LLX > Neil Parker > String Figures > Jayne

Emu

The method below is my own reconstruction, based on [Davidson 1941]'s figure XIV ("Emu"), and on the Tanana figure Crow's Feet.

1. Place the loop on the wrists. Let the strings hang slack so that the middle portion of the loop rests on your lap or a table.

2. With the right thumb and index, pick up the left far wrist string, about 2/3 of the way toward the left hand, and lay it back down on the near side of the near wrist string.

3. Pass the right thumb and index under the far (formerly near) string of the loop, to the right of the cross made in step 2. Then reach to the left, and grab the left far wrist string, to the left of the cross. Pull it back to the right and up, and then hang it on the left index.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the other hand.

Some manual adjustment of the strings may be necessary to make the emu's toes acceptably long.

LLX > Neil Parker > String Figures > Jayne