Trick #1
The Self-Tying Handkerchief
A knot instantly ties itself at the end of a
handkerchief!
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REQUIREMENTS: One cloth handkerchief with a knot tied in
one corner. |
Tell your friends that you can tie a knot in a handkerchief
using only one hand!
Pull the handkerchief out of your pocket, keeping the knot hidden in your
hand (Fig. 1). Pick up the opposite corner of the handkerchief with the
other hand, and grasp it as in Figure 2.
Snap the handkerchief, releasing the end without the knot. Pick up the hanging end with the other hand as before and repeat, again releasing the
end without the knot.
On the third try, let go of the knotted end as shown (Figure 3), instead
of the expected corner. The movement of the hand conceals the switch, and
makes this a very baffling effect. |
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Trick #2
Cut & Restored String
A string or rope is cut into two pieces, and then magically
restored into one piece!
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REQUIREMENTS: | 1.) One piece of heavy string or thin rope
2.) A piece of writing paper.
3.) A pair of good scissors.
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The Cut-and-Restored rope effect is a classic of magic. Prefold a piece of
paper before the show so it looks like the paper in Figure 1. When it's time
to present the trick, pull out the paper and lay the string in it as shown.
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Fold the top of the paper (section A) down, then fold the bottom
of the paper (section C) up. Now for the secret move:
When you fold section C up over section A, use your thumb to catch the
string as demonstrated in Figure 2. When you prefold the paper before the
show be certain that section A is not so long that it will cover the
string. |  |
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Securely grasp the package as in Figure 3, making sure that the view shown
in the diagram is seen only by you. |
Cut through the paper, as shown in Figure 4. Cut completely through the paper, dividing it and,
presumably, the rope in half. In reality, only the
paper is cut in half, the rope is still intact.
Crumple up the paper, and pull the rope out slowly. It is restored into one
complete piece! The paper may be examined, and it will be seen to have been
cleanly cut into two halves! |
Trick #3
Coin Through Elbow
A coin mysteriously vanishes into thin air!
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REQUIREMENTS: | 1.) One coin.
2.) A table to sit at.
3.) A chair to sit in.
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Magic with money is always of interest, and coin magic has the advantage
of being done with something that can be carried, or borrowed on the
spot!
Display the coin in your hand, and then rub it into your elbow, announcing
you are going to make it disappear! After a few moments drop the coin onto
the table and say it usually works better with the other hand.
Pick the coin up and pretend to put it into the other hand. Then, pretend
to rub "the coin" into your elbow, while the hand that is really holding
the coin goes up behind your ear. Drop the coin into the back of your shirt
collar, and then show that the coin has vanished, and both hands are
absolutely empty!
Trick #4
Houdini Rubber Band Escape
A miniature escape that demonstrates how solid can pass through
solid!
REQUIREMENTS: One medium sized rubber band.
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| This is sometimes also called the
Hopping Rubber Band. You loop a rubber band over your first two fingers,
and then it inexplicably jumps to the second two fingers.
Begin by placing a rubber band over your forefinger and middle finger
as shown in Figure 1. Bring the rubber band all the way down to the
base of the fingers. Hold your hand so its back is facing the audience.
Pull the rubber band with your other hand to show that it is solid, and
then at a point when the rubber band is still pulled a little bit out
towards you, curl your fingers down as in Figure 2.
From your audience's view, it looks like the rubber band is still
around only two of your fingers.
Pause for just an instant, and then straighten your fingers out. The band
will instantly jump over to your ring finger and pinky (Figure 3)!
To make the rubber band jump back to your first two fingers, follow the
same moves again.
If you twist a second rubber band over the fingers above the first band,
as in Figure 4, so that the fingers appear tied together, and then follow
the same moves for the trick as above, the first rubber band will still be
able to jump, seeming to penetrate right through the second band!
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Trick #5
The Vanishing Knot
Make a knot disappear from a rope or handkerchief, even a borrowed one!
REQUIREMENTS: One handkerchief or woman's scarf. A soft rope can also be used.
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Here's another classic effect! To perform
this trick you must twirl a handkerchief into a ropelike shape, and then
hold it between the index and middle fingers of each hand, palms up, as
shown in Figure 1. | |
| | Take the end in your right
hand (if you are right handed) and lay it between the thumb and forefinger
of the left hand, as in Figure 2. |
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In Figure 2 you are still holding onto part of the handkerchief with your
right hand. Use your right hand to position that part of the hankerchief
between the second and third fingers of the left hand, as you reach through
the loop with your right hand and grasp the closest dangling end (Figure
3). | |
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Pull that end through the loop, being certain to keep your grip on the
part of the handkerchief between the left second and third fingers (Figure
4). As you pull the end through with your right hand, you will notice a
loop forms around your left middle finger. Withdraw your finger, leaving
the loop hidden behind the knot, and display the hanging knot as in Figure
5. | 
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| | Now, blow on the knot while giving it a gentle shake,
or while pulling lightly on the free end with the other hand, and the knot
will disappear into thin air!
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