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How to Build a Rubik's Magic String Out of Fishing Line

Rubik's Magic is a folding puzzle game consisting of eight square tiles arranged in a rectangle and connected by strings. The strings allow the tiles to be folded onto each other and unfolded again in two perpendicular directions; the objective of the game is to fold the squares in a specific pattern. After a while, the strings connecting the tiles can snap. While replacement strings can be found in certain stores, making your own replacement string is easy and cheap.

Things You'll Need

Fishing line
Scissors
Yardstick
Sticky tape

Instructions

- 1
  Measure a 25-inch length of fishing line with the yardstick and cut it with the scissors.
- 2
  Make a single knot on one end of the fishing line.
- 3
  Position the knot on the "0" mark on the yardstick and tape it down with a small piece of sticky tape.
- 4
  Pull the string taut along the yardstick and make a second single knot in it so the knot lies just before the 17 3/4-inch mark on the yardstick. Remove the sticky tape from the fishing line, detaching it from the yardstick.
- 5
  Tie the fishing line together in a loop, using a square knot. Pull on the loop, using your hands so that the square knot slides upward and the loop widens until the square knot is stopped by the two single knots. Cut off the excess string with the scissors.

Educational Toys