Navajo Opening
(1-7)

The string games in this section all start with the Navajo Opening, illustrated and described below.

Download PDF of figures with the Navajo Opening

1. Grasp the loop in both hands with the hands only a few inches apart. 1 and 2 point toward the center and pinch the string while 345 hold lateral sections of the loop.

2. Wrap the section lying between the two hands around L2 by passing RH over L2, away from the body, then down and toward the body, and finally up.

3. Point L2 toward the body. Release the string held by R1 and R2, but maintain the grip of R345. Pass R2 into the L2 loop from the far side.

4. Rotate 2 down, away from the body, and then up.

5. As 2 completes its rotation 1 enters the 345 loop from the near side. Release the loop from 345 and extend, palms facing away, catching the released loop on 1.

6. Return hands to normal position (palms facing each other). There are TV 2n and 1f strings. An L2f-R1n string passes behind an L1n-R2f string.

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Notes: The method we observed is more direct than the method described by Jayne, in which a hanging loop is created (Jayne 1906:212). All of our informants used this method.

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Navajo word display problems? Please install the Verdana Navajo font, downloadable by clicking HERE.

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