Draw a basic figure shape in pencil onto a large sheet of paper or card. Observe a photograph, or work from a real-life subject.
Decide how you want to fill in the figure shape with string. For instance, fill the shape with straight lines of string going in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction. Arrange the string into patterns like spirals or squiggles, or create a mosaic effect with the string.
Cut your string to your required length with a pair of sharp scissors for the filling technique you are going to use, and affix the string with craft glue.
You can leave it natural or paint over the string with acrylic paint, if preferred.
Draw a figure in chalk or pencil onto a flat sheet of wood.
Hammer in nails around the outline of the figure shape, leaving an inch of space between each nail. Make sure that the nail heads are all level.
Wind the string around the nails in any pattern of your choice. Be experimental in your approach to create woven patterns to form your 2-D string sculpture.
Refer to an image of a figure for your subject.
Construct the base of your figure using either wire, chicken wire or newspaper. Manipulate thin wire or chicken wire into a skeleton-like framework; or alternatively, scrunch up newspaper and bind together with sellotape to shape each body part.
Soak the string in pure starch, which should be dissolved in a bowl of warm water before winding the string tightly around the figure until all the surface area of the figure is covered. Leave to dry overnight.