How to Do the Knife Through a Napkin Magic Trick

Magic has entertained people of all ages for hundreds of years. There are some magic tricks that can be easily learned by a novice and one of those is the knife through a napkin trick. Follow these steps to amaze those at the next dinner.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Napkin
• Knife
• Audience helper

1. Set up the trick and strengthen the illusion. Say something about how a knife cannot go through a napkin without tearing it, but you can sometimes make this happen. Show the audience that the napkin is in one piece and without holes.
2. Make a fist with your left hand and with your palm facing to the right, then cover that hand with a napkin loosely. Using your right index finger tuck the middle of the napkin into your fist while leaving the outer edges to dangle.
3. Tuck it further down with your middle finger so that the napkin gets pushed into your fist but the audience does not notice. You should now have two passages into your fist--the first which is blocked by the napkin and the second closer to you which allows a space to go through.
4. Push the knife into the first (blocked) passage. Say that it cannot go through and show how the edges of the napkin are being pulled in slightly as you push the knife. Ask an audience member to try and tell them to push gently so that the napkin isn't damaged.
5. Ask your assistant to tell the audience about their experience to confirm the knife won't go through. As they are distracted and look to your helper. casually move the knife so that it's positioned to the open passage you had created.
6. Create more anticipation by saying how you'll try again; it wouldn't hurt to wave your free hand over your fist and say some magic words, too. Then loosen your fist just slightly enough for the knife to fall through slightly. Create excitement by drawing their attention to it working.
7. Let the knife fall the rest of the way through by opening your fist slightly more. If it does not fall through on its own, push it through. Once the knife has fallen open the napkin once more to show it does not have any holes.

Tips & Warnings

• Use words that build interest and suspense as you set up and perform your trick.