The Ox-Yoke Puzzle belongs to a group of string puzzles that were popular during the mid-1800s and early 1900s. In fact, these puzzles are still mind bogglers for all ages today. We used some easy to find materials- string, beads and cardboard to make this puzzle.

The object of the Ox-Yoke Puzzle is to move one bead from the string loop on one side of the puzzle to the string loop on the other side of the puzzle without untying knots or cutting the string.

Materials

• A pieces of string, about 12 inches in length
• A piece of cardboard (2 inches x 6 inches in length)
• A whole punch or a pair of scissors to make holes in the cardboard
• Two beads

Instructions

• Take a piece of cardboard mentioned in the materials section above.
• Punch 3 holes with one in the center and one on each side of the cardboard strip.

• Bend the string in half, and pass it through the center hole. Make a loop and pass the lose ends of the strings to create a knot.

• Pass one bead on the lose end of the string. Pass the lose end of the string through the hole at one end of the cardboard and tie a know to secure it in place.

• Follow the same procedure on the other lose end of the string to create one more lope with a bead. Your puzzle should look as shown below.

That’s it! You are ready to test. Remember the goal- move one bead from the string loop on one side of the puzzle to the string loop on the other side of the puzzle without untying knots or cutting the string.

Feel free to check the video below to make sure your puzzle is made correctly. You can find the puzzle solution in the same video as well.

Puzzle solution

• Pull the loop towards you.

• Slide the bead you want to transfer (the blue bead in this case) up the loop.

• Now, pull the string with the blue bead and the other string. Keep pulling both of these strings together until the knot comes out through the block and onto your side.

• Pull the knot. Move the bead through the double loop knot.

• Pull the knot back through the hole in the block.

• Tidy up the loops and all done!!

Hope you enjoyed making your own puzzle.