From the shoebox today came a letter from viewer Mona Johnson of Hauula, Oahu along with a box full of paper leis all made from the tear-off strips from computer paper! Mona also sent directions.
A large-eyed needle and yarn are used for stringing the leis but for practice, it is much easier to use a bamboo shish kabob skewer.
The look of the finished lei will be determined by the number of strips used (Mona used between three and six) and by the number of holes that you skip when putting the skewer through them.
An even number of holes left between inserting the skewer will result in a curved surface. An uneven number of holes will result in a sharper edge.
Paper Leis
Materials:
tear-away edges from perforated computer paper - designed to fit on printer sprockets (figure A)
skewer - for practice
large needle and yarn - to make lei
Steps:
- Stack three paper strips on the skewer by inserting the skewer through the first hole in each.
- Starting with the bottom strip, bring it up clockwise and put the skewer through the third hole from the skewer strip (figure B). Bring the second strip up clockwise and put the skewer through the third hole. Repeat with the third strip then start over with the first strip again. By the time you have placed all three strips over the skewer at least two times you will begin to see the pattern. Continue almost to the end of the strip.
- When you come to the last hole to be strung, add the next length of paper by placing the first hole over the skewer. On top of that, place the last hole from the first strip. Repeat with all other strips.
- Continue to desired length. Glue ends to hold. When stringing on yarn, tie the ends of the yarn together.
Note: When making the sharper turns you can go back and press them all with your fingers to make them really sharp. Also, Mona rubber-stamped and otherwise decorated her strips before stringing them.
Medallion
These are made using six strips of paper and threading the yarn through every fourth hole. When circle is completed, press all of the loops flat and use the yarn to make a French knot in the center. Fold a longer strip of the paper in half so the two ends angle out and glue to the back of the medallion.
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