Pumpkin String Art
This pumpkin string art is SO PRETTY! It’s such a fun and relaxing craft, perfect for fall, autumn, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.
Use our free, printable template to make these beautiful string art signs! These string art pumpkins are super easy to make, and they look amazing as decorations on the mantle.
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DIY Pumpkin String Art
Materials:
- Free Printable Pumpkin String Art Template
- 3/4 inch thick wood(stained; roughly 10 x 10 inch size)
- Common nails(between 3/4 and 1 inch long)
- 3skeinsPumpkin orange embroidery thread
- 1skeinBrown embroidery thread
- 2skeinsDark orange embroidery thread
Check Out The Video Tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Add the template to the wood
- Print off the free pumpkin string art template (find the link in the list of supplies above!).Cut out the shape roughly, leaving a small border outside of the shape.
- Tape the pumpkin to the center of your wood board to keep it in place.You can use plain wood, or stain your wood ahead of time like we did.
Step 3: Hammer in the nails and remove the template
- Hammer in the nails around the outside of the pumpkin so they’re sticking out about 1/2 inch above the wood.If you’re using the template, add the nails on the marked spots. Otherwise, add nails every 1/2 to 3/4 inch, keeping them a fairly even distance apart.
- Continue, adding nails all around the outside of the pumpkin and along the inside lines.Make any final adjustments, checking that the nails are fairly straight and evenly hammered into the wood.
- Rip off the pumpkin template from the board. Try to remove as much of the paper as possible.If you can’t reach some of the tiny pieces, use tweezers to help pull it out.
Step 4: Add string to the nails
- Start by tying the pumpkin orange embroidery floss to one of the nails in a double knot.Leave 1 to 2 inches of string on the end.
- Begin weaving the string up one section of the pumpkin, going from nail to nail in a zig zag pattern.
- Once you reach the top of the pumpkin, come back down the same section in the opposite direction.
- Go over the same section 2 – 3 more times, overlapping the previous thread as you go from side to side at different angles.Then move on to the next section, doing the same thing.
- When you run out of thread, tie off the last thread and start a new one.
- Work section by section until you’ve filled the whole pumpkin. Push the string down on the nails as needed.
- Tie the brown embroidery thread onto the stem.
- Weave the string back and forth across the stem, going over the nails several times. Cut and tie off the string when you’re happy with how the stem looks.
Step 5: Make an outside border
- Use the darker orange thread to create a border around the pumpkin. Start by tying the string onto one of the outside nails.
- Working along the outside of the pumpkin, wrap the string around each nail so that it makes a straight line across the inside of the nails.To do this, we went in a counterclockwise direction around the pumpkin. Bring the thread from nail to nail, making a clockwise loop around each nail to keep the string in place.
- Once you’ve made your way around the whole pumpkin, reverse directions and create a border around the outside of the same nails.Move back around the pumpkin in a clockwise direction, still wrapping the thread clockwise around each nail.
- Now add a third part of the border. Fill in the center of the border by going between the same nails in an opposite direction each time, creating a zigzag between them.
- Finally, go back in the opposite direction one last time, zigzagging in the opposite direction.
- Once you’ve finished the outside border, cut and tie off the string.
Step 6: Create other borders and cut off the extra string
- Do the same border on the pumpkin stem, using the brown coloured string. Repeat the process of going around each side of the nails and zigzagging between them in both directions. Cut and tie off the thread once finished.
- Tie on a new darker orange thread on the bottom left and make a border around each inside section of nails.Continue on to the next row by going across the bottom nails.
- Finish creating borders around the next two ribs of the pumpkin. Tie and cut off the thread when complete.
- Trim the excess string, close to the knots you’ve tied.
- Your string art pumpkin is complete!
Helpful Tips:
1. Stain or paint the wood before adding the nails for a nicely finished board.
2. If you’re worried about hitting your fingers, or if you need to add a nail in a small spot where your fingers don’t reach, use pliers to hold the nail in place while you’re hammering.
3. Hammer the nails in on the ground or another steady surface. Your table will shake, and possibly move around, as you add the nails into the wood.
4. Use wood that’s at least 1/2 inch thick or, ideally, the same thickness as your nails are long. This will prevent the nails from sticking out the back of the board.
Download our free pumpkin string art template:
Click on the link or image below to download our free, printable pumpkin string art template! The PDF file will open in a new window. Then simply print the template onto regular 8.5 x 11 (letter size) paper.
This template is sized for a 10 x 10 inch board. If your board is a different size, scale the template larger or smaller while printing to fit your board. We recommend leaving about 1 inch of space between the outer nails and the outside edges of your board.
>>> Pumpkin String Art Template <<<
What kind of string do you use for string art?
We like to use embroidery floss when making string art. We like the clean look of this thread and the huge selection of colours available.
However, you can use any type of string that’s thin enough to be wound around the nails. Try using thin jute twine, crochet cotton, 2mm macrame cord, or baker’s twine.
You can also use regular yarn, but because it’s thicker you may want to space the nails a bit further apart. Longer nails are also a good idea with thicker string, because the wider the yarn, the more height it will take up as it’s wound around the nails.
What kind of nails should I use for this pumpkin string art? How many do I need?
We used common framing nails that are 1 inch long (2 d size) with a 4 mm wide flat head. If you follow our template you’ll need exactly 92 nails, but we recommend having at least 100 on hand, just in case any get bent or broken.
What can I use instead of nails for string art?
Instead of nails, try poking straight pins into a thick foam board. Or make a different design (like a fall leaf or a bat outline) on a foam pumpkin for a whole different type of pumpkin string art!
You can also punch a design in some cardstock and weave the string or yarn in and out of the holes, like we did for our Halloween string art cards.
These string art pumpkins are such a creative DIY project for fall! They’re super easy to make, and although they take a bit of time to come together, it’s a really simple and relaxing process.
Make a pumpkin string art sign to decorate your house, or give one as a gift! They make such a fun homemade present for birthdays, a hostess gift, or any another special occasion.
Here’s even more string art ideas:
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada