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I was watching a video where Fiddlerman plays a 4th finger position D on the G string then plays on open D on the D string without lifting his fingers from the G. I find it impossible for me to do that. If I put a finger down in any string it seems like my fingers will naturally be at least partly on the adjacent strings and it is impossible for me to play an open note on an adjacent string without lifting my fingers off the string that I am playing. I have tried different finger positions as well as different positions holding the violin but I find no comfortable way I can finger one string while leaving adjacent strings open. Yet apparently it can be done as Fiddlerman shows in the video. Just wondering if I am missing something or something I am doing wrong...
Any help or suggestions appreciated.
I have a very hard time with that, having short fat fingers but it is possible. You arm and hand position has to be right and your fingers curved right. What I do is cheat a little. If I want to play a G on the D string and an open A I place my finger so I am touching bot the G and the D string at the same time. This way I can play the A string and leave my finger down on the D string without it touching the A. Sometimes you just have to be inventive. Even pushing the string with your finger away from the other. Good luck, I'm sure you'll get it
I think that Kevin is right =). Putting a finger on (or closer to) the string that You will not play to save some space for the other string seem to be the best option...
i have the similar problem but in opposite way - when i try to put one finger on two strings.. I can touch the other string (which makes a BAD sound), but can't press them together. 30 minutes tried to play C (on A string) + G (on E) - no results 
... guess i have to invent something either... except moving the strings closer on the bridge...
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I appreciate the help. So far I have tried Kevin's idea of putting my fingers on or closer to the string that I don't intent to play. So if I am playing the D I had my fingers on the D and the G and I just barely managed to screech out an open A. So, I am having some limited success. It is not easy but I guess with enough practice I will get it right. But so far a little progress is better than none at all. 
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Which FM video ?
One of the beginner tutorials titled "Notes on the G string".
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OK, if you are playing with your fingers down on the G you can have your fingers over the edge of the violin towards the left a little as long as they don't touch the open D. But this is only if you need an open D
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
@ Crazy Re: Sleight of hand.
At the time that the open D is played (about 1:30 +) there are 2 things going on:
1) The fingers are almost perfectly vertical thereby creating the smallest footprint and,
2) The entire hand is rocked AWAY from the D string thereby increasing the clearance.
You can do this !
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You would have made a great teacher Oliver. You are so good at analyzing things. 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Okay thank you Kevin , Oliver and Fiddlerman, for the good pointers. So far it has helped me. I tried it and I was able to do it but still felt somewhat uncomfortable. Nonetheless I'll keep trying and I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.
In the meantime what I generally do now when I need to play an open D and I am on the G is to raise my fingers just high enough off the G so they are not making contact with either of the strings, then play the open D and then put my fingers back on the G and go back to playing on the G... Or, most often I'll just play the 4th finger D on the G and avoid the open D altogether.
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That works too
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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many thanks you people.
I also have FFS (fat finger syndrome 
) so this post is a great help.
and why can I not post this. it asking for the math, but won't give me a send option
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
Terry, This only works with the new math not the stuff we learned in school.
Perlman is noted for having VERY fat fingers (and others).
I once was able to observe a good Russian violinist from about 18" from the scroll and he had VERY short and stubby fingers and his left hand reminded me of a typewriter.
There is rumor that a luthier can/will move the string spacing slightly in desparate cases.
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