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Fractaleria Generator

Free patterns

Free string art patterns to print

Ten mandala templates with their measurements, the list of materials and the stringing order layer by layer. Open them in the generator to change the colors or the size and download the nail template as a PDF at actual size.

11-nail mandala

11 nails · 30 × 30 cm board (12 × 12 in) · 24 cm circle · 4 layers of string

Stringing order
  1. Layer 1, white. Tie off and count 5 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  2. Layer 2, yellow. Tie off and count 4 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  3. Layer 3, orange. Tie off and count 3 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  4. Layer 4, red. Tie off and count 2 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  5. Before tying off each layer, check the pattern. When you finish, slide the colors up or down on the nails to add depth, and glue down the loose ends.
Materials
  • A board measuring 30 × 30 cm, painted.
  • 11 nails.
  • String in white, thick (perle cotton): about 3 m.
  • String in yellow, thick (perle cotton): about 3 m.
  • String in orange, thick (perle cotton): about 3 m.
  • String in red, thick (perle cotton): about 2 m.
  • The meters include 10% extra for knots and turns around the nails.
Measurements to draw it
  • Board: 30 × 30 cm (suggested)
  • Circle: compass set to 12 cm
  • Between nails: 6.8 cm with the compass, or every 32.73° with the protractor
  • Number: 11 is prime: when you count, any skip passes through every nail
Open in the generator

13-nail mandala

13 nails · 30 × 30 cm board (12 × 12 in) · 24 cm circle · 5 layers of string

Stringing order
  1. Layer 1, white. Tie off and count 6 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  2. Layer 2, turquoise. Tie off and count 5 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  3. Layer 3, blue. Tie off and count 4 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  4. Layer 4, violet. Tie off and count 3 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  5. Layer 5, fuchsia. Tie off and count 2 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  6. Before tying off each layer, check the pattern. When you finish, slide the colors up or down on the nails to add depth, and glue down the loose ends.
Materials
  • A board measuring 30 × 30 cm, painted.
  • 13 nails.
  • String in white, thick (perle cotton): about 4 m.
  • String in turquoise, thick (perle cotton): about 4 m.
  • String in blue, thick (perle cotton): about 3 m.
  • String in violet, thick (perle cotton): about 3 m.
  • String in fuchsia, thick (perle cotton): about 2 m.
  • The meters include 10% extra for knots and turns around the nails.
Measurements to draw it
  • Board: 30 × 30 cm (suggested)
  • Circle: compass set to 12 cm
  • Between nails: 5.7 cm with the compass, or every 27.69° with the protractor
  • Number: 13 is prime: when you count, any skip passes through every nail
Open in the generator

17-nail mandala

17 nails · 30 × 30 cm board (12 × 12 in) · 24 cm circle · 6 layers of string

Stringing order
  1. Layer 1, white. Tie off and count 8 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  2. Layer 2, yellow. Tie off and count 7 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  3. Layer 3, orange. Tie off and count 6 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  4. Layer 4, red. Tie off, count 5 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  5. Layer 5, fuchsia. Tie off and count 4 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  6. Layer 6, violet. Tie off and count 3 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  7. Before tying off each layer, check the pattern. When you finish, slide the colors up or down on the nails to add depth, and glue down the loose ends.
Materials
  • A board measuring 30 × 30 cm, painted.
  • 17 nails.
  • String in white, thick (perle cotton): about 5 m.
  • String in yellow, thick (perle cotton): about 5 m.
  • String in orange, thick (perle cotton): about 5 m.
  • String in red, thick (perle cotton): about 7 m.
  • String in fuchsia, thick (perle cotton): about 4 m.
  • String in violet, thick (perle cotton): about 3 m.
  • The meters include 10% extra for knots and turns around the nails.
Measurements to draw it
  • Board: 30 × 30 cm (suggested)
  • Circle: compass set to 12 cm
  • Between nails: 4.4 cm with the compass, or every 21.18° with the protractor
  • Number: 17 is prime: when you count, any skip passes through every nail
Open in the generator

19-nail mandala

19 nails · 30 × 30 cm board (12 × 12 in) · 24 cm circle · 6 layers of string

Stringing order
  1. Layer 1, white. Tie off and count 9 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  2. Layer 2, turquoise. Tie off and count 8 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  3. Layer 3, green. Tie off and count 7 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  4. Layer 4, yellow. Tie off and count 6 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  5. Layer 5, orange. Tie off, count 5 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  6. Layer 6, red. Tie off and count 4 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  7. Before tying off each layer, check the pattern. When you finish, slide the colors up or down on the nails to add depth, and glue down the loose ends.
Materials
  • A board measuring 30 × 30 cm, painted.
  • 19 nails.
  • String in white, thick (perle cotton): about 5 m.
  • String in turquoise, thick (perle cotton): about 5 m.
  • String in green, thick (perle cotton): about 5 m.
  • String in yellow, thick (perle cotton): about 5 m.
  • String in orange, thick (perle cotton): about 7 m.
  • String in red, thick (perle cotton): about 4 m.
  • The meters include 10% extra for knots and turns around the nails.
Measurements to draw it
  • Board: 30 × 30 cm (suggested)
  • Circle: compass set to 12 cm
  • Between nails: 4 cm with the compass, or every 18.95° with the protractor
  • Number: 19 is prime: when you count, any skip passes through every nail
Open in the generator

23-nail mandala

23 nails · 30 × 30 cm board (12 × 12 in) · 24 cm circle · 7 layers of string

Stringing order
  1. Layer 1, white. Tie off and count 11 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  2. Layer 2, yellow. Tie off and count 10 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  3. Layer 3, orange. Tie off and count 9 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  4. Layer 4, turquoise. Tie off, count 8 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  5. Layer 5, green. Tie off and count 7 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  6. Layer 6, fuchsia. Tie off and count 5 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  7. Layer 7, red. Tie off, count 4 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  8. Before tying off each layer, check the pattern. When you finish, slide the colors up or down on the nails to add depth, and glue down the loose ends.
Materials
  • A board measuring 30 × 30 cm, painted.
  • 23 nails.
  • String in white, thick (perle cotton): about 7 m.
  • String in yellow, thick (perle cotton): about 6 m.
  • String in orange, thick (perle cotton): about 6 m.
  • String in turquoise, thick (perle cotton): about 11 m.
  • String in green, thick (perle cotton): about 5 m.
  • String in fuchsia, thick (perle cotton): about 4 m.
  • String in red, thick (perle cotton): about 6 m.
  • The meters include 10% extra for knots and turns around the nails.
Measurements to draw it
  • Board: 30 × 30 cm (suggested)
  • Circle: compass set to 12 cm
  • Between nails: 3.3 cm with the compass, or every 15.65° with the protractor
  • Number: 23 is prime: when you count, any skip passes through every nail
Open in the generator

29-nail mandala

29 nails · 30 × 30 cm board (12 × 12 in) · 24 cm circle · 8 layers of string

Stringing order
  1. Layer 1, white. Tie off and count 14 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  2. Layer 2, yellow. Tie off and count 13 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  3. Layer 3, orange. Tie off and count 12 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  4. Layer 4, red. Tie off and count 11 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  5. Layer 5, fuchsia. Tie off, count 10 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  6. Layer 6, violet. Tie off and count 9 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  7. Layer 7, blue. Tie off and count 7 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  8. Layer 8, turquoise. Tie off and count 5 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  9. Before tying off each layer, check the pattern. When you finish, slide the colors up or down on the nails to add depth, and glue down the loose ends.
Materials
  • A board measuring 30 × 30 cm, painted.
  • 29 nails.
  • String in white, thick (perle cotton): about 8 m.
  • String in yellow, thick (perle cotton): about 8 m.
  • String in orange, thick (perle cotton): about 8 m.
  • String in red, thick (perle cotton): about 8 m.
  • String in fuchsia, thick (perle cotton): about 14 m.
  • String in violet, thick (perle cotton): about 7 m.
  • String in blue, thick (perle cotton): about 6 m.
  • String in turquoise, thick (perle cotton): about 4 m.
  • The meters include 10% extra for knots and turns around the nails.
Measurements to draw it
  • Board: 30 × 30 cm (suggested)
  • Circle: compass set to 12 cm
  • Between nails: 2.6 cm with the compass, or every 12.41° with the protractor
  • Number: 29 is prime: when you count, any skip passes through every nail
Open in the generator

31-nail mandala

31 nails · 30 × 30 cm board (12 × 12 in) · 24 cm circle · 8 layers of string

Stringing order
  1. Layer 1, white. Tie off and count 15 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  2. Layer 2, turquoise. Tie off and count 14 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  3. Layer 3, blue. Tie off and count 13 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  4. Layer 4, violet. Tie off, count 12 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  5. Layer 5, fuchsia. Tie off and count 11 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  6. Layer 6, red. Tie off and count 9 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  7. Layer 7, orange. Tie off and count 7 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  8. Layer 8, yellow. Tie off and count 5 nails clockwise; pass the string behind and that nail is your new zero. Repeat until you're back at the start.
  9. Before tying off each layer, check the pattern. When you finish, slide the colors up or down on the nails to add depth, and glue down the loose ends.
Materials
  • A board measuring 30 × 30 cm, painted.
  • 31 nails.
  • String in white, thick (perle cotton): about 9 m.
  • String in turquoise, thick (perle cotton): about 9 m.
  • String in blue, thick (perle cotton): about 8 m.
  • String in violet, thick (perle cotton): about 16 m.
  • String in fuchsia, thick (perle cotton): about 8 m.
  • String in red, thick (perle cotton): about 7 m.
  • String in orange, thick (perle cotton): about 6 m.
  • String in yellow, thick (perle cotton): about 4 m.
  • The meters include 10% extra for knots and turns around the nails.
Measurements to draw it
  • Board: 30 × 30 cm (suggested)
  • Circle: compass set to 12 cm
  • Between nails: 2.4 cm with the compass, or every 11.61° with the protractor
  • Number: 31 is prime: when you count, any skip passes through every nail
Open in the generator

Sun disc, 30 nails

30 nails · 60 × 60 cm board (24 × 24 in) · 54 cm circle · 6 layers of string

Stringing order
  1. Layer 1, white. Tie off, count 15 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  2. Layer 2, red. Tie off, count 14 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  3. Layer 3, orange. Tie off, count 13 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  4. Layer 4, yellow. Tie off, count 12 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  5. Layer 5, green. Tie off, count 11 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  6. Layer 6, blue. Tie off, count 10 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  7. Before tying off each layer, check the pattern. When you finish, slide the colors up or down on the nails to add depth, and glue down the loose ends.
Materials
  • A board measuring 60 × 60 cm, painted.
  • 30 nails.
  • String in white, thick (perle cotton): about 36 m.
  • String in red, thick (perle cotton): about 36 m.
  • String in orange, thick (perle cotton): about 35 m.
  • String in yellow, thick (perle cotton): about 34 m.
  • String in green, thick (perle cotton): about 32 m.
  • String in blue, thick (perle cotton): about 30 m.
  • The meters include 10% extra for knots and turns around the nails.
Measurements to draw it
  • Board: 60 × 60 cm (suggested)
  • Circle: compass set to 27 cm
  • Between nails: 5.6 cm with the compass, or every 12° with the protractor
  • Number: 30 is not prime: when you count, the skips that pass through every nail are 7, 11, 13
Open in the generator

Sun disc, 36 nails

36 nails · 60 × 60 cm board (24 × 24 in) · 54 cm circle · 6 layers of string

Stringing order
  1. Layer 1, white. Tie off, count 18 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  2. Layer 2, red. Tie off, count 17 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  3. Layer 3, orange. Tie off, count 16 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  4. Layer 4, yellow. Tie off, count 15 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  5. Layer 5, green. Tie off, count 14 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  6. Layer 6, blue. Tie off, count 13 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  7. Before tying off each layer, check the pattern. When you finish, slide the colors up or down on the nails to add depth, and glue down the loose ends.
Materials
  • A board measuring 60 × 60 cm, painted.
  • 36 nails.
  • String in white, thick (perle cotton): about 43 m.
  • String in red, thick (perle cotton): about 43 m.
  • String in orange, thick (perle cotton): about 42 m.
  • String in yellow, thick (perle cotton): about 41 m.
  • String in green, thick (perle cotton): about 40 m.
  • String in blue, thick (perle cotton): about 38 m.
  • The meters include 10% extra for knots and turns around the nails.
Measurements to draw it
  • Board: 60 × 60 cm (suggested)
  • Circle: compass set to 27 cm
  • Between nails: 4.7 cm with the compass, or every 10° with the protractor
  • Number: 36 is not prime: when you count, the skips that pass through every nail are 5, 7, 11, 13, 17
Open in the generator

Sun disc, 42 nails

42 nails · 60 × 60 cm board (24 × 24 in) · 54 cm circle · 6 layers of string

Stringing order
  1. Layer 1, white. Tie off, count 21 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  2. Layer 2, red. Tie off, count 20 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  3. Layer 3, orange. Tie off, count 19 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  4. Layer 4, yellow. Tie off, count 18 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  5. Layer 5, green. Tie off, count 17 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  6. Layer 6, blue. Tie off, count 16 and pass the string. Go back to the nail you came from and advance one; go back to the other side and advance one. Keep going like this back to the start: each nail ends up used twice.
  7. Before tying off each layer, check the pattern. When you finish, slide the colors up or down on the nails to add depth, and glue down the loose ends.
Materials
  • A board measuring 60 × 60 cm, painted.
  • 42 nails.
  • String in white, thick (perle cotton): about 50 m.
  • String in red, thick (perle cotton): about 50 m.
  • String in orange, thick (perle cotton): about 49 m.
  • String in yellow, thick (perle cotton): about 49 m.
  • String in green, thick (perle cotton): about 48 m.
  • String in blue, thick (perle cotton): about 46 m.
  • The meters include 10% extra for knots and turns around the nails.
Measurements to draw it
  • Board: 60 × 60 cm (suggested)
  • Circle: compass set to 27 cm
  • Between nails: 4 cm with the compass, or every 8.57° with the protractor
  • Number: 42 is not prime: when you count, the skips that pass through every nail are 5, 11, 13, 17, 19
Open in the generator

How to use these patterns

  1. Pick a pattern and open it in the generator.
  2. Change the colors, the number of nails or the size of the board if you like.
  3. Download the nail template as a PDF at actual size and print it at 100%.
  4. Tape it onto the painted board, hammer a nail on every mark, remove the paper and string the layers in order.

Why most of them use a prime number of nails

When the number of nails is prime, any skip you count passes through every nail before coming back to the start, so each layer closes on its own and there is nothing to calculate. That is why a circle of 13, 17, 19 or 23 nails is the best pattern to start with. On the Sun disc, which takes 30, 36 or 42 nails, every layer is strung with the forward and back technique.

Want more patterns?

These ten come from the two unlocked designs of the generator. Full access opens all 25 designs (Star, Venus Flower, Torus, Flower of Life, Metatron’s Cube, hexagons and the seven chakras) plus the free design mode: over 2,700 different nail templates.

Open the generatorSee all the patterns

Frequently asked questions

Are they really free?

Yes. The measurements, the materials and the stringing order are on this page, and each pattern opens in the free demo of the generator. To download the PDF at actual size the generator asks for an email.

What size do they print at?

At actual size. The prime number mandalas go on a 30 × 30 cm (12 × 12 in) board and the sun discs on a 60 × 60 cm (24 × 24 in) board. The PDF comes on a single sheet for a print shop or on letter sheets to print at home and tape together.

Can I change the colors or the nails?

Yes. When you open the pattern in the generator you can change the colors, the number of nails, the size and the layers, and the template recalculates on its own.

Can I sell the pieces I make with these patterns?

Yes, the pieces you string are yours. What you cannot do is resell the templates.