I think it’s called this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_figure
I almost forgot about it until I saw it in some anime then it triggered my memories. I remember when I was a kid, my mom played that string thingy with me… she said kids of her days played that because there weren’t much games/toys to play with…
I don’t remember if this was a gendered thing tho… I kinda felt like it was something that is more “for girls”… or maybe because it was mom that played it with me… idk…
Now I mostly don’t remember how it works anymore…


we called it “cat’s cradle” and yeah, we ‘played’ it in the American Midwest in the 80’s and 90’s