Caroline Extension

The Caroline Extension (sometimes called called the Pindiki Stroke) is a powerful technique for displaying a finished pattern. It was first observed in the Caroline Islands of Micronesia, hence the name. The Caroline Extension allows the maker to widely separate the upper and lower frame lines so that the design is big and impressive.

Unique finger holds ensure that the upper and lower frame lines remain taut. During the extension, the upper frame line is immobilized and held high on the index by pressing the thumb against the side of the index to trap the two strings that pass between them. This also locks the design and prevents its collapse since string can no longer flow from the interior into the frame lines as tension is applied. It also provides a sensitive mechanism for adjusting string tension within the design. A slight pivot of one or both wrists causes the design to expand or contract so that it fits the frame properly. The lower frame line is immobilized by pressing it down with the three lesser fingers or the heel of the palm, the choice being dictated by the length of the string in relation to the size of the hands.

Setting up the Caroline Extension
Before applying the Caroline Extension to any figure, the two transverse strings that become frame lines must be correctly positioned. The lower frame line must occupy the 5f position, and the upper frame line must occupy the lower 1f or upper 1f position (depending on the figure). Furthermore, the little finger loop must be shared with the thumb so that 5n is a palmar string. The movements that achieve this arrangement for our figure are illustrated in step 11 of Small Amwangiyo.

About the side knots
The “side knots” of a figure isolate the frame strings from the design strings. The distance between the knot and the palm determines how much of the loop is consumed by frame versus design, and therefore determines how “open” the design will be when extended. If the knot resides too far from the palm, the amount of string consumed by the design will be too small, and the amount consumed by the frame lines will be too large. As a result, the design will not expand fully when extended, and the frame lines will curve toward the center. To ensure that the knots end up near the palms, do not pull the figure tight during steps 6-11 (see Small Amwangiyo): weave loosely and extend gently after each step.