Glossary

• Caroline extension :
  1. With the index fingers, pick up the string that lies between the index fingers and thumbs. Keep the string at the tip of the index finger without lifting it off the thumb.
  2. Press the pads of the thumbs against the string to hold it against the index finger.
  3. Turn the palms away from you and tighten the string running between the little fingers.
• Dorsal: on the back of the hand.
• Extend: return the hands to the opening position: palms facing each other, fingers extended upward.
• Far: farther from your nose than near
• Loop: string wrapped around a finger; a loop has a near string and a far string.
• Navajo:
  • The beginner's method:
    • To Navaho a thumb: Use the thumb and index finger of the other hand to pick up the lower loop on the near side of the thumb. Lift the loop carefully over the tip of the thumb and release it on the far side of the thumb without disturbing the lower loop, so that the upper loop now hangs from the far string of the thumb loop.
    • To Navaho a pinkie or index finger: Use the thumb and index finger of the other hand to pick up the lower loop on the far side of the finger. Lift the loop carefully over the tip of the finger and release it on the near side of the finger without disturbing the lower loop, so that the upper loop now hangs from the near string of the finger loop.
  • The quick and dirty method:
    While this method can be more difficult (especially if the upper strings are nearly parallel to the lower), it is faster. It also looks more elegant than the beginner's method, as it doesn't require you to reach across the figure to rearrange strings.
    • To Navaho a thumb: stick the thumb from the far side into the gap between the upper and lower near strings, then turn the thumb toward you, under the lower near string, letting the lower string slide over the thumb. (It is often helpful to use all the fingers except the thumb to grab all the strings except for the lower thumb string, to keep them out of the way, releasing after the thumb rotation is complete.)
    • To Navaho a pinkie or index finger: reach the finger over the upper far string and use the very tip of the finger to lift the upper far string from behind. Bring the upper string very slightly forward so that it is nearer to you than the lower far string; then stick your finger into the gap between the far strings. Rotate the finger away form you under the lower string letting the lower string slip over the finger.
• Near: closer to your nose than far
• Opening A: a common starting place.
  1. Hang your loop of string across the thumb and pinky of your left hand, so that there is a short palmar string and a long loop hanging down the inside side of your wrist and arm.
  2. Hang the other end of the loop on your right hand the same way.
  3. With the right index finger, pick up the left hand palmar string, and extend.
  4. With the left index finger, pick up the right hand palmar string from between the strings of the index loop.
  5. Extend.
• Palmar: lying across the palm.

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