LLX > Neil Parker > String Figures > Jayne
1. Hang loop on left index.
2. With right hand, grasp left far index string, and wrap it three times loosely clockwise around left index, so that there are total of four loops around the index. Keep the loops well separated, with the original loop near the base, and the final loop near the tip.
3. Insert right index from below into all four left index loops, and separate the hands carefully, keeping the four loops well separated (some manual rearranging may be necessary to return loops that fall past each other to their original positions). There should be four straight near index strings, and three far strings going upward at a slight angle from the left index to the right, and one far string (behind all the others) going at a steep angle from the tip of the left index to the base of the right.
4. With right middle, ring, and little finger, hook down the string that runs at a steep angle from the tip of the left index to the base of the right. With the left middle finger, push back the lower left far index string, and passing left ring and little fingers under it, hook down the same string held by right middle, ring, and little fingers.
5. Point middle fingers toward you, over lowest near index string (and under any other near index strings), and hook this string away from you, back through loops held by ring and little fingers. Release ring-little-finger loops, and insert ring and little fingers toward you into loops held by middle fingers.
6. Repeat step 5 three more times, pulling through the three remaining near index strings, in order.
7. Repeat step 5 twice more, pulling through first the lower far (straight) index string, and then the upper far index string.
8. To open the figure out, wrap the topmost straight string once around each index.
These instructions are from [K. Haddon 1942] (figure 24, "The Breastbone and Ribs").
LLX > Neil Parker > String Figures > Jayne