This week’s String is shared by tangler Shirleen Long for your creative enjoyment. This is Shirleen’s first string in our resource and though it appears some of her string may have been drawn using a ruler, remember that everything Zentangle is drawn freehand. No rulers in Zentangle. Use Sue Zanker’s tip :
“A wee hint for those of us who have trouble drawing a ‘straight’ line. Never watch the pen as you draw the line, but go ahead and keep your eye on the spot to where you are heading……your brain computes the rest! I learnt this one eons ago and it does work, just trust your brain!”
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 Zentangles for others to see, look for the blue ADD YOUR LINK button below. “How to” instructions are there too.
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!” Bijouism #12 – Choose your tangles
- 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.
- TanglePatterns Strings group on flickr – another way to share your finished art using these Strings for all to enjoy
- 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! | |
February 27, 2016 | 
My niece, now a school teacher, used to be a waitress, and she said the way to keep trays full of liquids balanced was to look at where you were going, not at the tray. Same principle applies for drawing straight lines, it seems 🙂
Sure does! We just don’t give our brains enough credit sometimes! I tried an experiment only recently. I carefully drew a circle and a triangle, which looked OK, then further down the page I drew them both again, but with my eyes tightly shut (didn’t cheat!) and as I drew I visualised the shapes in my mind, and BINGO the eyes shut versions were not too bad at all! Concentrate and give it a try, it’s fun to see what our “leetle grey cells” can do ! (as Hercule Poirot would say!)