Fancy Hawaiian Lei in Crochet

Fancy Hawaiian Lei in Crochet: Easy, Beautiful flower lei made with basic crochet stitches
Roberta E. Wong
Island Heritage Publishing
First Edition, Second Printing 2005
ISBN: 1-59700-015-9
Hardcover with concealed o-binding
6-1/8" x 8-7/8", 100 pages
$10.99

I walked past a display of these books and then turned around and went back. I flipped through it, put it back on the shelf, and walked away. Then I walked back and picked it up and bought it. It's the only book I've bought on how to crochet lei; I've flipped through a few of them but this is the only one I've gone back for.

Even before I get to the individual patterns, this book has a lot going for it. The binding, for example, is
a hardcover with concealed o-binding, which means that it is sturdy and protected on the outside while allowing it to lay flat. I'm even including the photo below to help you see this:

The hardcover wraps around the spine and over the front, so that flips open and lays flat, and then the o-binding can be used to full advantage. This may seem like a small point, but I have wrestled with too many craft books that don't lay flat, or spiral/o-bound paperbacks that need to be handled carefully for fear of tearing the cover off or the pages out.

Moving on to the interior: there is a basic materials list that includes photos of the types of yarn used in the patterns (eyelash, mustachio, and eyebrow all get a single-strand closeup, the rest are show in balls and in a group photo about 3"x2.5"), a list of international symbols, basic stitches and directions accompanied by small, tightly focused photos, and a page of tips including how long to make the lei and how many lei you can make with one 3.5 oz skein of 4-ply yarn. The back of the book includes a bibliography, and a list of resources with yarn and other supply shops in Hawai'i. If I'm counting correctly, there are 42 patterns in this book. Many of the patterns are variations on the Basic Lei pattern at the beginning of the book, with the differences being recognizable to those who are familiar with the plants and flowers that the variations are based on.

The patterns are laid out very nicely, printed on two facing pages. The full-page color photo is on the left and the instructions are on the right. Every pattern has a small closeup of the finished lei, symbol instructions printed large and in the colors used, written instructions, and small (1.5"x1.5") color photographs of some of the steps. All of the stitches used are basic (single crochet, double crochet, etc.) and included in the directions at the beginning of the book. The patterns do not list specific brands of yarn, instead listing them as eyelash, mustachio, eyebrow, cotton twist, soft baby, Portofino souffle yarn boucle, 4-ply, chenille, bulky craft, cotton twist blend, and 3-ply. If you are in Hawai'i, chances are good that you will be able to go to one of the shops listed in the resources and have someone help you find specific yarns that will work. Otherwise, you may have to go with your best guess - the group photo of the yarns in the basic materials list is better than nothing, but might not be much help if you want a very specific width for the individual flowers.

No errors as far as I can tell; I'd be really surprised if there were any, since this prints the pattern both in symbols and in text, and is in the second printing.

Roberta E. Wong has another book on crochet lei (Hawaiian Lei in Crochet), also published by Island Heritage, which has a small line of Hawai'i related craft books which include ribbon lei, flower lei, and money folding.

19 June 06
Ellen has asked if people in Hawai’i actually wear crocheted leis. The answer is yes - like aloha print, you will see it around, perhaps not being worn by everyone and possibly in ways you wouldn’t have considered. The ones I see most frequently are the leis made with a combination of eyelash and ribbon, often as decoration on a woven straw or lauhala (pandanus) hat. This is generally considered tutu (grandma), or, at the very least, Auntie gear. My mother has a couple in her wardrobe, which she uses to fancy up when she is going out to a nice lunch with her friends (at the Neiman Marcus Mariposa, for example). I’ve also seen them hanging from the rearview mirrors of cars, worn as hair scrunchies (much shorter, of course), and as home décor. I don’t see much lei, crochet or otherwise, being used as everyday wear anyway - similar to wearing a hat and gloves. Special occasions (high school and university graduations in particular) are when you are most likely to see a lot of people wearing them, and I’ve noticed that more and more of the lei vendors for the high school commencement ceremonies are offering yarn and ribbon lei alongside or in the place of fresh floral lei - back in my day, it wasn’t unusual to see finger-knit yarn lei in school colors, but the variety has definitely increased. The stereotype of a high school grad is of a teenager in cap and gown, barely able to see over the lei heaped high around their necks, with a family member nearby to periodically remove a few lei to make room for more. This is at the extreme end, and most of these lei are relatively simple - lots of fluffy plumeria and some candy and money lei, with one or two fancy haku lei* worn around the head or neck. For occasions like birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries, it’s generally 2 - 3 at most, and more likely to be on the more elaborate side.

* I know that there's a more proper way to refer to these - racking my brain, can't remember it. Do you?

Comments

[Ellen Bloom]

Hi M.K.
Ellen, here...from the West Hollywood SnB at the Farmers Market! Thanks for the book review on the crocheted leis. I have an older version of this book and I really like it. I've been using these patterns as edgings for other items. I haven't quite made a crocheted lei yet. Do people in Hawaii actually ever wear crocheted leis?

[Ellen B.]

Thanks for the cultural info, M.K. Very informative. Hmm? Maybe we should start this crochet lei custom here in L.A.? I always like hearing about customs and traditions from other places!

Ellen B.
Los Angeles

[lea baking]

Hi.I'm lea from the Philippines.I love lady boutique catalog even if I can't read them(japanese text)I enjoy them a lot because I've get to know different style and skills.I buy then in the local store(national book store)I wish one of this you publish a affortable english version of the magazine.more power and thanks a lot

Lea baking

[wendi]

I love Roberta Wong's books. I've made countless of her leis, mostly the simpler ones, using cotton yarn cuz acrylic just makes my skin itch, literally. But I can't make crocheted leis for adults. It's against my handwork religion. I like for the things I make to be used and used and used again. And the best recipients for handmade toys and leis are...KIDS! So I love to make slightly shorter versions for the kids I know to play dress-up, for birthdays, picture-taking, to run around the house like mad lassoing everything in sight with the lei, you know. The thing's getting LUVD! sigh