Traditional String Figure

1.

Take a 130 cm-long (50 in.) string, shoelace or cord and tie the ends with a small knot to make a loop.

2.

Hold your left arm out as if you were going to shake hands: the palm of your left hand is vertical and your fingers and thumb are horizontal.

3.

Droop the string loop over your left thumb so that a shorter loop falls in front of your thumb and a longer loop falls between your thumb and the palm of your hand. (Photo A)

4.

The front loop should fall a little more than one hand-width below your thumb. Arrange the two loops so that the one in front of your thumb is wider than the one behind your thumb.

5.

Grasp the longer hanging loop about a hand-width below the bottom of the short loop. Use the last three fingers of your right hand, leaving your thumb and index finger free.

6.

With your right thumb and index finger, reach through the short loop so that your thumb passes between the inside of the short loop string on the left and the outside of the long loop string beside it, and your index finger does the same on the other side. Reach past the strings of the long loop so that your thumb and index finger can meet behind.

7.

Bring the tips of your thumb and index finger together behind the long loop.

8.

Keeping the two fingertips pressed together, bring them back out, pulling the strings of the long loop forward through the short loop. (Photo B)

9.

As you pull the strings toward you, separate your right thumb and index finger so that one loop of the string is held on each and they are set wider than the short loop between. Pull your right hand back into position, not too far, keeping the string loops on the thumb and index finger. (Photo C)

10.

Turn (rotate) your left thumb a full turn away from you. Your thumb will end up passing under all the strings attached to it. The strings will twist. Your left hand should return to the starting position. (Photo D)

11.

Now the little finger on your left hand reaches towards you, over the three widely spaced strings that are farthest from you and under the one that is closest to you, picking up this loop and removing it from your right thumb. (Photo E)

12.

Place the tip of your right index finger to the tip of your left thumb. With the help of your right thumb and left index finger, slip the loop from your right index finger onto your left thumb in front of the two strings that are there. (Photo F)

Pull the two strings on your left thumb over the new one (from the right finger), using your right thumb and index finger. (Photo G)

Let these two strings drop off your thumb.

13.

The figure is now 'suspended' between two long, horizontal strings, although it might look a bit messy at this point. To set the figure, move your right hand gently to the right, pulling the loop with it. While you are doing this, make sure your left arm and hand return to their starting positions: your left forearm is perpendicular to your body, your palm is vertical and your fingers are horizontal, with your thumb at the top. Your right arm should be similarly extended.

14.

Make sure the horizontal strings are not twisted by loosening your grip on the bottom string in your right hand and pulling the top string tight. (Photo H)

15.

At this point, your right hand can slide to hold the end of the long loop. You want the long horizontal strings to be parallel and a few centimetres apart. Your right thumb and index finger can hold the top string, while your little finger anchors the bottom string and the end of the loop passes between your curled fingers and the palm of your hand. This completes the figure Ukaliq, also known as 'Rabbit', or Arctic hare. (Photo I)

16.

You can make the hare move towards the left: with your right hand, alternately pull on the top string and then the bottom string by turning your hand at the wrist. Do not let go of the loop.