 Cut four strips of ribbon, each about an arm's length.

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 2

Tape the ends of two ribbons together with scotch tape at approximately an 80 degree
angle. Repeat with the other two strips of ribbon.
 3

Tape each pair to the end of a wooden stick. This will greatly facilitate the braiding process.
 4

Start braiding to get a lattice effect. Continue until you reach the bottom of the stick, or you
run out of ribbon.
 5
Trim the ends of the ribbons, and scotch tape them together.
 6

Remove the tape that is still attaching the ribbons to the top of the stick, and pull the finger
trap out.If you've done everything else correctly, it should hold together, and the ribbons should
be braided in a criss-cross effect.
 7

Understand that the pattern in which the ribbons (or bamboo) are woven is a bi-axial
braid. By trying to pull your fingers outwards, the braid is lengthened. At the same time the
length of the cylinder increases, even though the total surface area of the finger trap remains
constant so the harder you pull, the more the cylinder tightens making it even harder to escape!