw up a diagram correctly and master a few simple master classes.
What is string art
An unusual type of needlework, string art, was invented in England almost four centuries ago. With the help of ordinary nails and threads, weavers of that time created a decorative pattern on planks, which later decorated the walls of their own dwellings. Over time, the ancient weaving technique was reworked and improved several times, but Mary Boole's version of string art has become especially popular in the world. With her help, an English researcher taught children algebra and geometry.
What you need for string art
The main accessories for creating a string art pattern are nails and threads. You can take not thick knitting yarn, ordinary sewing thread, floss or silk. In addition to this standard set, you will also need:
- a piece of plywood or board;
- thick cardboard if you are going to make a postcard or master string art with children;
- template, photo, dot pattern or a finished image;
- paint, if you need to add colors to the base;
- a hammer to drive in nails or a puncture awl on paper.
Isothreading technique - schemes with numbers for beginners
If you have never tried to master string art before, then you will have to start from the very beginning. Schemes with numbers in this case are a godsend for you. On them, arrows indicate the movement of the thread and the type of connection of all elements. To make it easier to work, applying the scheme to a cardboard sheet or wood is in its original form, in the first case, on the back of the product.
To master the string art technique for beginners, it is worthwhile to study the principle of filling a corner or circle. All other shapes: circle, oval, square or letters are only derivatives. To practice your skills, draw a right angle on a piece of paper with lines equal to 10 and 5 centimeters. Divide the long strip into 10 identical parts, 1 centimeter each, number. Divide the short strip by half a centimeter, also make the designations in numbers - the circuit is ready. The thread needs to be led from one edge of the vertex to the other on both sides.
What to make from nails and thread
Seemingly simple threads, ordinary nails - well, what sensible can come from such a set of tools? In fact, with the correct weaving of the yarn, the printed pattern can surprisingly turn into a three-dimensional picture. For string art techniques, ideas can be gleaned from anything. Do you like the image on the internet? Feel free to download and print.
With the help of string art, you can make a three-dimensional image of a pet: a cat, a dog, a parrot. Lovers of abstraction can master the technique of creating a multi-colored panel. The correct geometric shapes of the lines will not interfere with creating a card for Valentine's Day. Flowers, insects, wildlife, kitchen utensils - all this can be easily translated into paintings from threads and nails.
Panel made of threads and nails
Instead of an ordinary purchased painting, it is better to hang a pictorial string art panel on the wall in the central room. The main feature is that the finished image should not have a lot of small details that distract attention. In any case, the base will have to be done for a panel of threads and nails with your own hands, but you can entrust the children with pulling multi-colored lines.
Painting with threads on nails
If you like plot drawings, over which you will have to spend more than a day, then it is worth mastering the creation of a picture. For example, a canvas with animals, characters from cartoons or fairy tales is suitable for the interior of a nursery. A picture of nails and threads with your own hands with an interesting food theme will become a worthy decoration in the kitchen, and you can hang images of sailing ships, clovers or delicate flowers in the bedroom.
Postcard with threads
Are you going to your friend's birthday or are you preparing to congratulate your beloved on Valentine's Day? Then make an original string art postcard from threads. The pattern will have to be depicted on thick paper using a needle and thread. For these purposes, buy thick cardboard, ordinary printed paper tears too easily and quickly loses its shape. A postcard using the isothread technique will look beautiful if the finished template is glued to cardboard of a larger diameter.
DIY string art - master class
So, you have bought everything you need and are ready to start string art. Where do you start? First you need to master simple schemes, but it is better to use ready-made master classes or repeat the ideas of experienced needlewomen. Today you will learn how to make different crafts from nails and threads, learn about the basic principles of decorative weaving and creating incredibly beautiful patterns.
Heart
It is worth starting acquaintance with a new type of art with the simplest images, for example, making a heart out of threads and nails with your own hands. Such a craft will be within the power of even children, if adults help to drive in carnations. In addition, this string art can be a great gift or simply decorate the wall in your bedroom. A step-by-step master class will facilitate your task:
- On a clean sheet of paper, draw a neat heart with a pencil.
- Place points where you are going to nail in. It is important to make notes at the same distance, the appearance will depend on this.
- Place the paper against the plywood. Drive the carnations into the places you marked in advance with a pencil.
- Remove the paper template from the nails. Use tweezers to remove any remaining blank sheet from the plywood.
- Make a neat knot on the top center nail, and pull the end of the thread diagonally.
- Continue wrapping the rope around the nails so that you get a sharp corner with each new turn.
- Once all the studs are tied, lock the end of the thread and carefully cut the ponytail.
Isothread flower
Having learned how to embroider a circle or corner using the string art technique, you can easily move on to creating simple flower arrangements. The next step-by-step master class will teach you how to create string art flowers using the simplest example - dandelions. For work, you only need a sheet of paper, a pencil, an awl and threads of two colors: white and green. Step-by-step floral embroidery is thread looks like this:
- Starting at the top of the sheet, draw three circles in random order, each 5-6 centimeters in diameter.
- To get many dandelion inflorescences inside the circles, draw another small circle, from which draw 5 connecting lines upwards.
- Make the stems and draw the leaves of the future flower. Make the necessary punctures.
- Embroider dandelion inflorescences with white threads according to the principle of a circle, starting your work from the very center. Remember that each part of the larger circle is a separate inflorescence.
- To make the leaves look voluminous, divide them into several triangles and embroider with green threads according to the angle principle.
- At the very end, connect the base with the buds with small stitches.
Having mastered simple pictures of a heart and flowers, you can proceed to more complex compositions and weave a string art portrait using the technique. You can take a ready-made photo of a pet, try to bring it to life, or depict the figures of movie characters with threads. Take the monochrome portrait of lovers from the following string art workshop as an example:
- Drive in studs around the entire perimeter of the plywood sheet.
- Cut out the couple in love so that they represent a single whole.
- Place the image in the center of the panel, mark the nails with a pencil.
- Remove the paper and hammer in the nails evenly spaced.
- Start filling the picture according to the principle of creating sharp corners, but not from the central part, but drawing only the general background with white thread.
Deer
Do you want to decorate your apartment in a Scandinavian style? To do this, you only need an aged flat piece of wood, white threads, decorative nails with a small head, a hammer and a few hours of free time. Using the string art technique, a deer from the following step by step lesson will look almost like the real thing. The principle of creation is as follows:
- Clean the surface of excess chips, cover with a layer of varnish. If desired, the board can be painted in any color.
- Print out a large stencil of a deer head, cut out the drawing along the contour.
- Place a piece of paper in the center of the wooden canvas. Make marks for driving in at a distance of 5-7 mm. This step will be easier if you use graph paper.
- Drive in the nails carefully and start creating a masterpiece from the very bottom of the drawing.
- Secure the end of the thread to the nail and make a general outline, tracing the yarn like a snake around each nail.
- The further process is a matter of taste. You can use straight geometric lines or distribute the thread randomly inside the contour.
A tree made of threads with your own hands will look very symbolic on the wall. Coping with its creation is as simple as weaving a heart out of threads. All you need for this painting is a piece of smooth plywood, a hammer, crayon, green thread, and nails with a pretty head. Then just follow the step-by-step instructions:
- Draw a sketch of a tree on a wooden board with chalk, trying not to create too many small details, but rather working out the outline.
- Then drive in the cloves about 1 centimeter apart and wipe off the chalk outline with a damp cloth.
- At the base of the tree, tie the tip of the thread and start by creating an outline in the same way as in the previous master class.
- After completing this stage, start the thread in a chaotic manner, first at the roots of the tree, then on the trunk and branches.
- Make as many straight lines as you like.
Ship
This type of needlework is good because even small children can be taught it. Try one of the free evenings with your child to make a craft out of thread and cardboard. Such works are popular in preschool institutions and even take first places at exhibitions. self made... Let the ison boat be your first joint craft. The principle of its implementation is as follows:
- On the back of the thick cardboard, draw a right angle with a vertical line 10 centimeters long, and a horizontal line 5 cm long.
- Step back 2-3 mm to the left and repeat the size of the mirror image.
- Draw a semicircle at the bottom. Use an awl to make holes in the cardboard equal in length.
- Start sewing with blue thread at the right corner. Pass the needle through the lower outermost hole from the wrong side.
- Draw a straight line to the top, flip the work over, and thread the needle into the adjacent hole.
- So draw 9 parallel lines and start working on another sail.
- To do this, change the thread to a different color and embroider the sail along classical principle filling the corner.
- Fill the bottom semicircle with a contrasting thread using diagonal lines.
Birds are a symbol of flight, lightness and freedom. However, not every species of birds has such a clear and simple symbolic meaning. For example, the owl is considered a symbol of chastity, discernment and the ability to foresee the future. This bird is depicted in all types of needlework; the owl using the string art technique is also no exception:
- On a blank sheet of paper, draw a general owl outline, make two large eyes, outline the wings and tail.
- Transfer the sketch to a piece of plywood and secure with studs, being careful not to make large gaps between them.
- Choose a dense brown thread and outline all the outlines.
- Arrange the lines in a chaotic direction so that each stud is involved in the work.
- Additionally, take a white thread. Shade the chest and wings by sewing a few diagonal stitches.
- Finish by tying the end of the thread with a tight knot.
A picture of threads can serve as an unusual element of the interior in different styles... Weaving pictures from threads is also useful for children: a kind of handicraft develops fine motor skills, spatial imagination, contributes to the assimilation of basic knowledge of geometry. String art is a bit like an applique made of threads on cardboard, but it differs in its technique.
What threads are paintings made of
To create a panel, you can take any thread. The type of product depends on their texture: a dense or transparent pattern, its bulge and volume. From thick, but not fuzzy threads (like "Iris") you will get images with a clear shading of the contour, reminiscent of graphic work in pencil or charcoal. Fine threads of different shades allow you to create smooth transitions of shades, reminiscent of watercolor drawings.
For the first works and acquaintance of children with the art of weaving a picture from threads and nails using the string art technique, it is better to use strong and not too thin threads. It is more convenient to work with them: adjust the tension, lay the next stitch-stroke, fasten the thread, etc. As you master different techniques, you can start trying material with different thicknesses and textures.
Features of weaving from nails and threads
When pulling the thread onto the base, its elements have to withstand heavy loads. So that the picture does not deteriorate during the creation process or after the end of the work, it is even worthwhile for child labor to select durable material for the panel made of threads: a wooden or cork base. For the smallest or especially decorative works, dense foam plastic (EPS) and single-rod pins with colored heads are used. But most often they use wood and nails.
How to drive nails deep
Driving depth depends on the density of the base material: it is better to drive them deeper into softwood. Sufficient depth can be determined by how the nail is held at the base: it cannot be pulled out with your fingers.
The height of the rod above the base depends on the technique in which the thread pattern is created. For a product in one level, it is enough to leave 1-1.2 cm of the length of the carnation. When creating multi-layered compositions, the height can be higher in order to well emphasize the depth of the lowest layers. Depending on the required height of the rod above the level of the base and its own structure, choose longer or shorter nails (up to 3 cm). Any thin one with small hats will do, but sometimes craftsmen use decorative wallpaper.
How to change thread color
If you need a smooth transition of shades to create a picture of nails and threads with your own hands, proceed as follows:
- start weaving with the first color, tying the end of the thread to the selected nail;
- fill in part of the drawing according to the scheme, before the start of the shade transition;
- fix the first thread with a knot on the nail (if it is needed in the future, you can not tear it off);
- tie a new thread of the desired color, trying to hide the knot under the finished strokes and make several rare broaches on the already finished background;
- continue to work until the next color change.
If different threads fill in separate sections of the contour (as when coloring children's books), then they work in one color within the desired fragment, filling it in. The adjacent one is filled with a different shade, and sometimes the direction of the strokes is also changed. For a clear selection of the boundaries, each section is edged.
Ways to fill the pattern with threads
To make a picture of nails and threads, you need to master several simple weaving techniques:
- The corners in the broken contours are filled by drawing the first thread along one of the adjacent sides to the extreme nail, transferred to the adjacent one and raised to the rod located next to the one from which the work began. Then the corner is gradually filled with threads, stretching them to each next element, until they reach the junction of the sides.
- The circle, oval and other rounded contours are filled in, counting from the first rod any number of nails (3, 5, etc.). A thread stretched from the beginning is attached to the next element. Observing the selected intervals, gradually fill the circle with a star pattern, in the center of which you will get a neat hole.
- Curved paths can be filled using the circle technology, moving the threads along the entire line of nails until it ends.
- Any contours can be filled randomly, without a system, creating a uniform surface without gaps.
- Threads can be wound not only inside the outline of the pattern, but also outside it. Against the background of filamentous web, the unfilled contour looks deepened into the surface. You can use different shades of thread to decorate the design and the background around it.
Picture edging
Sometimes a picture or parts of it need a border. It helps to clearly highlight the contours of the inscription, shapes, etc. If the drawing consists of several fragments of different colors, then the contrasting edging of the areas will make them clear, and when using an intermediate shade, it will smooth the border. Using different techniques, you can do the following:
- give expressiveness to the picture;
- mark thin internal lines (for example, the outline of a window on a house);
- visually raise the edged parts above the rest of the sections.
The main technology for making edging is a "snake" of several rows of thread. Perform it like this:
- They tie the thread to the first rod (optionally) and begin to weave all the neighboring ones, passing it on one side of the second, the opposite - on the third, and so on until the end of the line.
- They return to the beginning, changing the sequence of the thread between the rods. The process resembles weaving a basket.
- To make the edging more expressive, use contrasting thick threads and make more than 2-3 rows.
The sequence of creating multi-layer compositions
Such panels of nails and threads are called multilayer, where individual fragments of the canvas are filled with different shades. Due to the way the threads are wound, adjacent sections have different heights, especially when using knitting yarns and other thick materials.
As a template for the picture, you can choose a children's coloring drawing. The filling is carried out as follows:
- Nails are driven into the base along the contour lines with the same pitch. You also need to outline the edges of the picture, creating a frame around the perimeter of the plate.
- Determine which parts of the canvas should be the deepest, and which are best raised above the background.
- They begin to wind the threads from the deepest sections, trying to leave space on the rods if there is a raised fragment nearby. Having filled in the low parts, they go to those whose level is slightly higher, end with the highest details.
The sequence can be chosen arbitrarily. For example, on the face of an animal, low fragments are the main contour of the head and the inner part of the ears, the whites of the eyes. The next layer can be whisker pads (for a cat, fox, etc.), the outer contour of the ear, and the pupils. The nose should protrude above the surrounding fragments.
A design option for a multi-layered composition is a silhouette against a contrasting background. In this case, the level of the image and the background in relation to each other is determined. Then they fill in the fragments in turn: first the lowest, then the one that is higher.
Additional decor compositions
The caps of the rods can act as an additional decor. They go well with the edging, giving the composition the appearance of an outline framed by a string of beads. An interesting decor option is a photo used as the bottom layer. The background serves as a frame for an unusual design.
If the picture is thematic, materials close to the theme can become additional decor: natural, improvised, etc. An example is the image of a fish, a dolphin, a mermaid, complemented by shells glued to the base. The flower can be supplemented with an artificial butterfly pinned to the core, etc. As a decoration for inscriptions and drawings, rhinestones, sparkles and even LEDs inserted into pre-prepared holes and connected to a power source are suitable.
You can also decorate the picture with a painted background. It needs to be painted in advance, before creating a cobweb. After drying, work is performed according to standard rules.
What do needlewomen not come up with! Their works form a separate trend in fashion. The last couple of years, panels made of threads and nails have become especially popular. It would seem that what is so original can be made from such familiar and ordinary materials? And, nevertheless, the most discerning connoisseurs of handmade decorate their homes with such gizmos.
String Art: new - well forgotten old
One of the directions of nitkography, in addition to drawing with threads on glue and embroidery, is rightfully considered a "thread of art", or string art. The essence of creating a craft boils down to the fact that nails are stuffed onto a hard surface at the same distance from each other, and then threads cling to these supports. The result is paintings, toys, accessories (for example, gloves), garments trimmings - and a lot of fun!
There is still no exact data on who and when invented this activity. According to one of the versions, an English researcher by the name of Boole tried in this way to develop spatial thinking in children, as well as train the skills of solving geometric problems. The “thread of art”, according to another version, existed in the second half of the 17th century and was used to create lace.
Necessary materials
To make a panel from threads and nails with your own hands, as for any type of needlework, first of all, patience is required. But, of course, one cannot do without special "tangible" materials. It:
- dense base. This can be thick cardboard or corkboard. For large paintings, you can take foam blocks;
- support. To weave the threads, you need a support with fixation at the top. Large-headed pins or nails will do. It is important to take into account that the protruding part of the support should not be higher than 25 mm;
- threads. They can be of different quality: floss, silk, sewing, synthetics. The texture must be chosen depending on the subject of the image. So, for a romantic heart, straight threads are needed, but for a rose or other flower, you can take twisted ones;
- hammer, pencil, office scissors;
- decor elements (beads, rhinestones, etc.).
5 patterns of a panel of threads and nails
Today, the benefits of string art are being studied by child psychologists, since working with threads:
- develops abstract thinking;
- has a positive effect on fine motor skills, and therefore on speech;
- trains sensory perception;
- introduces the elements of modeling in mirroring.
So involve your kids, study our instructions together and enjoy beautiful crafts!
Owl
Materials:
- wood board (approximately 30 x 40 cm);
- threads (iris is possible);
- small nails;
- hammer;
- spray paint.
Instructions:
Heart
Materials:
- carnations;
- hammer;
- scarlet yarn (acrylic is possible, but not thick and not twisted);
- pencil;
- base board.
Instructions:
Enamored elephant
Materials:
- base (foam covered with dense fabric);
- carnations with large caps;
- threads of pink, blue and purple;
- scissors;
- bead for the pupil of the eye.
Instructions:
- We transfer the drawing to the paper.
- Cut out the image along the contour.
- We apply to the base and mark with carnations. Pay attention to the fact that the picture contains additional, "internal" details (ear, eye).
- We wrap the threads around the nails, paying attention to the color changes for the ear and eye. In this case, you do not need to do too many turns. The panel is ready.
Wood
The peculiarity of this pattern is such that the image takes shape only after the thread has completely tightened the free space.
Materials:
- small board, preferably wooden;
- beige threads (thick sewing);
- nails.
Instructions:
- Draw the outlines of a suitable tree on paper.
- Cut out the template, apply it to the board, circle it.
- We stuff nails.
- We stretch the threads, leaving the space in the middle intact, hide the tails.
Spoon and knife
Materials:
- saw cut from a tree;
- nails;
- threads are black.
Instructions:
- We put plastic dishes in front of us. Alternatively, you can put a spoon, fork and hammer in carnations around the perimeter of the figures.
- We take the threads and start winding, do not forget to hide the ends at the end of the work.
- The picture on the saw cut is ready.
Panel made of threads and nails: ideas
