How to Crochet a Maile Lei
The Hawaiian people make leis, or floral necklaces, out of a variety of natural items, including flowers, leaves and even nuts. The maile lei is made from the leaves of the maile vine. According to the Ti and Leaf Lei website on ThinkQuest, the maile lei smells faintly like licorice and Hawaiians wear these leis on special occasions. Make your own maile lei using crochet. It will last longer than the natural version and also function as a garland or decoration.
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Things You'll Need
- Green worsted weight yarn
- Crochet hook size US H
- Scissors
- Embroidery needle
Instructions
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1
Make nine chain stitches with the worsted weight yarn and size US H crochet hook. Start in the second chain from the hook and work across the chain making the following stitches: single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, half double crochet twice, single crochet three times. In the final chain stitch, work three single crochet stitches and turn the work around so the opposite side of the starting chain is facing you.
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2
Work one single crochet in the next chain on the opposite side and another single crochet in each of the next two chains. Make the following stitches across this side of the chain: half double crochet twice, double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet. Make a slip stitch in the original stitch to finish off this leaf.
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3
Chain one and turn your work. Make a slip stitch into the center of the last leaf you made, which is the original stitch in your foundation chain.
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4
Make nine chain stitches. Start in the second chain from the hook and work across the chain making the following stitches: single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, half double crochet twice, single crochet three times. In the final chain stitch work three single crochet stitches and turn the work around so the opposite side of the starting chain is facing you.
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5
Work one single crochet in the next chain on the opposite side and another single crochet in each of the next two chains. Make the following stitches across this side of the chain: half double crochet twice, double crochet, half double crochet, single crochet. Make a slip stitch in the original stitch to finish off this leaf.
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6
Repeat steps three, four and five, adding leaves to your chain until the lei is long enough to drape around your neck like a short scarf.
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7
Cut your working yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail. Thread this tail onto an embroidery needle and weave the tail in and out of the nearest leaf. Repeat this with any remaining yarn tails to hide them in your work.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want your lei to be wider, make two or three total leaf strands and sew them together using your embroidery needle and some spare yarn. Sew every few leaves together side by side to hold the lei together as one.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
