Straw leis

Before I get started, I just want to announce that I have a new grandchild!!! My second grandson and 3rd grandchild was born this week. We are so excited to have him finally here!! I'm sure I'll be posting pictures and stories in the weeks and months to come!

Now to the post...

Everyone knows that visitors to Hawaii are often greeted with a lei. What you might not know, is that there are many other occasions when leis are not only appropriate, they are almost mandated. We give them on birthdays, graduations, speaking engagements, retirements, promotions, mission farewells, special church meetings, homecomings, departures, after athletic events... you name it - any time someone is singled out, recognized or congratulated for any reason, he or she will be draped with leis by the end of the event. See my daughter and her boyfriend at their graduation a few years ago...

Frequently the leis are made from fresh flowers, but just as often, they will be handmade from other materials, including shells, beads, pearls, paper, candy, even money. Here is one type of lei you can make for your next Hawaiian themed party, birthday, Aloha shirt Friday etc.

To make this lei, you will need:

• one ball of eyelash yarn (I used Lion Brand Fun Fur)
• worsted weight yarn in a matching or contrasting color (you won't need a full skein)
• 3 drinking straws
• 1/8" ribbon in a coordinating color (may substitute worsted weight yarn)
• 3/8" ribbon - you'll need about 12 inches
• 2 kukui nuts or large wooden beads
• craft wire

To begin, snip a small slit in one end of each of the drinking straws.

Then, measure out your ribbon (which will hold your lei together). You want three pieces that are each twice as long as your finished lei will be. Using the craft wire, thread the ribbon through the straws

and secure the end of the loop through the slit in the end of the straw like this:

Attach both types of yarn to one of the straws with a slip knot.

Then you will wrap the two strands of yarn around the straws, holding the yarn like this

pulling them into a knot like this

Wrap around the straw 3 times, then continue on the next straw, and the next wrapping each straw three times like this:

Continue wrapping around until the straws are full, then push the whole lot down onto the ribbons. Make sure you leave a little bit on the straw

then continue to wrap and push . If you need to set the project down to take care of something else, don't worry, it will be fine.

When your lei is the length you desire (or when all your yarn is used up...) slip the ends of the ribbon off the straws

And sew on a 6 inch piece of 3/8" ribbon for a tie on each end, trimming up the ends of the dangling ribbons. Slip the kukui nut or bead onto the tie and tie a knot to hold it on.

Trim the ends of the ribbon so they won't fray, then tie the ends together and you are done.