DIY String Typography Ideas

DIY string art - Among all the forms of crafts you can work on with a bunch of string, the string art with some nails or a needle is the most popular. It is much easier than embroidery work with typography, being more fun with interesting, unique outcomes. There are really no limitations to the patterns you can achieve and the designs you can make using the string art technique.

Nail string art - In the late 60s and 70s, string art became a popular paint-by-numbers-y way for the masses to get crafty. Head to your local thrift store, and you'll likely find a few, in all their harvest gold glory. Usually sold in kits, these guys involved strategically placed nails or pins that were connected by string art patterns or yarn to create geometrical shapes or mathematical patterns.

String art patterns - Begin by designing your piece. I just went with a simple two word phrase, but you could go as complex as your want - somebody's name, a quote you love, decor for a party or wedding. You want to do this first, so you'll know what size your plywood needs to be.

String art templates - Cut your wood or plywood to size. If you don't have a saw, see if your True Value 'hardwarian' will help (they're really friendly!). Also - get a saw! You'll want to use actual wood here, as opposed to a composite product like MDF or hardboard, as those are really meant for glue, and won't hold nails very well.

String art kits - Since I knew I was going to use my overhead projector to transfer the image, I just printed the transparency, and used that to size an piece of plywood I had lying around, which I then cut to size.

String art supplies - Paint or stain your wood. I knew I wanted to use this rainbow embroidery thread I've had since college, so I just went with a basic white. But a dark walnut-y stain with a bold yellow or turquoise would be awesome, so use your imagination.

String art designs - Next, create a pattern from your original art. I just printed onto an overhead transparency, since I have a projector I can use to transfer the image. Notice I've added the dots for each nail to my pattern, and that's what I transfer to the plywood, instead of the outline of each letter. There really isn't a science to this, and I admit, I just kinda made it up.

String art ideas - Then transfer your dots onto you plywood. I used a bit of 1" painter's tape as a margin, to keep everything straight and square, as overhead projectors can distort an image at close distantances. Then, start nailing. I recommend setting up somewhere tall, since it's a lot of nails, and you'll get tired and sore from bending over quickly.

Then, just string it up. Start in a corner, and tie it off with a butcher's knot. At the beginning, don't follow a pattern, but keep your crosses close. Once you've gone around once, you can make longer leaps up and down the letter.