How to Make a Double Strand Hawaiian Lei
Make your own Hawaiian lei from fresh flowers. Lei making is a simple craft that can be done by nearly anyone and the beauty is that there is really no wrong way to do it. This is an activity that can be enjoyed by both the young and the young at heart. Lei making is an art that has been practiced for centuries, beginning in Paleolithic times when leis were made from bone, ivory, shells and animal teeth. The lei was first introduced to Hawaii by Polynesian voyagers who constructed them from flowers, shells, feathers, nuts and seeds.
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Things You'll Need
- Large sewing needle
- 12 feet of carpet thread or dental floss
- 80 to 160 fresh flowers (plumerias, carnations, marigolds, orchids, roses or any other medium-sized flower)
- Beads or seeds
- Scissors
- Water spray bottle
- Ribbon (optional)
- Large freezer bag
Instructions
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1
Cut your carpet thread or floss in half. Set one strand aside.
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2
Thread your first strand through the eye of your carpet needle. Pull the thread through until you reach the midpoint, leaving 3 feet of thread hanging on either side of the eye. Tie a knot in the end with both sides of the thread, leaving a 3 to 5 inch tail.
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3
Select one flower and remove the stem. Push your needle gently through the bottom of the flower, in line with the center, pulling the string all the way through. Now push the needle through the top of the flower, in line with the center, and pull the string all the way through.
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4
Continue threading flowers until you have only 3 to 5 inches of thread left.
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5
String your second strand as you did the first. You may choose to alternate flower colors, select a contrasting color or string beads or seeds between flowers to embellish the strand. Continue stringing until you have only 3 to 5 inches of thread remaining.
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6
Connect the two strands together using a square knot. Leave enough of a tail so that you can carry the lei without touching and damaging the flowers.
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7
Place the lei carefully in a large freezer bag and store in the refrigerator until you need to use them.
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8
Before wearing the leis, mist the flowers using a water bottle and trim the tail or twist the remaining end and hide it among the flowers. You can also add a ribbon where the two strands join to add a finishing touch.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
