Links to Other String Figure Web Sites
- Dave Titus's String Figure Store is now open! There you will find a wide variety of items for sale, including books, videos, and loops of colored string.
- Storyteller Barbara Schutzgruber sells a videotape she made called String Things...Stories, Games, Fun.
- Richard Darsie invites you to visit his extensive online collection of string figures. The collection is called World-Wide Webs.
- Eric Lee just launched a new web site featuring string figures from three old-time favorite books: Jayne's "String Figures and How to Make Them", Ball's "Fun with String Figures", and Leeming's "Fun with String". Mr. Lee has rewritten the instructions using his own terminology and symbols. There's even a page describing how to play cat's cradle with a friend. And if you're willing to make string figures for an audience, you can add your name to Mr. Lee's list of performers.
- Will Wirt has recently gathered string figures along the Amazon (Guyana, Peru), in China, and in Tibet. Visit Will's web site to view photos of string figures taken during his trip to Guyana.
- Stevemd offers an animated string figure lesson on the web. There you can learn how to make Jacob's Ladder.
- The students of Ecole Maternelle Hilard in France have posted some traditional string figures (jeux de ficelle) they learned from their parents. Even if you don't read French you'll enjoy the colorful photos and drawings.
- While in France, visit Myriam Namolaru's site as well. There you will find a colorful selection of newly created string figures. The text is in French and English.
- For a great example of a string story, visit Brian Cox's site in Canada.
- Britt Scharringhausen has posted instructions for making a few string figures at her site.
- Michael Garofalo maintains an informative web site on string figures with many valuable links.
- For many years Edd Sterchi has been performing in the midwest. Visit his web site to view photos of his performances. Ed also maintains a page showing how string figures are portrayed in the media (ads, cartoons, commercials). There's even a few uncommon Native American string figures posted at his site.
- Scholars at the University of Auckland in New Zealand have produced an impressive multimedia web site on Maori string figures. There you will learn how to make string using traditional methods. The site also features string figure chants, animated lessons, and video clips.
- For a review of string figure websites read Joyce Cohen's article in the Feb. 3, 2000 issue of the New York Times.
- Interested in knots? Peter Suber's "Knots on the Web" page will keep you busy for days. Suber and his colleagues are members of the International Knot Tyers Guild, a British organization with several branches in the United States (including the recently founded Pacific-Americas Branch).
- Some scholars believe that Africans once used string figures to teach math skills to their children. To learn more about the history of mathematics in Africa, visit the AMUCHMA newsletter web site.
- String Figures, Mathematics, Origin, by Martin Probert, is a thought-provoking examination of the trivial knot theory that underlies string figures. The author also ponders the age of string figures, where they originated, and why Jacob's Ladder is so widely distributed. Some highly innovative modern string figures are featured in a section called "Invented String Figures."
- New Zealander John Kean has recently launched a web site featuring some highly creative modern string figures. Don't miss it!
- Students at Harrison Elementary in Davenport, Iowa, are really into string figures thanks to teacher Belinda Holbrook. Visit their website for a look at what they are doing.
- For twenty years Bremen-based sports movement specialist ABOINUDI has been performing string figures throughout Germany. ABOINUDI and traveling band of stringers recently participated in the 3rd World Festival of Cultural Sports and Games in Hannover. For more information, visit ABOINUDI's web site.
- Interested in the spiritual/mystical/healing properties of string figures? Visit Lois and Earl Stokes' web site in Hawaii for more information.
Last updated March 2, 2001
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