Links to Other String Figure Web Sites
On line instructions
- WWW collection of favorite string figures: Includes video clips.
- The Survival, Origin, and Mathematics of String Figures: Includes a topological analysis of string figures, a list of museums with string figure artifacts, and a collection of 21st century figures.
- James Murphy's "Torusflex" website.: Includes math articles published in Bulletin of the ISFA, photos of La Guardia High School students making string figures, and links to youtube videos of the author making string figures.
- Philip Noble's "Visual Stories" channel on YouTube features Papua New Guinea string figure videos.
- Joseph D'Antoni's channel on YouTube features several high definition string figure videos, including an excellent performance of Jenness's "Little Dog with Big Ears".
- Tom Yamashita's ayatori channel on YouTube features over 100 string figure videos with commentary in Japanese.
- Myriam Namolaru's channel on YouTube features over one-hundred string figure videos. Many of these show how to make string figures that were published in String Figure Magazine and Bulletin of the International String Figure Association.
- Karl Schaffer, who specializes in multiperson polyhedral string figures, has posted 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 videos on YouTube.
- Brazilian entertainer Rodrigo Libanio Christo sings cute little songs in Portuguese while making string figures on YouTube.
- Keiichiro Ishino's ayatori website currently contains more than 500 beautiful photos of finished string figures from around the world. Instructions for making each figure are in Japanese and a reference of the source of each figure is given.
- The String Figures of Malawi - In this nicely edited half-hour film children from villages around Kazumu Academy make string figures that illustrate aspects of their daily life in Malawi.
- The World of Pattern String Figures by Hiroshi Hasagawa is a fascinating exploration of how to create new complex intricate designs by combining the procedures for making previously published geometric patterns. An illustrated inventory of his new creations is also posted.
- Neil Parker's string figures website, which includes instructions for making most of the designs in Jayne's Finished-Pattern-Only Figures from Chapter IX of her classic String Figures.
- Naoki Kato's string figures channel on YouTube has more than 40 video clips and includes instructions for making the Nauruan classic Egattamma.
- "Toby in Dreamtime" is a storytelling film by Tim Kennedy. The story line and photos of the 49 string figures featured in "Toby in Dreamtime" first appeared in Vol. 6 (1999) of Bulletin of the International String Figure Association.
- String Figures: Cultural and Cognitive Aspects, Construction Methods, Modelling is a database maintained by Eric Vandendriessche. Browse the content link to access photos, videos, and text-based instructions for recently collected string figures from the Arctic, Oceania, and South America. Viewers can also enjoy annotated photos, videos, and written instructions for string figures from the Trobriands of Papua New Guinea and the Chaco region of South America. Last but not least, Eric invites you to view a new documentary he produced entitled Writings in the sand and with a string in Ambrym Island.
- Ayatori: Non-verbal string figure tutorial is a YouTube channel by Yoshitaka Hamatani. The goal is to help people of all ages and from all countries enjoy string figures, regardless of language.
Telling Stories with String
- Anne Glover: English/French
- Wordsmith: Dave Titus: Highly experienced storyteller. Does workshops.
- Balanced on a String by wilderness instructor Doug Getgood combines poetry with string figures.
- Tangled Tales by Agnieszka Kontny is a series of string figure stories. Use the auto-translate feature under "settings" to translate the captions from Polish to the language of your choice.
Sources of string loops
Cultural
Master list
Last updated February 9, 2026
Return to ISFA home page