Cat's cradle

I played this with my 8 yr old granddaughter and she loved it. Bought a book of instructions. I remember Jacobs ladder. Her favourite was Eiffel tower! I also remember the rabbit out of a hankie thing which my father used to do, He also wrapped a hankie round his hand and made an 'old woman'. The hankie was the headscarf.

Used to do it in the school playground with the children, they would spend ages on it they loved doing it

Coincidence - I was trying to remember this a couple of hours ago, on the way back from a day out in York. From the 17th century, that's fascinating. My dad used to do the rabbit thing, but I don't know how.

My late godmother could make a rabbit out of a hanky. My little granddaughter loves me to blow up a paper bag and burst it, snag is that not many shops use paper bags these days.

This game goes back to the 17th century. The cradles the had four knobs, two at each side around which were criss crossed either ribbon or string to stop,"the cats getting into the cradle." Hence the childrens game

Isn't it wonderful how children still love the simple things!
My dad taught me cat's cradle as a child,which I have done with the grandchildren,along with origami,blowing bubbles,making paper windmills and wall-shadows.Cheap or free entertainment but still so much fun.My grandchildren are too "old" for it now though,so I guess I'll just have to try to hang around long enough to do it all again with my great grandchildren!

Brilliant, thanks, I've found what I was looking for. The YouTube version is called Jacob's Ladder. Once through following the instructions, and my fingers have remembered!

Glad I've awakened some happy memories!

I looked on YouTube and there are lots of videos there for 1 or 2 people. They were a bit fast for me but it may bring it all back to you.

I used to get as far as the photo but could never get any further. Certainly brings back memories, my dad used to meet us from school occasionally and said none of the girls looked where they were going as they were all doing cats cradle with their friends. One of the grandchildren had 'jacks' in a party bag recently which I used to love.

Glad it wasn't only me that couldn't get the hang of it!

I could never get the hang of cats cradle gave my friends a good laugh getting myself all entangled

What a good idea. Have had a look at You Tube and will have a practice before I have granddaughters next week. Thanks.

That brings back memories, didn't know you could play it on your own though?

I have been doing this with 3 of my grandchildren 9,8 and 5 for the last couple of months. The oldest one has moved on to following videos on YouTube for more complex string tricks. It keeps then all quite well amused

Lots of videos on YouTube, Daisy. I am tempted to have a go too.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAZhx5PKgl4

Oh what a memory that has revived. Someone, I don't remember who, taught Me to do that when my GM was dying. We used to go to the house every day. This is 73/74 years ago and I remember the family Dr coming down the stairs and asking me to show him what I was doing.