A few weeks ago, I discovered String Art. This creative art form can go so right, but I discovered it can also go so wrong. So very, wrong.
This has to be one of the most therapeutic crafts I have created. Even the nail hammering, which can seem arduous and longwinded, has is perks – anger? Frustration? Hammer it out. The way I do string art, there are no rules or pattern to follow, just go with you string art flow. Technically I didn’t actually use string, I used twine. I love the rustic hardiness of twine, but it was not as pliable as regular string or even wool is, so if your pattern is something more intricate, I would opt for the latter.
Check out the video below for a quick tutorial or keep on scrolling to find a written tutorial.
Lovebird Twine Art
What you are going to need:
- Block of wood (I used Plywood) to the size required
- 25mm Panel Pins (I used Brass for the rustic approach, but use whatever fits your aesthetic)
- Small hammer
- Paint in colour of your choice
- Twine / String in colour of your choice
- Drawn image or downloaded silhouette
- Wooden alphabet tiles (optional)
1. Take your drawn sketch or silhouette and tape it in place to your block of wood. I’m not gifted in the freehand drawing department, so I used a combination of a downloaded silhouette to give me the overall shape and my own hand sketches, which began and ended at the leaves…
2. Hammer time! This part is great if you have any unvented frustrations. Hammer – take that Covid 19! – the pins 1/2 – 1 inch apart, following your sketch over the paper, and hammering in about half way. You need a good depth left exposed to wrap your string around. There is no rule but generally speaking, the closer the pins are together, the tighter your pattern will be. This will take some time, and don’t hammer if you have a headache or if you just put the baby down for a nap. I speak from experience.
3. Oddly satisfying, it is time to remove the paper. My kids loved helping with this part – for once they were allowed to safely inflict utter destruction on something and not get reprimanded for it. With any little helpers in tow, tear off the paper in large sections. Any paper left behind (particularly tricky around the pins) can be removed with a pair of tweezers.
4. Time to get painting. I tend to paint the wood and pins at this stage as I like the effect the painted pins have, but you can always paint the board before nailing the pins in. Leave to dry. You all know my distaste over electric fires, but this is one area they come in handy – my board was dry in next to no time.
5. Here is the therapeutic part. Find a starting pin and tie a knot to keep the whole thing from unravelling. Using no method other than intuition, start winding the string or twine from pin to pin. I work haphazardly, working generally from top to bottom on opposite pins and filling in gaps when I see them. I like the random criss-cross pattern this makes, but you could use one pin as your ‘centre’ and work outwards, from one pin to the next in line, creating a more streamlined pattern. Tie another knot around a pin to finish, and cut off any excess material.
6. If you are using alphabet tiles to finish off the artwork, glue them down now in your chosen phrase. I used strips of double sided sticky tape to keep in place. Now style away!
Bye for now,
Kelly x
fiveandafarmhouse.co.uk 
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