LLX > Neil Parker > String Figures > Jayne
This method is a slight modification of [K. Haddon 1918]'s figure 17 ("Two Men").
1. Opening A.
2. Insert thumbs into index loops from above, and into little finger loops from below. Pick up near little finger strings, and return through index loops.
3. Release index loops.
4. Remove lower thumb loops, past upper thumb loops.
5. Hook far little finger string over your bent knee, and release little fingers.
As the thumb loops are pulled upward, the man climbs the tree, growing smaller as he ascends.
Here is a second method, found by W. Innes Pocock in the early 1900's (making this one of the first reconstructions of a string figure). Instructions are from [K. Haddon 1912].
1. Opening A.
2. Insert little fingers into thumb loop from above, and return with near thumb string.
3. Remove lower little finger loop from little finger, past the upper loop.
4. Bend indexes down over the palmar strings into their own loops from above, on the near side of the loop just removed from the little fingers.
5. Hook far little finger string over your bent knee, and release all finger loops except for indexes, which remain hooked over their palmar strings. Pull these strings upward, allowing the loops on the backs of the indexes to fall off.
A third method of making this figure is found in [Abraham 1932].
1. With the palm of the left hand facing up, hang the loop over the left index, middle, ring, and little fingers, so that a palmar string crosses palm of the hand, and a long loop hangs down the back of the hand.
2. With the right hand grab the long hanging loop, and bring it up over the left hand and back down in front, so that the near string of the loop passes between the left index and middle finger, and the far string passes between the left ring and little finger. Turn the left hand fingers up and palm facing right, and drop the loop held by the right hand.
3. Pass the right hand from below into the long hanging loop, and let it slip down to the right wrist.
4. Pass the right hand away from you over the far loop string, and then down behind loop, back toward you under the far string, and up into the loop. With the right thumb and index, grab the left near index string and draw it out, back though the long loop and to the right, letting the right wrist loop slip off.
5. Place the loop held by the right thumb and index over your bent knee and release it from the thumb and index.
6. With the right thumb and index, remove the left little finger loop. Hold the left index loop with the left thumb and index. Slowly pull the thumb-index loops upward.
LLX > Neil Parker > String Figures > Jayne