ISLAND HERITAGE
Picture of a pikake rope from "Hawaii Lei in Crochet."
Faux power
2 books show how to make
colorful lei that'll last longer
than your garden varietyEvery time we've done a story on ribbon leis, the inevitable happened. Ex-kamaaina would e-mail from Seattle, Minnesota and other points across the nation to request sources of more instruction.
Now online crafters can rejoice! The Bess Press has come out with a 42-page book by lei-making instructors Coryn Tanaka and May Masaki, featuring 17 different lei designs and step-by-step techniques.
Pinch, sew, roll and gather your way to making multicolored haku leis, cigar leis, lehua chokers, double 'ohai ali'i or a Micronesian hibiscus weave lei.
"Making Ribbon Lei and Other Gifts of Aloha" also includes instructions for making bows, a money rose and a decorative fairy.
The book (ISBN 1-57306-138-7) will be $9.95 and available in bookstores in September.
For mail-order requests, call 734-7159; e-mail info@besspress.com or write 3565 Harding Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816; or visit the company's Web site at www.besspress.com.
The cost of mail order is an additional $4.95 for one copy, $5.95 for two copies or $6.95 for three copies.
Maybe dealing with multiple ribbons, pins, needles and scissors is too complicated, and you prefer the simplicity of crochet.
Those looking for leis that last now have two new books destined to become craft Bibles, one dealing with ribbon, and the other with yarn.
Island Heritage delivers its own book for crafters, "Hawaiian Lei in Crochet."
Author Roberta Wong presents 33 designs in full color, with styles representing favorite lei flowers such as ilima, crown flower, pua kenikeni and vanda orchid. Some, like the pikake and pakalana, look more realistic than others.
Even if you're not the lei-wearing type, you can follow Wong's instructions, starting with basic crochet stitches, to create individual flowers that you can attach to bags or hats for instant hippie chic.
The 80-page book (ISBN0-89610-334-X) sells for $9.99 in bookstores and is also available by calling Island Heritage customer service at 564-8800 or 800-468-2800.
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