SUBURBAN * POP

This is a super simple and instantly gratifying project. You need zero skill for some major impact. What you do need is some embroidery thread, pins, scissors, and a pinning surface. I found this framed cork piece at a thrift store for a dollar and I knew right away that threading needed to happen on it. You could easily buy some cork sheets and frame them out to recreate this surface (word to the wise: use thick cork! Mine is 1/2″ thick and anything thinner would have been difficult to work with and have pins poking out of the other side). Alternatively, you could wrap linen or burlap over wood or another thick surface and shove pins, or even hammer nails, into that. The cork gives it such a mosaic-y look, though, so I’d go with it.

Step 1

Place your pins in any sort of line or shape. I did a large ‘S’. I roughly pinned maybe 7 points along my line and then filled in the rest about 1/4″ apart. I completely eyeballed it all and have no regrets.

Step 2

Choose a color and a tie the end to a pin. Then, wrap it around adjacent pins and back, repeating on down the line. Knot the thread back onto itself when you are satisfied with your shape and coverage.

Step 3

Continue with other thread colors on other pins. Don’t be afraid to overlap. And don’t feel like you need to connect each pin to every other. Go crazy with your designs. Nothing is permanent.

Step 4

You can extend your options by adding a solo pin outside of your original line/shape and then connecting back to it, like I did here with the orange. Instant interest.

Step 5

Experiment and remove what you don’t like – it takes 5 seconds. Every thing is easily erased. If you make lines you don’t love, take them out, like I did here with this second orange triangle. It was getting a little wild for me, and looking very bird like, so I took that thread out and called it a day.

Step 6

Done. Hang it up. It took 30 minutes.

I have my weird string sculpture hanging in my guest room and I love seeing it everyday when I walk by. If you actually attempt this I’d love to see your work so please share. Thanks for reading!

P.S. If you have older kids, this is a great project to do with them!