NEBULA

DIFFICULTY:

Here’s another take on the geometric pattern we used in the Overlapping Circles project. This is the same pattern, only the inverse fill. These shapes definitely remind me of shining stars, so the name “Nebula” was perfect for this project. Again, the sky is the limit with patterns like these—you can add onto them where you see fit, giving you plenty of design freedom.

Materials

2 pine boards: 1" × 8" (2.5cm × 20.5cm), each cut to 17" (43cm) long and stained (Shown: Minwax Water-Based Wood Stain in Green Tea)

5⁄8" (1.6cm) silver nails

Embroidery floss in 4 colors (Shown: DMC 3804/Dark Cyclamen Pink, 915/Dark Plum, 550/Very Dark Violet)

2 photocopies of pattern (page 44)

2 sets of picture-hanging hardware

4 felt furniture pads

Tools: Hammer, needle-nose pliers

Basic supplies: Superglue, scissors, transparent tape

Techniques Used

Preparing a board (page 8)

Applying a nail pattern (page 9)

Stringing basics (pages 10–11)

Finished Size (h × w)

17" × 7.5" (43cm × 19cm) each

  1. Start by deciding which board will have which shapes. Shade in the shapes on your pattern, to help keep it clear what goes where. For one board, I used all three interior star shapes (1, 2, and 3), and for the other, I trimmed the third star and positioned it farther away on the board. The design is totally up to you. Tape your pattern to your board. Make sure none of the nail marks are too close to the edge; I like to leave about a 1⁄4" (6mm) to 1⁄2" (1.3cm) gap.
  2. Nail through your pattern to create your design. Remove the paper and debris.
  3. Choose which colors go where and tie on (sealing your knot) to being stringing. I recommend not starting on a nail that will be shared with the other shapes, as the knot takes up more space on the nail. Begin with the outline of the shape, following with the fill. The shapes fill pretty quickly on this one. Be sure to seal every knot you make.
  4. Once your shapes are finished, lay out your boards to decide their orientation. Attach the picture-hanging hardware to the back, as well as the felt pads. Sign and date your work and choose where to display your starry art!

NEBULA PATTERN

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