We made our whirligigs out of a cross section from a tree limb, usually dogwood, about 1/4 inch thick. We called it the whirligig button. We made two holes through the button about 1/4 inch apart with a red-hot ice pick, as close to the center as the eye would tell you. Put a piece of string about 4 feet long thru the holes and tie the ends together. Place your thumbs through the ends of the loops. Now, hold one hand still and sling the other hand around, winding the strings up tight. When you feel the strings tighten around your thumbs start sawing back and forth. Listen to the whir!
