STAR
Step 1: Start with the string behind your thumbs and pinkies, running across both palms.
Step 2: With your right hand, reach across to the left hand and hook the string that runs across the left palm.
Step 3: Pull your hands apart.
Step 4: Do the same with the other hand.
Step 5: Pull your hands apart again.
Step 6: With your thumbs, reach over the first pointer finer string and under the second pointer finger string. Pull your thumbs back towards your body. There will be two loops on each thumb.
Step 7: Using your teeth (easiest) or pinkie fingers (if you’re feeling dexterous), pull the bottom string off your thumbs and pass it over the top string.
Step 8: Drop the loops off both pinkie fingers and pull your hands apart.
Step 9: Tilt your thumbs up and you have a cup and saucer.
To turn your cup and saucer into a star string figure:
Step 10: Use your pinkies to grab the top straight string that makes up the saucer.
Step 11: Stretch your pinkies out.
Step 12: Now drop your thumbs.
Step 13: Use your thumbs to move over both forefinger nooses and hook the nearest pinkie finger noose. Pull it back towards you.
Step 14: Release one pinkie finger.
Step 15: You’ve just made a star!
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PALM BRANCH (also known as witch’s broom–we think it looks like a palm branch)
Step 1: Start with the string behind your thumb and pinkies, running across both palms.
Step 2: With your right hand, reach across to the left hand and hook your pointer finger under the string that runs across the palm.
Step 3: Pull the string out just a few centimetres and twirl the loop two times – it helps to squeeze the fingers on your left hand to keep the string in place while twirling the string.
Step 4: Once the double twist has been made, pull your hands apart.
Step 5: With your left hand, reach across to the right hand and catch the string that runs across the palm, through the double twisted loop.
Step 6: Pull your hands apart.
Step 7: Drop the loops from the thumb and pinkie of your right hand and pull your hands apart to make the strings tight.
Easy peasy! You’ve made a palm branch!
BUTTERFLY
Step 1: First do “Opening A” with the string by using your forefingers to reach across and hook the string that runs across each opposing palm.
Step 2: Release the thumbs.
Step 3: Move your thumbs over the forefinger strings and pick up the nearest pinkie string.
Step 4: Release the pinkies.
Step 5: Duck your thumbs under the first forefinger string and pick up the near forefinger string, pulling it back towards you.
Step 6: You will now have two loops on each thumb.
Step 7: Now use your thumb and forefinger to reach across to the opposite hand and lift the lower thumb string up and off the thumb. This is called, “passing over”.
Step 8: Be careful to leave the upper thumb strings in place.
Step 9: Look at the strings that loop around your thumbs, there is a pattern of five triangular openings there. Focus on the middle two triangles – the two that sit mirrored on either side of the central triangular hole. Now hook your forefingers down into these two middle triangles. You will be grabbing the top string that is looped around the thumb.
Step 10: Hook down and then extend your palms out and away from you.
Step 11: You’ve made a butterfly!