Rang Takkataen (Thai Sedge Grasshopper Nest) — Nutgrass Stems Woven on the Fingers, Laid across Little, Ring and Middle Fingers, Looped over One by One, Tied and Slipped Off

"Pull the end of the earlier nutgrass stem over the new one so its end comes underneath; pinch it with your fingers so it does not slip; and carry on like this to the end." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, CC BY 4.0)

Pinch off the tips of several nutgrass stems. Turn your less-skilled hand palm up and lay 1 stem across it at the base of the fingers. Lay stems across between the little, ring and middle fingers, one stem each.

Lay another stem on the palm, a little further toward the fingertips. Pull the end of the earlier stem over the new one so its end comes underneath, and pinch it firmly so it does not slip. Repeat until the nest is a fair size.

Tie all the ends underneath together with a nutgrass stem, and slowly slip the nest off your fingers.

Drawing of a nutgrass grasshopper nest (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, CC BY 4.0).

Make one alone, or several children make them together and compete; the prettiest wins. Children dab saliva on the holder so the grasshopper sticks to the nest.

The grasshopper nest is a folk toy from nutgrass, fun to make and good practice for careful work and finger coordination. Wash your hands after gathering the grass. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "รังตั๊กแตน" (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source gives no stem count or nest size in numbers, and there is no listing for nutgrass, so it is named in the text.