A Lei for Graduation

The daughter of one of my co-workers graduated. Her mom made her this awesome lei.


Wouldn't you have just loved to receive one of these for your graduation?!? My co-worker said her aunt made one for the future college freshman, too, except the aunt shaped the dollar bills into butterflies. I would have loved to have seen that!


My co-worker said she intended to order a real Hawaiian lei for her daughter, too, but she forgot until the day before graduation. Just too many things going on!!!

I volunteered to crochet a lei. My co-worker couldn't believe I could get one done that fast. (She doesn't know how much my "crochet elbow" has been bothering me, and I didn't tell her because I wanted to do something special for her daughter. This was the perfect opportunity for me.)

As I was crocheting, I further worked out my elbow and arm by typing up the pattern, too. Now I can make another one (far in advance!) in school colors next time a girl in my family graduates. Or I could make a rainbow one just because!

You may do whatever you'd like with lei scarves you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: 48 inches long and 3 inches wide at widest point
Materials: Small amounts of acrylic worsted weight yarn in 4 or more colors (I used peach, pink, lavender and sea foam green), size H crochet hook

Lei Scarf Instructions

Flower Motifs (make 18 or number to achieve desired length)

Make magic ring.

Round 1: With flower center color, ch 2 (counts as one dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Pull magic circle tight.
NOTE: I made all my flower centers first, 18 of them, 6 of each color, before working the petal round.

Round 2: With flower petal color, [1 sc in any dc (or next in repeats), 5 dc in next dc] 6 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off.
NOTE: I weave in my ends as I go by crocheting over them when possible. I also clip ends as I finish each motif so I don't have to worry about it after completing the project and perhaps having one or two missed ends remaining when I present the gift.


Leaves (make 18)

With leaf color, 1 sc in middle dc of any petal of flower motif, [ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sk next ch, 5 dc in next ch, sk next ch, 1 sc in next ch (1st leaf made), 1 sc in same dc of flower petal, ch 9, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, sk next ch, [[yo and draw up loop through next ch, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook]] 4 times, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook, ch 1, sk next ch (2nd leaf made), 1 sc in same dc of flower petal, ch 8, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, sl st in next ch, turn, 1 sc in next sc, 1 hdc in next sc, 1 dc in next sc, 1 hdc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc (connecting leaf made), ch 1, 1 sc in middle dc of any petal of next flower motif] 18 times (or number of times to match number of flower motifs), ending after 2nd leaf of final repeat, 1 sc in same dc of flower petal, bind off; weave in ends.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.


Finish: I did not block my lei scarf because I like the natural curl, but blocking is possible if desired by pinning on ironing board, misting lightly with water, then hovering slightly above scarf with steam iron. Do not make contact between iron and acrylic yarn. Allow to dry. Remove pins. Gift away!


Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts.

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