Transform primitive pretties into string art stunners

We found this sweet “Love Brings You Home” owl themed decor at a local TJ Maxx store. The creation, from Primitives By Kathy, featured a string art heart with muted pale pink floss. We knew instantly it was the perfect candidate for a Kreinik thread makeover. Hearts are wild, hearts are alive, hearts are vibrant and chaotic and beautiful. Layering a glow in the dark and a metallic thread will bring this one to artistic, textile life. Here’s how:

Materials used:

• Primitives By Kathy string art owl design from TJ Maxx
• scissors
• Kreinik Tapestry #12 Braid in color 055F Watermelon (glow-in-the-dark thread)
• Kreinik Fine #8 Braid in color 024 Fuchsia (metallic thread)

Instructions:

1. Purchase a string art design from a craft store, home goods store, or antique store
2. With the scissors, remove the plain yarn currently wrapped around the nails that are in place on the design.
3. Start wrapping with the glow-in-the-dark Watermelon pink color first. Tie one end around a nail, then start “stringing” it, wrapping it around the other nails at diagonals, or as desired. When finished with that thread, tie the end in a knot around a nail. With your finger, push the thread down the shaft of the nail slightly to give you room for the next thread.
4. Use the other thread, the metallic Fuchsia Braid in the same manner, on top of the glow-in-the-dark pink thread.

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Let loose with string art fun

String art is back! From major art installations to cute home decor, string art—also known as thread art—adds textile fun, pops of color, and creative expressions to our world. If you're a stitcher, a string art project is a nice diversion from a more detailed WIP project. You get to play with your threads, create something gorgeous, and let your creativity free-flow for awhile. Ready for string art fun?

Here's one way to get started making string art: upcycle an inexpensive purchased string art design. Check home goods stores, craft stores, and antique stores. We found this cactus string art design at a TJ Maxx here in the USA, removed the boring plain yarn and replaced it with Kreinik metallic and glow-in-the-dark threads. (This is a quick and fun way to make a gift too.) Swapping out boring fibers for fun fibers takes minutes, no hammering or designing required, and your creation looks better than the original. 

What we used in this model:

• Wild & Free cactus string art from TJ Maxx (from www.NielsenBainbridgeGroup.com) 
• sharp embroidery scissors
• One spool of Kreinik Micro Ice Chenille in Fern Green
• One spool of Kreinik Tapestry #12 Braid in 053F glow-in-the-dark lime 

Instructions:

1. Purchase a string art design from a craft store, home goods store, or antique store
2. With the scissors, remove the plain yarn currently wrapped around the nails that are in place on the design.
3. Start wrapping with the new, fun threads using Micro Ice Chenille first. Tie one end around a nail, then start “stringing” it, wrapping it around the other nails at diagonals, or as desired. When finished with that thread, tie the end in a knot around a nail. With your finger, push the chenille down the shaft of the nail slightly to give you room for the next thread.
4. Use the other thread, the Tapestry #12 Braid in the same manner, on top of the Micro Ice Chenille.

For more information

• Want to make your own string art designs? Samantha Tornes shows you how in this video: https://youtu.be/DN8u0ODwDWI
• Stunning string Art portraits, http://www.laarco.com/works/frida/
• Search “string art” on Pinterest and Instagram for more inspiration
• Origins of string art: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_art

The May 5 craft class at the Kreinik Factory Outlet will be a string art design. Follow Kreinik on Facebook for details and registration 

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