How to Spin a Pencil Around Your Thumb

Hold a pencil between your thumb and index finger. Your index finger should be near the eraser. The center of balance of the pencil should be to the left. If you are left handed and holding the pencil in your left hand, the center of balance should be to the right.

Put your middle finger in the center of the pencil at its balance point.

Push on the pencil with your middle finger so the pencil comes toward you as it spins around. As you push the pencil, fold down your middle finger. Do not let your thumb move as the pencil spins around it.

The pencil will spin around your thumb one time. It should end up with the unsharpened end facing back the way it started.

Catch the pencil with your index finger and thumb.

Try, try again. It might help to use your other hand to spin the pencil around so you get a feel for what the pencil should do.