Page:String Figures and How to Make Them.djvu/76

Rh with the back of the thumb pick up, from below, the upper far index string, and return the thumb to the original position.

By these movements the far strings of the two index loops are crossed over their corresponding near strings,

and pass around the backs of the thumbs to come lower and upper near thumb strings (Fig. 91).

Sixth: Pass each ring finger over the upper near index string and pick up, from below, on the back of the ring finger the lower near index string (Fig. 92), and return the ring fingers to their positions (Fig. 93).

Seventh: Pick up with the teeth, close to the back of the thumb, the right lower near thumb string, and lift it over the tip of the thumb, and drop it on the palmar side, being careful not to disturb the upper near thumb string. Repeat this movement on the left hand by picking up with the teeth the left lower near thumb string, lift it over the tip of the thumb, and drop it on the palmar side.

Eigth: Keeping the strings drawn tight, swing the left hand down, and turn it palm up with the fingers pointing away from you; turn the right-hand palm down with the fingers pointing toward you and the completed figure appears (Fig. 94).

In this figure the Fourth and Fifth movements are unlike anything observed in the preceding figures. The interesting point, however, lies in the fact that while both hands do the same movements throughout the figure, the finished pattern will not appear unless one hand is revolved through half a circle. Moreover, when the pattern does appear, it is not perfectly symmetrical.