Lightning

collected by Sir Raymond Firth from the people of the Solomon Islands

Recommended String Length: 1 1/2 spans

This action figure is known throughout the Pacific. The initial pattern, which represents heavy rain, can be partially dissolved and reformed over and over again.

(1) Place loop on 1 and 5 (Position 1).

R2 picks up L palmar string.

L2, through R2 loop from above, picks up R palmar string.

(2) You now have Opening A.

Mouth, over all strings, bites center of 5f and returns.

(3) L2, over intervening strings, picks up R mouth string and returns.

R2, over intervening strings, picks up L mouth string and returns.

Mouth releases its loop.

(4) 1 releases its loop. Hands separate to absorb the slack.

(5) 1, through lower 2 loop from above, picks up lower and upper 2f and returns under upper 2n.

(6) 3, over upper 2n, picks up lower 2n.

(7) 1 gently releases its loops to form hanging strings.

1, over hanging strings, picks up upper 2n.

(8) 4 and 5 hook down 3f. (5 enters its own loop from above.) 2 and 3 also touch the palm to complete the extension.

(9) The vertical lines that span the frame strings represent the heavy rain of a thunderstorm.

(10) To simulate the sudden appearance of lightning, quickly unfold 2, 4, and 5 while simultaneously releasing the loops from 1 and 3. This definitely requires practice and coordination!

The pattern dissolves.

Repeat steps 5–10 over and over to simulate rain followed by bursts of lightning. (Include appropriate sound effects.)

Net Broken, Net Repaired

collected by Diamond Jenness from the Papuans of Goodenough Island

Recommended String Length: 1 1/2 spans

When making a complex string figure, Melanesians often remove loops from each hand and reset them in a different order to achieve a desired arrangement. The following figure is prime example. In this rather long series, an action figure is formed that represents two fish swimming apart. According to legend, the fish escaped from a net that had a hole in it. Next, the figure is partially dissolved and the entire weaving sequence is repeated. Remarkably, a different figure appears. The second figure represents an intact net. (No escaping fish are seen.)

(1) Begin with Opening A. (See "Lightning" on page 1.)

1, over 2 loop, picks up 5n.

(2) 2 picks up lower 1f.

(3) 1 releases its loops.

(4) 1, from below, removes upper 2 loop.

(5) 5, over 2 loop, picks up 1f.

(6) 2 picks up lower 5n.

(7) 5 releases its loops.

(8) 5, from below, removes upper 2 loop.

(9) 2345, from below, enters the 1 loop. (1 loop becomes a wrist loop.)

(10) R1 and R2 grasp L2f and L5n.

(11) L hand gently releases all its loops.

L1 enters the former L wrist loop from the opposite side of where the L hand passed through it. L2 and L5 enter their former loops from the same side through which they originally passed.

L hand returns to its original position.

R1 and R2 release the strings they are holding. Hands separate to absorb the slack.

(12) Likewise, L1 and L2 grasp R2f and R5n.

(13) R hand gently releases all its loops.

R1 enters the former R wrist loop from the opposite side of where the R hand passed through it. R2 and R5 enter their former loops from the same side through which they originally passed.

R hand returns to its original position.

L1 and L2 release the strings they are holding. Hands separate to absorb the slack.

(14) 1, over 2 loop, picks up 5n.

(15) Now do the Caroline Extension:

2 picks up lower 1f.

1 presses against the side of 2 to trap the string that runs from 1 to 2 and the string that runs from 1 to 5.

As 2 returns, 345 folds down over 5f and wrists turn so that upper 2f and 5f form frame strings.

(16) You now have four diamonds bisected by a pair of horizontal strings.

The Papuans of Goodenough Island failed to name this pleasing figure, but the design is widely known throughout the Pacific, where it is made by a variety of methods.

(17) To continue, undo the Caroline Extension. (Release the upper 2 loop and unfold 345.)

(18) Action: Gently release the 2 loop ...

... and repeat the Caroline Extension.

(19) Two "fish" swim apart as the hands are separated.

The maker intended to make a four-diamond figure representing a net. As you can see, the net is bad (it breaks in the middle) and the fish escape.

(20) To repair the net, proceed as follows:

Rotate the figure a quarter turn counterclockwise and lay the figure on a flat surface, releasing the hands entirely.

(21) Position the hands so that the former right-hand fish is between them.

1 and 5, from above, enter the triangle between the fish's body and tail. Then 5 picks up the oblique string that forms the fish's back, while 1 picks up the oblique string that forms the fish's tail. 2, over the frame lines, enters the small space between the interlocking loops found at the junction of the fish's body and tail.

Hands separate, lifting the figure off the flat surface.

(22) You now have a three-loop opening that resembles Opening A, but with a subtle difference.

(23) If you repeat the entire weaving sequence (steps 1–18), a four-diamond figure will result. The net is repaired!

Raise the Eyebrows

collected by Sir Raymond Firth from the people of the Solomon Islands

Recommended String Length: 1 1/2 spans

In this amusing figure, which represents a person raising his or her eyebrows, the amount of tension applied to the little finger loops is altered. As a result, the strings shift and a second design appears. Loop length plays a critical role here. If the loop is too short or too long, the strings will not shift properly.

(1) Begin with Opening A. (See "Lightning" on page 1.)

2, over 5 loop, catches 5f, 5n, and 2f on its tip and hooks these three strings toward you.

The 2 loop slips over the first joint and onto the tip of 2.

(2) Raise hooked 2 so that its tip is above 1f.

Enter the 1 loop from above. With the tip of 2 catch 1f ...

... and drag it away from you, rotating 2 away and up.

(3) 1 releases its loop.

(4) 1, under both 2 loops, enters 5 loop from below.

1, on the far side of both 2 loops, presses its tip against the tip of 2.

1 and 2 rotate away from you, passing down through the 5 loop.

1 and 2 rotate toward you and up. As 2 returns to the upright position, 1 separates from 2.

(5) 2 now has a...