• 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 / Ribbon cigar flower lei

Ribbon cigar flower lei

October 29, 2019 by Lisa Grable 5 Comments

I made ribbon lei cigar flower because I needed two lei for some honored visitors from Hawai’i and I did not have 4000 cigar flowers! I really enjoyed this craft and I am excited that these lei can be keepsakes. 

How to make a ribbon lei. Hawaiian craft mimics cigar flower (firecracker plant) and makes a beautiful keepsake lei. Uses picot ribbon.

Cigar flower is one of The Gardener’s favorite lei when we visit Hawai’i. We found a plant that would grow in our garden. Our nurseries here in North Carolina call it firecracker plant. It takes 2000 blossoms to make a cigar flower lei. I’ve got the right needle, but not enough flowers!

ribon-cigar-flower-13
Cigar flower or firecracker plant
cigar-flower-lei
The Gardener loves a cigar flower lei!

Supplies

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.

You will need 

upholstery or carpet needle

upholstery thread

40 yards 3/8″ satin picot ribbon

40 yards 3/16″ satin picot ribbon

50 inches 3/8″ acetate ribbon

small scissors

tape measure

if desired, 1/8 inch double sided tape

ribbon-cigar-flower - 10
ribbon-cigar-flower - 1
ribbon-cigar-flower - 4

Instructions

Cut 10 feet of thread. Thread the needle and bring the two ends of thread together Tie a double knot about 4 inches from the end.

Find shiniest side of 3/8″ ribbon. Lay shiny side down. Find shiniest side of 3/16″ ribbon. Lay shiny side up on top of the 3/8″ ribbon. (You may want to use 1/8 inch double sided tape to fold in the raw edges.) 

The ribbon I found came in 50 yard spools. I just kept the ribbon on the spool while I worked, so I didn’t cut it. 

Notice that the picot loops on the 3/16 inch ribbon are 6 loops per inch. You will come up with your needle on the first loop and go back down at the 6th loop so that each stitch is one inch. 

ribbon-cigar-flower - 8
ribbon-cigar-flower - 9
ribbon-cigar-flower - 3

Sew in and out along the center of both ribbons until you have 8 or l0 loops. 

ribbon-cigar-flower - 7
ribbon-cigar-flower - 6
ribbon-cigar-flower - 2

Push the loops down to the knot. Start turning the loops so that it starts to make a spiral stripe. Continue to sew in and out every 6 picot loops, push down the loops, and twist until the lei is 40 inches long. 

ribbon-cigar-flower-17
ribbon-cigar-flower - 5
ribbon-cigar-flower-14

If you run out of thread, tie a knot tightly against the ribbon leaving 4 or more inches of thread. Tie your next length of thread at that point and continue. 

ribbon-cigar-flower-16
ribbon-cigar-flower-18
ribbon-cigar-flower-19

At 40 inches, make sure your loops are pushed down and twisted to make the spiral design. Tie the thread as close as you can and cut so that you have at least 4 inches of thread. Cut the ribbons about 1/2 inch and use your double sided tape on the ends if desired. Take the two ends of the lei and tie together tightly with several knots using the two thread ends. Carefully cut the threads. 

ribbon-cigar-flower-21
ribbon-cigar-flower-20
ribbon-cigar-flower-22

Next you will make a bow to cover the joint. Cut a 12 inch piece of ribbon and another piece at least 37 inches long. I used the 3/16 inch picot in these photos, but it’s a little easier to use a stiffer ribbon such as acetate or stiff nylon. Cut the ribbon diagonally to cut down on fraying. 

With the long piece of ribbon, make a fold about 3 inches from the end. Hold this with your thumb and finger. Now make a loop that will be like a circle around your thumb, and hold. Twist the ribbon and make a loop about two inches long, grab with your thumb, and make a loop on the other side. Keep going back and forth, with a twist at your thumb. You should end up with 3 loops on each side, and a smaller circle loop over your thumb. If the ribbon has a shiny side, it should be showing on the outside of each loop. (I can manage to do this with one hand holding the ribbon, but you may want to use a clothespin to hold the loops.)

ribbon-cigar-flower-23
ribbon-cigar-flower-25
How to make a ribbon cigar flower lei. Hawaiian craft mimics cigar flower (firecracker plant) and makes a beautiful keepsake lei. Uses picot ribbon.

Use the 12 inch piece to go through the center of the top round loop and wrap around all the loops. Tie into a tight knot under all the loops. Use this same ribbon to tie the bow onto the lei at the spot where you joined the threads. 

Resource links

    • https://islandscene.com/diy-graduation-braided-ribbon-lei
      • Braided ribbon lei from Island Scene
    • https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/content/7-hawaiis-most-popular-lei-and-what-makes-them-unique
      • 7 of Hawaii’s most popular lei from Hawai’i Magazine
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQEIq8J73BE
      • Joy of Crafting bozu flower lei from Ben Franklin Hawai’i

Related posts

Coconut palm leaf lei Gathered skirt for hula Yarn lei

 

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

Filed Under: Home-making Tagged With: Hawaiian craft, Hawaiian cultural practice, lei, ribbon lei

Previous Post: « Fab Fashion giveaway 10.26.19 – 11.02.19
Next Post: Daniella’s Candles giveaway 11.02.19 – 11.09.19 »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kendal Chesley

    May 3, 2022 at 6:50 pm

    Hi I’m currently making the lei. I’m almost to the end of my 50 yard spool of ribbon. I only have 19” of a completed lei. I’m seeing every 8 loops. Am I pushing my sewn loops down too tight? I’ll buy using well over 50 yards to get a @38” completed lei.

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      June 13, 2022 at 5:00 pm

      Are you using 2 colors, 50 yards each?

      Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      June 13, 2022 at 5:03 pm

      Are you going in at 6 picot loops and then out at the next 6? Also, you should be able to move the loops on your ten feet of thread to space it out.

      Reply
  2. Clearissa Coward

    November 8, 2019 at 2:40 pm

    Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      November 10, 2019 at 2:47 pm

      Thanks for reading. It’s a relaxing craft!

      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...