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String Games for Free

String doesn't seem like the most interesting or even complicated toy. But, when you have a piece of string, you have dozens of games you can play, quite literally in the palm of your hand. All you need is a loop of string, about 18-inches across. Some string games are well-known, some are adapted from magic tricks, and others are relatively uncommon. However, whether it's a playground or a long car trip, a loop of string can be surprisingly entertaining and social--and all for free.

Cat's Cradle
- The Cat's Cradle is one of the most famous string games. It has two or more players passing the loop of string back and forth by grabbing the string figure that's created at certain key points. The string figure starts off in a cradle shape, then turns into a soldier's bed. It turns into what some call "candles" and others "tramlines." Another few moves and it turns into a boat, then a cat's eye, then a fish in a dish, and finally the hand drum.
Jacob's Ladder
- "Jacob's ladder" is a series of string figures. It is a one-player game that requires a few slick string tricks, but ends up giving not only the Ladder, but the Eiffel Tower and the Witch's Hat. The last two figures also call on other parts of the body: you can't make the Eiffel Tower or Witch's Hat without pulling the string with your teeth.
Hand Cut
- One of the most famous tricks magicians do is sawing a body part or person in half, and then showing the person to be completely safe and intact. String figure enthusiasts have figured out a way to do this with string, and once you practice, you'll be wowing your friends by giving the appearance of cutting their wrist off, only to have the string fall harmlessly into its original loop form.
Man Climbing a Tree
- Like Jacob's Ladder, some string games involve other parts of the body or props. In Man Climbing a Tree, a book or your foot is used to secure the string to the floor, and then tugging on the upper loops alternately allows the "man" figure inside the loop to climb up or down.
Cup and Saucer
- Another multiple-figure game, this setup has the player start by forming the string into a cup and saucer. In Japan, this figure is sometimes called the sake cup. You can also flip it over to form a Japanese house. This shape, once you grab a certain piece of string, turns into a butterfly, like Owl's Eye.
Ring on a String
- The Ring on a String is another magic trick that takes the rope and uses the string to seemingly cut through a solid object without harming it. It starts by sliding the string through the ring, then grabbing it. By carefully releasing the correct fingers at the right time, the ring will pop off the string, unharmed, while the string remains on your fingers.

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