Needle on a rope to guess genders?

My friend just did this to me where you hang a sowing needle from a thread, hold your hand out Palm down, dip the needle three times beside your hand then place it square over your hand. If the needle moves back and forth, it's a boy. If it moves in a circle, it's a girl. You repeat this until it stops and that tells you how many kids you will have because it goes in order. Anyone know of this? Or Try it? So curious!