This week’s String is shared by tangler Barbara Finwall for your creative enjoyment. Barbara has shared several tangles as well as several strings and you can locate them all by plugging her last name into the Search TanglePatterns.com box at the top right of any page.
Bear in mind that Zentangle® strings are guidelines, and there is no right side up. Strings are always drawn freehand in pencil so they magically disappear into your completed Zentangle.
You can use a string exactly as it is or adapt it to suit as your Zentangle grows. Start with the string as it’s shown then, as you go, combine sections if your tangles want to, or divide a section into smaller ones. Go with the flow and enjoy.
You can help our community’s String resource grow by sending me yours to share. Remember to keep them simple, Zentangle strings are not elaborate or complicated. For your convenience, below there’s a link to a template to use if you’d like. The template helps keep the Strings consistent in size.
If you’d like to share your completed tiles for other to see, look for the blue ADD YOUR LINK button below.
Right click and SAVE to your computer; then print. Pinning of any content from this site is not permitted. Thank you for respecting these rights.
Lightly pencil the string on your tile and you’re good to go tangling. Enjoy!
Reminders:
- Important: Strings are always drawn freehand in pencil so they magically disappear into your completed Zentangle.
- Use any string over and over again with different tangles.
- There are so many tangles available that your Zentangles will always be different even using the same string.
- Or use it with only one tangle — a monotangle.
- Usually each string will have many options.
- The Border (if one is given) is also a suggestion — use it, change it, or ignore it. It’s your art.
- As Bijou says, “Sometimes I even leave a section blank; which is occasionally my best choice!“
- And remember, in Zentangle there’s no right-side-up!
Related Links
- The Importance of Strings – and String 001
- Template to submit your Strings for sharing – right click link to save this PDF (or click link to open PDF), an instruction page is included with the template. The template helps keep all the Strings consistent in size for the site.
- Click on the link “STRINGS” on the alphabetic menu bar above for more Strings
- Linda’s List of Official Zentangle® Patterns – the complete list of official patterns (i.e., created by Zentangle® founders Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas), including those not published online
eBooks available from TanglePatterns.com
TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDES, Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Sure you can download the strings from the site but this saves you tons of time and as always your purchase helps keep TanglePatterns going and growing. Each STRING GUIDE begins by describing the importance of Strings in Zentangle® and then presents 50 strings from the site’s resource. Strings are given in two formats to jump-start your Zentangle creativity: three pages contain “at-a-glance” size images of all 50 strings, followed by 13 pages of full-size traceable images. Additional String suggestions by several CZTs are also provided. As an added bonus, beginning with Volume 2 each guide also contains blank String Organizers for you to record and organize your own favorite Strings.|
TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDE, Volume 1 (Strings 1-50) |
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VOLUME 1 - STRINGS 001-050. A 22-page PDF eBook. |
| TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDE, Volume 2 (Strings 51-100) | |
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VOLUME 2 - STRINGS 051-100. A 24-page PDF eBook includes bonus blank String Organizers to organize your own Strings. |
| TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDE, Volume 3 (Strings 101-150) | |
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VOLUME 3 - STRINGS 101-150. A 24-page PDF eBook includes bonus blank String Organizers to organize your own Strings. |
| TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDE, Volume 4 (Strings 151-200) | |
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VOLUME 4 - STRINGS 151-200. A 24-page PDF eBook includes bonus blank String Organizers to organize your own Strings. |
| TanglePatterns.com STRING GUIDE, Volume 5 (Strings 201-250) | |
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VOLUME 5 - STRINGS 201-250. A 24-page PDF eBook includes bonus blank String Organizers to organize your own Strings. |
| Visit the STORE > E-BOOKS page for more information and support TanglePatterns.com by getting your copies now! | |
November 29, 2014 | 
HI Barbara,
I really like this string, thank you for submitting it. Is there a tile showing your interpretation of how you used this string?
Thanks, again,
Maureen
I liked this string as well since it goes so well with Rick’s paradox which is one of my favorite tangles.
I don’t know how to upload the Zentangle I did with this string or I’d put it up. I never have done that before since I’m still fairly new to this and don’t have the confidence.
Thank you for sharing.
Sylvia
Hi Sylvia, if you don’t already have an account with flickr.com (it’s free) I recommend you open one. Then you can scan your Zentangle and upload the image to your flickr account. When you do that be sure to add the link for this page in your image description. Then return to this page and look for the blue ADD YOUR LINK button and follow the instructions there. It’s all easier than it sounds, just take your time and follow the instructions.
We were all beginners, so don’t be shy! This is a very supportive community.
BTW – if you need help with scanning your Zentangle, look on the TUTORIALS tab. There’s an article there about scanning images for the web.