Hawaiian leis symbolize the friendly and inviting atmosphere of the Hawaiian Islands. Traditionally, Hawaiian leis are created with fresh, locally grown flowers, but silk flowers and ribbons are also used to represent love and luck. Ribbon leis typically use two different ribbon colors to make a distinctive pattern. Hawaiian ribbon lei patterns are made up of a series of loops that are connected to create a circle. The completed lei resembles a woven braid.
Instructions
1. Cut a 12-foot length of each color of 5/8-inch wide grosgrain ribbon. You can also use 3/8-inch inch wide grosgrain ribbon to make a thinner lei. Lay both lengths of ribbon side-by-side, flat with the pattern side facing up. To simplify the instructions, designate the right ribbon strand as A and the left ribbon strand as B.
2. Fold six inches of one end of ribbon A on top of itself. Pinch the edges of the folded ribbon together, two inches from the fold. You now have a two-inch loop and a four-inch tail.
3. Make a slip knot four inches from the same end of the B ribbon and tie it around the pinch on the A ribbon. The two ribbons are now connected; each one as a four-inch tail from the pinched/knotted section.
4. Form a two-inch loop in the B ribbon as it exits the slip knot. Fit the B ribbon loop up through the first A ribbon loop. Pull the A ribbon down as it leaves the knot to secure the two loops together.
5. Make a new two-inch loop in the A ribbon at the base of the last B loop. Insert the new A loop up through the last loop in the B ribbon. Pull the B ribbon strand down as it exits the loop to secure the loops together.
6. Continue to alternate two-inch loops between the A ribbon and the B ribbon, inserting then through the opposite color loops and pulling down to tighten the connection. Leave four inches of ribbon open in each color at the end.
7. Make one last loop in the A or B ribbon, whichever is next in your pattern. Insert the opposite color four-inch tail at the beginning of the strand through the loop. Pull the ends of each ribbon in opposite directions to form the circle of the lei.
8. Tie the four-inch tails remaining at the end of the ribbon lei together. Cover the knot with clear-drying craft glue and let it dry.
Tags: loop ribbon, four-inch tail, last loop, ribbon strand, two-inch loop, each color