String art – what is it?
This technique of creating compositions was invented in England in the 16th century. Using the most common nails and thread, weavers learned how to create amazing decorative images on the boards, which were then used as decorations in the house.
Over time, the technique was complicated and processed, and as a result it became a popular type of needlework, which is enjoyed by craftswomen of all ages.
The isothreading technique has become very popular at the suggestion of the English researcher Mary Bull. With the help of nails and threads, she taught children algebra and geometry.
What tools to use in string art
Isothreading is one of the least expensive techniques. To create your first composition, you need to take only threads and nails. You can buy carnations by visiting any hardware store.
It is only necessary that they have the right length and width of the hat. Probably, all needlewomen eat threads for this technique. It can be thick yarn for knitting, the option of floss or silk threads, dense sewing threads is also suitable.
Technique “isothread” – where to start
For those who have never encountered the string art technique before, it is recommended to start with simple compositions.
It is better to take a small, monophonic scheme. Beginning needlewomen often use diagrams with numbers and arrows that indicate the movements of the thread and how they are connected.
To master the technique, first you need to study the principle by which corners and circles are filled. Other shapes, such as a square, an oval, letters, are derivatives of the basic elements, they are easier to master.
At first glance, creating a picture using such familiar materials as nails and thread is a matter without the slightest difficulty.
However, the string art technique provides for such an important point as correctly interlaced threads. After mastering this moment, you will learn how to make impressive three-dimensional compositions.
Isothread has one big advantage – it is the ability to choose almost any sketch for a picture. This is very convenient, for example, if you are starting to create a unique portrait, or a drawing with numbers and letters.
At first, in string art, it is better to use plain threads. Then, gradually, the color palette can be supplemented with other shades, as a result, you will have a multi-colored panel.
One of the simplest drawings that beginners choose is a heart. A child can also make such a picture, unless, of course, adults help him by driving nails into a plank.
Such a cute handmade work will serve as a very good gift, and it will also become a harmonious decoration on the wall in the living room of your house.
So, take a blank sheet of paper, carefully draw a heart. You can also print the picture on the printer. Now on the board in random order we place the points where we will nail the carnations.
The distance between the marks should be the same, as this will affect the final appearance of the composition. We put a sheet of paper on plywood and nail carnations at the marked points. Now the sheet must be removed from the board.
After that, we move on to the threads.
On the central nail at the top we make a neat knot, and stretch the tip diagonally. We pull the thread to the nail in such a way that sharp corners are obtained. When all the nails are wrapped with thread, it must be fixed and the end carefully cut off.
Those who have already mastered string art well and are confident in their abilities should move on to the next level – create spectacular portraits with nails and thread.
Let the basis be a portrait of a person that you intend to turn into an object of string art, or it can be a famous or simply beautiful person, or a pet.
You need to create such a complex image, starting not from the central nail, unlike a simple master class. First we will fill in the background – this means that we will cover the denser parts of the picture with threads – for example, where the clothes are depicted, shadows, deeper, darker areas.
Then we will fill in the rest of the elements – the face, hands, etc. When working in string art, even professional masters use ready-made schemes, because due to just one direction of the thread, chosen incorrectly, the perception of the picture may deteriorate.
You need to try to perform fewer knots that have nowhere to hide. The threads should be pulled as tight as possible so that over time the pattern does not sag and lose its attractiveness.
Isothread is a fairly new technique among needlewomen, which is just beginning to gain popularity. The fact that even on a small plywood with carnations and threads a spectacular picture can appear is truly impressive.