The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

METHOD OF DETERMINING HOW MANY CHILDREN YOU WILL
HAVE: THE NEEDLE GAME CONSISTS OF A PIECE OF THREAD
PUT THROUGH A NEEDLE. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS
TO TELL A PERSON HOW MANY CHILDREN THEY WILL HAVE.
HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED: A PERSON HANGS THE NEEDLE
AND THREAD DIRECTLY OVER THE BACKSIDE OF THE HAND
OF ANOTHER PERSON. IF THE NEEDLE STARTS SWINGING
FROM FINGERTIP TO ELBOW, THIS MEANS YOU WILL HAVE
A BOY, IF THE STRING SWINGS FROM THUMB TOWARDS
BABY FINGER, YOU WILL HAVE A GIRL. IF THE NEEDLE
STANDS STILL, THIS MEANS NO CHILDREN, AND IF THE
NEEDLE TURNS IN A CIRCLE, THIS MEANS THAT YOU WILL
HAVE A MISCARRIAGE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE