Instructions for Making Hawaiian Leis From Leaves
Hawaiians wear leis for many reasons. They serve as a form of welcome for guests and as a personal decoration during celebrations and gatherings. Dancers also wear leis on their arms and legs in addition to flower leis around their necks and on their heads. Tourists arriving in Hawaii often receive leis as they leave their airplanes or enter their hotels. These necklaces of flowers and leaves consist of many different kinds of plants, some being entirely blooms and others made only of leaves.
Leaf leis take several different forms. According to Think Quest, maile (my-lee) leaf leis act as cords during graduations while ti leaves form the fringed leis dancers wear around their limbs.
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Things You'll Need
- Long embroidery needle
- Carpet thread
- Scissors
- Maile leaves
- Ti leaves
- Utility knife
- Twine
Instructions
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Maile Leis
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1
Cut a piece of carpet thread about 3 feet long. This should be long enough that the lei hangs evenly over your shoulders. Slip one end of the thread through the eye of an embroidery needle and tie the thread to secure it. Tie a second knot in the other end of the thread to keep the leaves in place.
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2
Lay your maile leaves out on a flat surface in front of you. Pick one up and place your needle against the back of it along the central vein. Tilt your needle at a 45-degree angle and push it through the leaf.
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3
Slide the leaf to the other end of the thread. Continue to add leaves until the entire thread is full. Snip the loop holding the needle in place and arrange the leaves so they hide the remaining knot. Drape the lei around your shoulders.
Ti Leaves
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4
Lay two large ti leaves out on a flat surface in front of you. Flip them so you can see the back.
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5
Pull one leaf toward you and place a utility knife against the side of the central vein where it gets thick. Slide the knife into the vein and slice it down to the stem. Repeat on the second leaf.
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6
Flip the leaves right side up and bring their stems together. Cross the stems over each other and tie them in a double knot.
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7
Tear the leaves gently along their veins, creating 1/4-inch-wide fringes in both leaves. Drape them over your shoulders or use twine to tie them to one of your calves. Make a second lei for your other calf.
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1
References
- Photo Credit li is ti 01 image by pilipim from Fotolia.com
