u/Adamjelo-aj47

Hi everyone,

Since you gave so much love to my previous post (thank you so much for the 3.5k views and all the upvotes in the first hour!), I decided to sort through the rest of the box and share part 2 of my 20-year-old paper embroidery journey.

These pieces focus even more on layered geometric logic, shifting colors, and complex intersections. Looking at them now, I can see how obsessed I was with finding the perfect balance between different thread tensions. It was a hell of a lot of trial and error back then!

It's pretty wild to see how well the thread survived two decades in a dark box. Thank you again for all the nostalgic stories and kind words on the last post—it really motivated me to document these properly!

Which pattern or color combo from this batch is your favorite?

Hi everyone,

I was doing some deep cleaning at home and stumbled upon a box containing my old projects. These are paper embroidery (string art on paper) pieces that I created over 20 years ago.

Back then, I didn't have detailed online tutorials; it was just pure geometry, a needle, and colored thread. It’s fascinating to look back and see how I managed to maintain symmetry and tension before I moved on to the much more complex, multi-hour anime portraits I do now. Some pieces are simpler, while others show my early attempts at more intricate patterns.

Even though my current work involves significantly more labor—sometimes over 20 hours per piece—these "retro" works hold a special place for me as a reminder of where my passion for this hobby began.

Does anyone else remember this technique? Did you ever try something similar in school or as a hobby?

Hi everyone,

I was doing some deep cleaning at home and stumbled upon a box containing my old projects. These are paper embroidery (string art on paper) pieces that I created over 20 years ago.

Back then, I didn't have detailed online tutorials; it was just pure geometry, a needle, and colored thread. It’s fascinating to look back and see how I managed to maintain symmetry and tension before I moved on to the much more complex, multi-hour anime portraits I do now. Some pieces are simpler, while others show my early attempts at more intricate patterns.

Even though my current work involves significantly more labor—sometimes over 20 hours per piece—these "retro" works hold a special place for me as a reminder of where my passion for this hobby began.

Does anyone else remember this technique? Did you ever try something similar in school or as a hobby?

I’m back with another paper embroidery project! This time it’s Yor Forger.

The Tech: > Just like my last piece, I used a recycled cake box for reinforcement behind the A4 paper. This extra stiffness allowed me to pack the thread density even tighter, especially in her hair and the black dress details.

The Process:

It took 26 hours from start to finish. I worked in segments to avoid getting lost in the thousands of holes I had to pre-pierce. It’s a slow, meditative grind, but the 3D texture of the thread on paper is something I can’t get enough of.

Any tips for what character I should try next with this technique?

Hello everyone.

I wanted to share my latest piece: a portrait of the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho. Unlike traditional string art on boards, this is hand-stitched directly into paper.

This project took approximately 20 hours of meticulous work. Dealing with paper as a medium presents a unique set of challenges that I had to navigate throughout the process:

1. The Fragility of the Medium: > Unlike fabric or wood, paper has zero elasticity and a very low tolerance for tension. Every single hole had to be pre-pierced with absolute precision. One wrong move or excessive pull on the thread would have caused the paper to tear, effectively ruining hours of work. Managing the tension balance was a constant exercise in patience.

2. Geometric Complexity & Density: > Recreating the sharp, jagged aesthetic of anime hair using only straight lines of thread requires careful planning of the "pathing." I had to layer the black thread to create the necessary depth and solid fills for her hair and uniform, while being careful not to over-perforate the paper, which would weaken the structural integrity of the page.

3. Capturing the Details: > The most rewarding (and stressful) part was the fine detail work in the eyes and the butterfly hair ornament. Using purple gradients to mimic the shimmering effect of her character design was achieved by overlapping threads at specific angles to catch the light.

Technical Specs:

Time: ~20 hours

Technique: Paper Embroidery / Pierced Paper Art

Character: Shinobu Kocho (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)

For those who also experiment with embroidery on non-traditional surfaces: What paper weight do you find best for high-density stitching? I used a heavy cardstock here, but I'm always looking to refine the process.

I’ve included a timelapse of the creation process. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the final result!