Hi there my tangling friends, welcome back and thanks as always for your company 🙂 .
Can I just start by saying how great the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches taking place in Mexico, Canada and the USA have been so far, and it’s only the opening rounds! Whether the countries are soccer giants expected to dominate or small countries facing them, the performances have been fantastic. And the stars have shone. I mean come on, Argentina’s Lionel Messi hat-trick? France’s Kylian Mbappé, and Norway’s Erling Haaland each with two goals in their matches? And all three performances were just yesterday’s entertainment! Stadiums are full of rabid fans contrary to all predictions. Competition and stellar plays in “the beautiful game” should really be something special as we go forward to the next rounds. </end of sports chat 😉 >
Today we have another tangle from Australia’s Fred Knowles, Margin is his second on the site. Recently we explored his Cloudz tangle.
Fred writes,
I named this pattern Margin because I first drew it in my maths book margins (although I’ve been told maths is not art).
I like how there are different patterns within it, and in the example I shaded the plusses so they were easier to see.
Every second ‘box’ has been tilted so that, when put together, the inside corners make a + in the center.
When I was experimenting, I tried shading different parts – like the criss crossing lines and the plusses. Then I tried tilting every second box, tried it in a grid, then a curved grid.
I also just did a line of the tangle to see if it could make a ribbon.
My favourite part of Zentangle® is experimenting. My favourite sketch book is the one where I scribble whatever I like, try shading and experiment with new patterns. I have a whole page covered with various forms of my chop which took forever to get right. Once I had it I couldn’t help repeating it over and over. I love that nothing has to be perfect.
Tangling Margin reminded me of constructing CZT Annette Carlo’s little then-five year old daughter’s L Zen 7’s, it helped me to remember that as I was setting up the foundation of Margin. I added shading in alternating spaces, was very tempted to fill them in solid with ink. Exploring graphite and ink fills is always fun experimentation. What if? What if?
Fred illustrates the step-by-step instructions for drawing Margin below, “Additional tangles in the example are Hokam (vertical) and Kruffle (horizontal).”
Image copyright the artist and used with permission, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. These images are for your personal offline reference only. Please feel free to refer to the images to recreate this tangle in your personal Zentangles and ZIAs. However the artist and TanglePatterns.com reserve all rights to the images and they must not be publicly pinned, altered, reproduced or republished. (Small side note: if you look at the legalese in Pinterest, you are legally responsible for obtaining permission to post every photo that gets ‘Pinned’. Giving credit or sharing the source link doesn’t count.) Thank you for respecting these rights. “We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.” ~ Albus Dumbledore
As you enjoy any of the tangles on the site, please leave a comment of thanks and encouragement to show the artists you appreciate them for sharing their creativity to inspire yours. Your thanks helps motivate them to continue to share! And please share a link to your favorite tangles on social media. Republishing images isn’t allowed. Thanks!
Check out the tag frederickk for more of Fred’s tangles on TanglePatterns.com.
.oOo.
Share your Tangle on TanglePatterns
Have you created a tangle you'd like to share with the community? I'd love to see it.
You do not need to be a CZT to submit a pattern. Many of the tangles on TanglePatterns began as ideas shared by readers just like you.
Before sending your pattern, please take a few minutes to review What Makes a Zentangle® Tangle? and How to Submit Your Pattern Deconstruction to TanglePatterns. These pages on the SUBMIT YOUR PATTERN menu explain what qualifies as a tangle and how to prepare your pattern.
Not every pattern will be selected for publication, but I sincerely appreciate everyone who takes the time to share their creativity and contribute to TanglePatterns.
When you're ready, simply send your pattern by email following the instructions on the submission page.
I look forward to seeing what you've created.
.oOo.
Related Links
- Looking for tangles by Artist or Type? For details visit the ABOUT > HOW TO FIND TANGLES BY ARTIST OR TYPE page on the top menu bar of any page on the site.
- What is a Zentangle? — if you are new to the Zentangle Method, start here for the fundamentals.
- Zentangle terminology — a glossary of terms used in this art form.
- How to use the site — an excellent free video tutorial showing how to use the site as well as pointing out lots of useful features you might have missed.
- Linda's List of Zentangle-Original Patterns — here is the complete list of original tangles (aka "official tangles") created and introduced by founders Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, including those not published online. If you are new to the Zentangle Method I highly recommend learning a few of the published Zentangle classics first.
- What Makes a Zentangle tangle? A Zentangle has no up or down and is not a picture of something, so you have no worries about whether you can draw a hand, or a duck. You always succeed in creating a Zentangle. Patterns that are drawings of a recognizable naturalistic or actual object, figure, or scene, are not tangles, and tangles never start with pencil planning.
- A pattern is not always a tangle.
- Un motif n’est pas toujours un tangle — Qu’est-ce qu’un tangle ?
- Un diseño no es siempre un tangle — ¿Qué es un tangle?
- How to submit your pattern deconstruction to TanglePatterns
- For lots of great FREE tutorials on TanglePatterns, click on the TUTORIALS link in the pink alphabetic menu bar below the tangle images at the top of any page.
- Strings! Have we got STRINGS! Click on the STRINGS link in the pink alphabetic menu bar below the tangle images at the top of any page for 250 different (free) Zentangle-starters. More than enough for any lifetime.
- Never miss a tangle! FREE eMAIL NEWSLETTER - visit the Here's how to SUBSCRIBE button (top of left sidebar on any page) and sign up to get notices delivered free to your inbox.
- If you have questions about the TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE, visit the BOOK REVIEWS tab on the top menu bar of any page on the site for COMPLETE details.
|
.oOo. |
|
Enhance your Zentangle experience while supporting TanglePatterns: |
|
BRAND NEW! TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE, 2026 Edition |
|
 |
The 15th Edition of the TanglePatterns.com TANGLE GUIDE is an instant-download 123-page interactive digital eBook/PDF containing over 2,300 tangles on the site from May 2010 through December 31, 2025. It's a great resource and a must-have digital tool for using the site. Visit the STORE > E-BOOKS page and help keep TanglePatterns.com going by getting your copy now! |
|
"Linda, Thank you! I was relying on too few and getting stuck after 3 years of daily working with Zentangle. This has inspired me to ‘begin again’ with renewed excitement." ~ Barbara R. |
|
| See the BOOK REVIEWS page for more details on its features and view a sample page. Note: this is a digital product downloaded immediately when ordering, nothing will be physically mailed to you. | |
| If you're new to Zentangle® and tangling, my TanglePatterns.com BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO ZENTANGLE is just what you need to get started. Also available en Français and en Español. | |
|
|
|
 |
This is the only Zentangle book you'll ever need: the fabulous Zentangle PRIMER Vol 1. It's your CZT-in-a-book by the founders of Zentangle®. For more about the content and to read the rave reviews, visit the BOOK REVIEWS tab. |
| Available in KINDLE format for $9.99. Spanish Edition here. Japanese Edition here. | |
| "Absolutely the best Zentangle Book yet! As an accomplished artist I used to think I did not need instruction on this art form. How wrong I was! My tangling improved by leaps and bounds after reading this book. If you think you have Zentangle down then you need this book more than ever!" ~ Kris H | |
|
|
|
|
.oOo. |
|
June 17, 2026 | 
More like this: 
This is a fun tangle, Frederick, with lots of possibilities for borders and ribbons — I can even see it in large size as a reticulum.
It’s inspiring that you are already contributing to the growing body of tangles — when I was in high school, my art was still being corrected by teachers! I’m sure that contributed to my bypassing art as a major at University!
BTW, Phi tiles are the perfect response to people who tell you that maths is not art!