How to Tie a Cherry Stem In a Knot with Your Tongue

Tying a cherry stem into a knot using only your teeth and tongue is a fun skill to have. And it's actually quite easy.

Step 1: Show stem to audience
Demonstrate to your audience the cherry stem is not already in a knot before placing it in your mouth.

Tip
A maraschino cherry works better than a fresh one, because its stem has been soaked in liquid, making it easier to manipulate.

Step 2: Soften stem
Soften the cherry stem with your saliva for a few seconds.

Tip
You may want to bend the stem a few times or gently chew it to further soften it before attempting to knot it.

Step 3: Push down middle of stem
Push down on the middle of the stem with the tip of your tongue, so that it bends upward into a "U."

Step 4: Form an "X"
Using the back of your front teeth as a stabilizer, cross one end of the stem over the other, forming an "X."

Step 5: Hold in place & push loop upwards
Hold one end of the "X" in place with your teeth while pushing the loop upwards with your tongue towards the free end of the "X."

Step 6: Push free end through loop
Push the free end of the "X" through the loop using the bottom edge of your available front tooth.

Step 7: Release end of stem
Once the tip of the stem is through the loop, release the other end of the stem from your teeth.

Step 8: Position stem
Now position the stem so that the loop is flat against your four front teeth and the tip that is through the loop is pointing out.

Step 9: Push end further through loop
Push the end of the stem further through the loop until you can't push anymore.

Tip
If you can't get the knot very tight, use a little sleight of hand as you remove it from your mouth, holding one end with your teeth as you pull on the other end.

Step 10: Show it off
Voila--you're done! Now put the knot in the palm of your hand and show it off!

Did You Know?
After actress Sherilyn Fenn pretended to tie a cherry stem with her tongue on the TV show Twin Peaks, co-star Madchen Amick showed the cast and crew that she could actually do it!