Food Living Outside Play Technology Workshop String Art Necklace by supersoftdrink on August 11, 2010 Table of Contents String Art Necklace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Intro: String Art Necklace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Step 1: Make the jig for wrapping string . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Step 2: Wrap the string . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Step 3: Add glue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Step 4: Make more links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Step 5: Attach the links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ Author:supersoftdrink my etsy store I took over my husband's Instructables login last year to make a couple instructables for two contests. He was only using it to browse stuff, anyway. I have a different and sillier name elsewhere on the web... some might call me GlindaBunny (after a former pet of ours). He's a brilliant javascript ninja with never enough time to work on his personal projects that span from web and iphone apps to little robots to bubble blowing solution to an upright electric bass from scavenged parts and laminated oak... maybe one day we'll have more time. I love you, Josh. I stay at home with our four year old boy and two year old twin girls, one of whom was born with a severe congenital heart defect and has had several open heart surgeries so far. All three of our children are on the autism spectrum. Life is busy. We sometimes make things when we have a few spare minutes because a creative outlet keeps us sane. We both have ADD. I skip the H because neither of us has ever been hyperactive, and the whole "disorder" is a huge misnomer, anyway. I love being creative, passionate, and... um... hey look there's a cat in our yard! crap I forgot to water the strawberries. Intro: String Art Necklace I loved playing with a spirograph as a kid. This necklace takes little more than string and fabric glue to recreate the look of the sirograph drawings using string art techniques. Image Notes 1. not so great for holding its shape 2. holds it shape quite well 3. hold their shape quite well 4. two links made separately then glued together 5. mom 6. string with gradient coloring http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ Image Notes 1. it helps to hold the necklace up and look in the mirror to see if you like your pattern as you go http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ Image Notes 1. circles for jigs 2. small jig 3. fabric glue - this stuff is for adding glitter to fabric and the bottle promised it would stay flexible http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ Step 1: Make the jig for wrapping string Trace a circle on cork board or foam. Mark dots at equal points around the circle. Shove toothpicks, bamboo skewers, or little nails into the dots. If you're using toothpicks or bamboo, it would help to coat them with a little melted beeswax; brush it on with a paintbrush, then re-melt it with a hair dryer to smooth it out. Image Notes 1. circles for jigs 2. small jig 3. fabric glue - this stuff is for adding glitter to fabric and the bottle promised it would stay flexible http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ Step 2: Wrap the string Choose a color string. Wrap it around one peg of the jig or tape it to the board to secure it. Choose the number of pegs to skip for your first necklace link. For this one, I skipped four pegs and wrapped the string over the fifth peg. Keep skipping pegs and wrapping the string in a pattern you like. When finished, secure the other end of the string by wrapping it around a peg or taping it to the board. Step 3: Add glue I chose fabric glue from the craft store so the necklace would stay flexible and hold up to sweat and oils from skin. Apply glue thoroughly with a paintbrush; it works well if you dilute the glue with some water and soak the string. Make sure to squish the strings against each other on the pegs; you'll want them as close as possible so they adhere to each other. For this one, I slid a bamboo skewer under the string and pushed the bottom up while pushing the top down. I'm impatient. I use a hairdryer to dry the glue and help heat set it. When it's dry, gently scrape each point up from the peg using your nails. Be careful; you may have to scoot the points up slowly and go around the circle more than once to get it all the way off. Once it's off, note where the overlapping strings need more glue. Add more glue. Once it's off the jig, don't just turn the hairdryer on. The string will fly off the table and onto the floor. Don't ask me how I know this. Hold it down with a skewer or something else that pins the string down, and THEN turn on the hair dryer. Squish the overlapping strings together with your fingers. You'll want each string link to be flexible but strong enough to hold its shape. http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ Step 4: Make more links Make more links. It might go faster if you get your mom to help. I had mine help with the colored links, since that necklace was for her. Try different size jigs, different colors or thicknesses of string, and different patterns. Variety is nice. Be aware that the larger the inside opening of a link, the more likely a link is to get pulled out of shape when the necklace is attached. Image Notes 1. not so great for holding its shape 2. holds it shape quite well 3. hold their shape quite well 4. two links made separately then glued together 5. mom 6. string with gradient coloring Step 5: Attach the links Use metal jump rings to attach the links together. You can make some offset; vary the pattern. Make sure the string links can lay flat when the jump rings are all vertical. If you have enough links, you can simply attach a clasp to your necklace. If you don't want the string links to go around the back, tie a bit of string or ribbon to each end so you can tie the necklace on, or use wire with the ends bent into a clasp like I did. http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ Image Notes 1. it helps to hold the necklace up and look in the mirror to see if you like your pattern as you go Image Notes http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ 1. Please ignore the word magnets on our fridge. I don't know who put those there. 2. quick hook and eye closure made of cheap wire Related Instructables How to make a rose beaded necklace by charmanderawr1 THE REALLY DIY OF TATTING NECKLACE by minimoon Yarn Angel Doll (Photos) by ScorpioKat Lion Brand Challenge-Lion Christmas Stocking (Photos) by kkinser Make a Green Beaded Tier Necklace by MechanicalToaster Woolery-knitted/felted jewelry by rowsoprose Comments 45 comments Add Comment auntylulu says: Sep 21, 2011. 1:07 PM REPLY Mega Cool! Yay for "ADD" people keep it comming! calinschki says: Jul 31, 2011. 1:55 AM REPLY Wow! Gonna try this today! kerikins says: Jul 24, 2011. 4:57 PM REPLY Yay!!! Another ADDer here! I love to see what so many deem as problems to their advantage!!! Multi -tasking and thinking way outside the box! Where would we be without BIG thinkers? Without cars,electricity,phones...you get the idea. Everything in this world began with a single thought...You are an inspiration! As far as your views on autism I completely agree. Temple Grandin would be proud! Keri p.s I am writing your comment about making more stuff in my journal it's really good! quinchles says: Apr 7, 2011. 1:58 PM REPLY Neat! I thought of doing something like this a while ago, but couldn't figure out how to make the thread stiff. I guess I should try it now with the fabric glue :) piratecupcake says: Dec 3, 2010. 11:19 AM REPLY I absolutely love this! And I am thinking of different ways to vary this to make gifts for people, it would look cool as a book mark I think but is it sticky? Or once the glue dries is it not sticky? (I have never used fabric glue before) margann says: Nov 22, 2010. 5:13 AM REPLY Way cool! I think they would make great earrings. mooseinakilt says: Oct 25, 2010. 12:23 PM REPLY Really awesome idea! How fragile would you say the end product is? That's my only fear is that I'd destroy my work too easily. supersoftdrink says: Oct 26, 2010. 7:43 AM REPLY If you use fabric glue, it's pretty resilient. I can crumple the links into a ball and they spring back into shape. I'm not sure it would hold up so well if I used something like starch instead. mooseinakilt says: Thank you very much :) That's reassuring! I'll have to post up a pic when I try it out. http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ Oct 26, 2010. 11:52 AM REPLY KJS says: Sep 21, 2010. 3:10 AM REPLY Wow, really really nice! They look amazing, and just think of all the possibilities with different types of string, and how you assemble them. It might also look good in sort of a "cluster" where they are partly on top of each other. Can't wait to get started :) Great thinking! amstewart says: Aug 17, 2010. 10:38 AM REPLY Could you also use liquid starch? My grandmother used to crochet ornaments and then used liquid starch to make them hold their form. She would keep them pinned down or otherwise held the way she wanted to them to stay and then soaked them in it. Then she would just leave them a few days to dry completely. timothymh says: Aug 18, 2010. 9:34 AM REPLY I would imagine this would also work, but I have not tried it. Madrigorne says: Aug 17, 2010. 2:20 AM REPLY I am going to make them out of unbundled scsi cable and then attach them all over a dress, or my coat, or my hat, or my barrettes, or all o the above...also my purse.... These are so amazing. I will prolly use silicone sealant to goob them together instead of fabric glue - as they won't soak in the gluey goodness. I wonder if I could do this, and then also include LEDs and a batterypack... oh this will be fun... Kaelessin says: Aug 12, 2010. 12:49 PM REPLY I could see these taking off quite quickly! The main image looks really steampunk too which I like. These would make great pendants too no? RaNDoMLeiGH says: Aug 15, 2010. 9:52 PM REPLY I was thinking exactly the same thing... You could also use these to decorate a notebook or something. Oh dude... dip 'em in clear Plastidip!!!! Kaelessin says: Aug 16, 2010. 3:27 PM REPLY excellent plan! edwoodard says: Aug 16, 2010. 12:43 PM REPLY If I'm not mistaken the Victorians used to do something similar with the hair of their dead loved ones. cf. Antique Road show. Ya can't make this stuff up, folks! blopez says: As you mentioned, someone will be selling them. Check out Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/30297081/multi-coulour-spiro-necklacecircular?ref=sr_gallery_16&%3Bga_search_query=spirograph&%3Bga_search_type=category&%3Bcategory=jewelry&%3Bga_page=&%3Border=&%3Bincludes%5B hammer9876 says: Aug 15, 2010. 11:29 AM REPLY Very creative. The fact that it is something I can make from the things I have around the house just awesome. I, too, was just fascinated by spirograph. I think I still have mine stuffed away in the closet. Too cool to throw away. bptakoma says: Aug 15, 2010. 10:42 AM REPLY Awesome! I lovedall those hours with the spirograph too. These could also be donereally big for wall art or mobiles, maybe use acrylic medium or paverpol with rope. Or use wire. Wonderful -- keep sharing the great ideas. framistan says: Aug 15, 2010. 10:23 AM REPLY Your string idea seems to be something i can use on an instructable i am almost done with. I am building a big studio-microphone but the faceplate grille looks REALLY BAD.... and your string-weaving idea i think will really help me. here is a picture of what i am building and you will see how bad it looks. Thanks because now i will be able to re-do the grille and it will look GOOD when i get done. Weaving wires is not as easy to do as string looks. http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ darrenchittick says: Aug 15, 2010. 9:49 AM REPLY I like what you've done with this. I think it would be stellar if you changed up the shape of the final project so it wasn't just a circle of shapes, but so it had that plus a 'strand' of smaller shapes that hung straight down the back or the front or both or... so many choices! Brilliant work! terig says: Aug 15, 2010. 9:44 AM REPLY This is gorgeous - I can't wait to make it! I, too, loved spirograph, so this is gonna be awesome! myraelise says: Aug 15, 2010. 9:34 AM REPLY I am going to have to try these. I'll just add that to my list of hundreds of projects! Wish I had thought of it! eulaliaaaa! says: Aug 12, 2010. 4:09 PM REPLY Do you have to skip an even number of strings? I am just wondering because for some things it has to be either an even or an odd number... MonicaBerry says: Aug 13, 2010. 8:18 AM REPLY It's a division problem, if the total number of pegs is divisible by the number you're skipping, then some pegs won't be used. eulaliaaaa! says: Aug 13, 2010. 9:19 AM REPLY Thank you very much. KayakChickee says: Aug 13, 2010. 7:51 AM REPLY Could you use spray starch instead of glue? I wonder if you used it at least for the first part before you took it off the pegs. I'm going to have to investigate this option. Great tutorial! Kryptonite says: Aug 13, 2010. 4:06 AM REPLY That's awesome! The end out product of them all put together is very smart of you to come up with, and looks brilliant! You could probably sell them on etsy if ou wanted. Lettucehead says: Aug 12, 2010. 2:45 PM REPLY I love it! I tcould make this on my knitting loom! But does it actually have yarn in it? supersoftdrink says: Aug 12, 2010. 8:41 PM REPLY All the black is thin yarn. :) The colored stuff is embroidery floss. onrust says: Aug 12, 2010. 8:26 PM REPLY Beautifully done........ but you must know that. justa_person says: This is the coolest form of jewelery I've ever seen! Thanks for sharing :) http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ Aug 12, 2010. 8:24 PM REPLY abbyholverson says: Aug 12, 2010. 12:20 PM REPLY These are AWESOME. Any chance you sell them? :) supersoftdrink says: Aug 12, 2010. 12:27 PM REPLY I made them because I wanted something similar I saw somewhere for lots of money... I can't make more any time soon. My husband is in software and works a lot of hours, and I stay home with our toddler and twin babies, one of whom has a severe medical condition that requires lots of extra care. I don't even get a shower most days... but I'm glad you like them. I'll bet someone starts making and selling them soon. :) abbyholverson says: Aug 12, 2010. 12:34 PM REPLY I had to check! It looks super fun to make, I'm going to have to give a try myself! nodnol says: Aug 12, 2010. 7:24 PM REPLY Would also look neat when done w/ jeweler's wire, which comes in metallic and different colors. lauradufresne says: Aug 12, 2010. 7:13 PM REPLY A Mazing! click HERE for latest obsession says: Aug 12, 2010. 5:24 PM REPLY Gorgeous! ChrysN says: Aug 12, 2010. 4:04 PM REPLY They look amazing! lizstaley says: Aug 12, 2010. 2:58 PM REPLY This is quite possibly the most awesome thing I've ever seen... tcup120 says: Aug 12, 2010. 1:01 PM REPLY I love them - they're so wonderful! yoyology says: Aug 12, 2010. 12:26 PM REPLY They should be more structurally sound if, as you go around each peg, you bring the string under the work, up through the middle, then over the work to the next peg. This will ensure that everything crosses in the middle, and the glue will hold better there. Beautiful, simple design. I love it! momwithahook says: Aug 12, 2010. 12:11 PM REPLY Wow, excellent. Remember doing these in grade school to learn math but these are too cute. Would also be great as wall art or earrings. :) scoochmaroo says: If you need some test-wearers, I will send you my address. Love these! http://www.instructables.com/id/String-Art-Necklace/ Aug 12, 2010. 11:51 AM REPLY