Make your own beautiful lei --- in classic Hawaiian style.
In Hawaii, leis --- wreaths of flowers or leaves worn around the neck or head --- are a tradition that began with the earliest settlers to the state. Worn by men and women to make themselves beautiful, leis were also a symbol of peace between warring tribes. In modern times, the lei has come to represent welcome, love or luck. You don't have to travel to Hawaii to add a beautiful lei to your accessories. Making your own lei can be a creative and rewarding experience.
Flowers
The flowers are the most important part of the lei. Any type of large flower can be used; a complete lei uses approximately 50 blooms. A pretty lei can be made with orchids, roses, carnations, daisies or marigolds. The flowers must be large enough to thread onto string. The flowers can be all one color or a variety of colors. Filler greenery can also be used, such as ferns or leaves.
String
Use string to make your lei. Cotton string, twine, carpet thread or even something as light as dental floss will be effective. Order special lei string from a company that sells lei-making supplies. Hawaiian people use this special string that is solely for making leis, but any kind of cotton string will work.
Needle
A lei needle is used to thread the flowers onto the string. This is a special needle that is generally 10 to 12 inches long, but you can use a sewing needle as long it it is strong enough to penetrate the centers of the flowers. The needle should be long, thin and strong.
Ribbons
Leis can be dressed up with ribbons. Tie short ribbons along the length of the lei, or a long ribbon could be tied at the back. Create a bow out of ribbon and let some of the length hang down for a romantic touch. Match the ribbon colors to the flowers in the lei.
Tags: onto string, special string