This is an ancient game/activity played around the world. Remember string games and figures like “Jacob’s Ladder”, “Kitty Whiskers”, “Cup and Saucer” or Cats Cradle?! Those are only the beginning.
You just need some string for this fun filled activity, making it ideal for playing in the car on long trips. Skill levels vary from super easy to very difficult, so there is something for everyone. It requires concentration, dexterity, and it fosters perseverance and patience. Kids love to practice new figures over and over as they learn them, so don’t leave home without tossing a ball of yarn into your travel activities pack!
My website and the MomsMinivan Youtube channel have grown into a huge resource of tutorials and instructions for how to make all kinds of string figures. Here are my favorites. These links will all open up in a new window, so just close the window to come back here when you’re done:
How to do Jacobs Ladder
My own step by step instructions for how to create this string figure. This also has a printable page, so that you can take it with you in the car on a trip to practice! Pictures and Video on how to make Jacob’s Ladder! WATCH VIDEO: Jacob’s Ladder
How to do Cat Whiskers with String
Step by step instructions shown from the user’s point of view for making this string figure. Also includes a how-to WATCH VIDEO: Cat Whiskers with string
How to do Cat’s Cradle
In cat’s cradle, two people make shapes with string and pass them back and forth.Step by step instructions shown from the user’s point of view for making this string figure. Also includes a how-to WATCH VIDEO: Cat’s Cradle
How to do the Hammock string Figure
This is my most popular video of all. It currently has had over 5.5-million views. The hammock image that you can make is really cool. Here is the video embedded below:
More MomsMinivan Youtube Videos for How to do String Figures:
My Youtube channel has some of the most popular tutorials for doing string figures. I’ve had over 37-million views on my channel! Most of those are for my string videos.
- Cup and Saucer with string: VIDEO
- Witch’s Broom with string: VIDEO
- Crow’s Feet with string: VIDEO
- Five point Star with string: VIDEO
- Cutting Off Fingers string trick: VIDEO
- 4 String tricks you can do with Jacobs Ladder: VIDEO
- Hammock String Figure: VIDEO
- King Fish String Figure: VIDEO
- Drum & Spider String Figures: VIDEO
- Mosquito String Figure: VIDEO
- Turtle String Figure: VIDEO
External Links
Books and printed materials are also a great resource for learning new and unusual string figures, although you wont have the aid of the visuals in live action. Most do contain pictures and a list of steps.
- The WWW Collection of Favorite String Figures
This is the best and most comprehensive site I found. It starts with the basics and gradually demonstrates harder figures as you learn. - International String Figure Association Learn about string figuring.
- Strings on Your Fingers Bibliography, Links, Resources.
- String Figures Wikipedia article.
Print out the instructions and take them with you on the road!!
Have fun!
