Best Threads for Everlasting String Art Signs

What Thread Should You Use for String Art?

A practical guide based on real projects, not theory

You’ve got the wooden base.

You’ve hammered in the nails.

Now comes the part that quietly determines whether your string art project feels calm and satisfying, or frustrating and messy: choosing the right thread.

Thread choice affects everything. Tension. Coverage. How clean your lines look. How enjoyable the process feels once you’re a few hundred wraps in. With so many materials available, it’s easy to overthink it. This guide exists to simplify that decision.

Everything here is based on years of making string art signs, kits, and patterns, and answering the same question from customers again and again.

A Quick Note on “String” vs “Thread”

In this article, the words string and thread are used interchangeably. Technically, they’re different materials, but in the context of string art, what matters is thickness, texture, and how the material behaves on nails.

Start With Cotton Thread (This Is the Default)

For most string art projects, cotton thread is the best place to start.

It’s forgiving. It holds tension well. It doesn’t slip easily. And it’s widely available in a good range of colors. If you’re making string art for yourself and want the process to feel steady rather than stressful, cotton is usually the right choice.

If you’re familiar with crochet thread sizes:

• Size 10 or 20 works well for most designs
• Size 3 or 5 can be useful for large areas and longer nails
• Size 40 or sewing thread works for fine details and tight spaces

You don’t need to obsess over exact sizes. If the color works and the thickness is close, the project will still turn out well.

For finishing details or areas with many existing layers of string, thinner thread can make the process noticeably easier. This is especially true once the nails already carry a lot of tension.

Mixing different cotton thread sizes in one piece is not only fine, it’s often practical.

Polyester and Nylon Threads (Use With Intention)

Polyester and nylon threads look appealing on paper. They’re smooth, often slightly shiny, and come in an impressive color range. We’ve tested them extensively.

They can work, but they require more control.

These threads are slippery. They tangle easily. Knots don’t always stay where you put them. For highly controlled geometric designs, especially when creating color gradients, thinner nylon or polyester threads can be effective.

We often use them in geometric signs and some DIY kits where uniformity matters.

However, for complex shapes or large filled areas, they can turn the process into a fight. One Easter-themed sign we made looked beautiful in the end, but the process was far more difficult than it needed to be. The material choice made the work harder, not better.

If you value a smooth process over a perfect sheen, cotton will usually serve you better.

Mixing Thread Types (When It Makes Sense)

Mixing materials can work well when done intentionally.

We’ve used cotton for soft, matte areas and nylon for sharper outlines or accents in the same piece. A sleeping fox design is a good example: cotton for the white details, nylon for the rest.

The key is not variety for its own sake, but contrast with purpose.

Linen Thread (Beautiful, but Not Forgiving)

Being Latvian, I have a soft spot for linen. It has a natural, muted look that works beautifully with organic designs and reclaimed wood.

Linen thread is slightly thicker than cotton and doesn’t split as easily, which can be an advantage. But it’s also rougher and less forgiving. Consistent tension is essential, and the color range is limited.

We used linen thread for a giraffe silhouette on a reclaimed wood base, and it worked because the design had large areas and a natural aesthetic.

If you choose linen:

• use longer nails
• avoid hammering nails too deep
• plan your spacing carefully

Otherwise, you may simply run out of space on the nails.

Linen is a choice you make for the look, not the ease of process.

Embroidery Thread (For Color Accuracy)

Embroidery floss is usually too thick unless you split it, which adds extra work. That said, the color range is unmatched.

When a specific shade matters and cannot be compromised, embroidery thread is often the only option. We use it mainly for custom orders where the client has a very precise color requirement.

It’s not the most practical material, but sometimes accuracy matters more than convenience.

Yarn (Not Our Choice, but Valid)

Yarn is thick, soft, and easy to handle, which makes it popular with some string artists. For us, it attracts too much dust and feels too bulky for most designs.

That said, yarn works well for:

• kids’ projects
• large, playful designs
• decorative styles like gnomes or feathers

If you’ve spent any time browsing string art online, you’ve seen beautiful yarn-based pieces. It’s not wrong, it’s just a different direction.

Copper Wire (An Accent, Not a Default)

Copper wire adds weight, shine, and durability. Used on its own or as an accent, it can completely change the character of a piece.

We sometimes use copper wire to highlight outlines or small details we want to stand out. Fully copper wire signs look striking, but they are heavier and require proper hanging hardware.

Copper wire is not always easy to find locally, and it’s a deliberate choice rather than a casual one.

Thread Is Part of the Experience

Thread choice doesn’t exist in isolation. It interacts with:

• nail type
• nail length
• spacing
• wood hardness

If thread choice matters to you, these related topics complete the picture:

• what nails to use for string art
• how to create clean nail holes
• why material quality matters
• working without a kit and choosing wood bases

Final Thoughts

There is no single thread that works for every project. But there is a clear starting point.

For most string art projects, cotton thread offers the best balance between control, comfort, and results. Other materials can elevate a piece when chosen intentionally, but they often demand more skill and patience.

Choose materials that support the process, not fight it.

Happy crafting,

Renate from GoodStrings