• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Casa Bouquet

let your joy bloom

  • Home
  • About
  • Culture
  • Home-making
  • Education
  • Travel
  • Style
  • Series
You are here: Home / Home-making / Fun yarn lei 1-straw diy craft

Fun yarn lei 1-straw diy craft

January 8, 2018 by Lisa Grable 12 Comments

I learned how to make a fun yarn lei with a drinking straw and I thought I would share with you. Leis in Hawaii are made with flowers, shells, feathers, or other items from nature and are worn by men and women for hula or occasions. I needed a lei I could use for hula when I can’t get a real lei. I think it could be a new fashion accessory for me!How to make a fun yarn lei with one big straw and fun fur or eyelash yarn. DIY fun yarn lei for Hawaiian activities, fashion, or gifts.

Supplies for fun yarn lei

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

yarn-lei - 5To make this fun yarn lei you will need

  • 3/8 inch grosgrain ribbon, 53 inches or 1 ½ yards
  • wide drinking straw
  • 2 skeins eyelash or fun fur yarn, 35 yards each
  • tape
  • loop turner or large needle/a>
  • scissors
  • 2 kukui nuts and small cowrie shells, optional or 1 inch wood beads

Instructions

Making one lei takes about an hour or a little longer. The lei should be 32 – 36 inches in length. The grosgrain ribbon should be 18 inches longer. Grosgrain is better than satin because the yarn will “grab” the grosgrain. I cut one end at a slant and then just keep the rest on the spool to cut when I’m done. If you want to cut both ends, you need to tie a knot in the ribbon 9 inches from the end to keep the yarn from sliding off.yarn-lei - 14

You will need a wide drinking straw, about 9 inches long, such as the ones at fast food places or movie theaters. Fold the ribbon in half lengthwise and push it into the straw. Keep pushing until it is all the way through the straw. Fold over about a half inch and tape to the straw.

yarn-lei - 9
yarn-lei - 12
yarn-lei - 13

Find the ends of the two skeins of yarn. You can use two coordinating colors or two of the same color. Tie the end of each yarn around the straw. It should be tight but still be able to slide the knot along the straw.yarn-lei - 4

Push the two knots to the bottom of the straw, opposite where the ribbon is taped. Wrap the yarn around the straw towards the tape end in a spiral.yarn-lei - 1

Once the straw is full of yarn, gently push the yarn down to the end. You should have made 2 or 3 inches of lei!

Repeat the wrapping and pushing. Now some of the yarn should be pushed off the straw onto the ribbon. I find it helps to always keep some of the “pushed” yarn on the very bottom of the straw. Repeat to make the desired length.yarn-lei - 3

As you work, gently work on the yarn on the ribbon to keep it evenly spaced and thick.yarn-lei - 10

Once the yarn lei is the length you want, cut the ribbon 9 inches from the end of the yarn. Use a loop turner to go through the kukui nut and shells. Hook the end of the ribbon and pull it through the nut. (A large tapestry needle can also work: the eye has to be big enough for the ribbon, the needle has to fit through the hole in your bead. You can use a large wooden bead, or just tie a knot in the ribbon at the end.)

yarn-lei - 7
yarn-lei - 15

Tie a knot at the kukui nut on both ends. I also tie a knot in the ribbon in the very end to keep it from fraying (you could paint it with fray check or clear fingernail polish instead.)

yarn-lei - 6
yarn-lei - 8

Tie the ribbons together in a bow, ask someone you love to put the yarn lei on you, and enjoy!How to make a fun yarn lei with one big straw and fun fur or eyelash yarn. DIY fun yarn lei for Hawaiian activities, fashion, or gifts.

I made 3 yarn lei to go with my pa’u skirt (hula skirt): pink with white, pink with green, and green with white. I love how they feel!

Resource links for fun yarn lei

  • http://www.alohagiftsfromhawaii.com/hulaskirts.html
    • Shell rings and kukui nut beads from Aloha Gifts
  • http://www.discover-oahu.com/History-of-the-Hawaiian-Lei.html
    • History of the lei from Discover Oahu
  • https://www.thecandylei.com/blog/how-to-make-a-basic-candy-lei
    • How to make a basic candy lei from The Candy Lei


SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Share this post:
error
fb-share-icon
Tweet
fb-share-icon

Filed Under: Home-making Tagged With: eyelash yarn, faux feather lei, fun fur yarn, how to make a yarn lei, one straw lei, yarn lei

Previous Post: « Barefoot Beach Café Waikiki casual Hawaiian plates
Next Post: Bake a Cake Giveaway 01.12.18-02.12.18 »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jodie

    January 16, 2018 at 8:17 am

    Fun idea!
    Thank you for joining us at last week’s Reader Tip Tuesday – we hope to see you at this week’s party. xo
    http://www.jodiefitz.com/2018/01/16/reader-tip-tuesday-weeks-craft-recipe-party-14-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      January 16, 2018 at 2:47 pm

      Hey Jodie, I hope you get a chance to try the one-straw lei. It’s an easy craft with a big payoff!

      Reply
  2. Cathy Jarolin

    January 15, 2018 at 10:31 pm

    Your Lei is Beautiful! I love the red and green eyelash together.It matches your outfit perfectly. I would really like to try to make one of these.. I will pin it on my Crafts Board.. Hopefully I can make one as nice as yours. Thank You for sharing your awesome Craft with us..

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      January 16, 2018 at 7:04 am

      Hey Cathy, Thanks for reading. I hope you can find two colors you like together. I made green/pink, pink/white, and green/white.

      Reply
  3. Melissa Storms

    January 15, 2018 at 2:00 am

    That turned out really lovely.

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      January 15, 2018 at 6:18 am

      Hey Melissa, Thank you. I’ve made 3 so far. It’s fun, so I think I’ll start making them for my friends!

      Reply
  4. Tamra Phelps

    January 12, 2018 at 6:03 pm

    Hey, that’s pretty neat! My niece loves crafts like this. I need to give this a try with her.

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      January 14, 2018 at 11:48 am

      Hey Tamra, Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have good luck making this lei. It feels so great on your neck!

      Reply
  5. Barrie

    January 12, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    What a fun activity to do when my niece visits. She’ll love this.

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      January 14, 2018 at 11:46 am

      Hey Barrie, Thanks for reading. I hope you find some cute colors to try!

      Reply
  6. Amber Ludwig

    January 12, 2018 at 10:11 am

    Super fun and so pretty!! Way more resilient and less itchy that the cheapy plastic ones we typically use!

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      January 12, 2018 at 11:36 am

      Hey Amber, I hope you try this lei! It is like wearing something cuddly on your neck. I just love mine and I’m going to make some more!

      Reply

What are your thoughts? Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hey, I’m Lisa

Lisa Grable, Casa BouquetI’m an educator, grandmother, classic movie fan, sewer and crafter, and I love Hawaii. Read more about me …

Subscribe for email updates

Don't miss a post! Receive an email when new posts are published. Get freebies!

Please follow & like us :)

Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
Instagram
Follow by Email
RSS

Amazon

Zoom hula classes from Kanoe Miller

kanoe miller hula Oct. 2022Kanoe Miller teaches 5 week hula sessions on Zoom. Kanoe dances at the Hale Kulani in Waikiki and began her hula studies with Maiki Aiu Lake. Call or email to register. Times listed are Hawaii Standard.

More posts in Home-making

mrs. beetonʻs book of household management

Recent Posts

joy of giving giveaway hostesses Nov 2022

Joy of Giving giveaway 11.12.22 – 12.15.22

back to school giveaway 08.27.22 - 09.27.22

Back to school giveaway 08.27.22 – 09.27.22

summer cash giveaway

Summer Cash Giveaway 07.23 – 08.23.2022

College preparation at the end of high school includes planning, tips, and checklists. Entrance tests, applications, financial aid, and more!

6 tips for college preparation – applying, FAFSA

Posts by Category

Casa Bouquet parties

Over the Moon

Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party
Wonderful Wednesday
Thursday Favorite Things

Featured series

Casa Bouquet pie recipes series.
College planning posts for middle and high school students. Download free checklist, cost calculation, and career interest worksheets. Resource links!

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework · Design by Stephanie Jones

 

Loading Comments...