Edited and illustrated by - Mark A. Sherman, Pasadena, California, and Joseph D'Antoni, Queens, New York.
String Figure Magazine (ISSN 1087-1527), published quarterly, is dedicated to the memory of Caroline Furness Jayne (1873-1909), author of the first book on string figures. Over the years, Jayne's lavishly illustrated book (String Figures and How to Make Them) has introduced thousands to the fascinating world of string figures.
Like Jayne's classic volume, String Figure Magazine is meant for the beginner. Each issue features dozens of annotated illustrations that allow even the most difficult string figure to be made with ease.
String Figure Magazine also addresses the experienced enthusiast by providing fully revised instructions for string figures whose original descriptions are hard to follow. Translations of instructions first published in languages other than English are also featured, as well as elaborate new designs invented by our readers.
To view the string figures featured in each issue, click on the links below. To learn how to make the figures you will need to purchase the magazine.
Illustrations = black-and-white photos with strings labeled
Table of Contents - Volume 1, number 1 (March 1996)
Table of Contents - Volume 1, number 2 (June 1996)
Illustrations = black-and-white line drawings with strings labeled
Table of Contents - Volume 1, number 3 (September 1996)
Table of Contents - Volume 1, number 4 (December 1996)
Table of Contents - Volume 2, number 1 (March 1997)
Table of Contents - Volume 2, number 2 (June 1997)
Table of Contents - Volume 2, number 3 (September 1997)
Table of Contents - Volume 2, number 4 (December 1997)
Table of Contents - Volume 3, number 1 (March 1998)
Table of Contents - Volume 3, number 2 (June 1998)
Table of Contents - Volume 3, number 3 (September 1998)
Table of Contents - Volume 3, number 4 (December 1998)
Note: The book Fascinating String Figures (1999), available from Dover Publications, is an anthology of 23 string figures selected from the 10 issues listed above.
Illustrations = black-and-white line drawings with arrows showing finger-paths
Table of Contents - Volume 4, number 1 (March 1999)
Table of Contents - Volume 4, number 2 (June 1999)
Table of Contents - Volume 4, number 3 (September 1999)
Table of Contents - Volume 4, number 4 (December 1999)
Table of Contents - Volume 5, number 1 (March 2000)
Table of Contents - Volume 5, number 2 (June 2000)
Table of Contents - Volume 5, number 3 (September 2000)
Table of Contents - Volume 5, number 4 (December 2000)
Table of Contents - Volume 6, number 1 (March 2001)
Table of Contents - Volume 6, number 2 (June 2001)
Table of Contents - Volume 6, number 3 (September 2001)
Table of Contents - Volume 6, number 4 (December 2001)
Table of Contents - Volume 7, number 1 (March 2002)
Table of Contents - Volume 7, number 2 (June 2002)
Table of Contents - Volume 7, number 3 (September 2002)
Table of Contents - Volume 7, number 4 (December 2002)
Table of Contents - Volume 8, number 1 (March 2003)
Table of Contents - Volume 8, number 2 (June 2003)
Table of Contents - Volume 8, number 3 (September 2003)
Table of Contents - Volume 8, number 4 (December 2003)
Table of Contents - Volume 9, number 1 (March 2004)
Table of Contents - Volume 9, number 2 (June 2004)
Table of Contents - Volume 9, number 3 (September 2004)
Table of Contents - Volume 9, number 4 (December 2004)
Table of Contents - Volume 10, number 1 (March 2005)
Table of Contents - Volume 10, number 2 (June 2005)
Table of Contents - Volume 10, number 3 (September 2005)
Table of Contents - Volume 10, number 4 (December 2005)
Illustrations = color photographs with arrows showing finger-paths
Table of Contents - Volume 11, number 1 (March 2006)
Table of Contents - Volume 11, number 2 (June 2006)
Table of Contents - Volume 11, number 3 (September 2006)
Table of Contents - Volume 11, number 4 (December 2006)
Table of Contents - Volume 12, number 1 (March 2007)
Table of Contents - Volume 12, number 2 (June 2007)
Table of Contents - Volume 12, number 3 (September 2007)
Table of Contents - Volume 12, number 4 (December 2007)
Beginning with the March 2006 issue, String Figure Magazine became a full-color on-line publication (we no longer printed hard copies). Each year ISFA members received a username and password to access the four issues of the current year. At the end of the year they received a CD containing all four issues (html and pdf files). Passwords/CDs are still available and sell for $14.00 each (buyers receive both, and postage is included).
We discontinued String Figure Magazine in December 2007. In its place we now offer String Figure of the Month, a series of video clips accompanied by written instructions. The current issue is always free. Passwords/CDs are available if you want to view back issues.
If you want to buy back issues of String Figure Magazine just send us a list of the issues you want along with your payment. We currently accept personal checks (US banks only), money orders (domestic and international), Visa, Mastercard, and Paypal (account provided upon request).