More RIBBON LEIS tutorial!

The basic one ribbon lei is a really good starting point for creating BEAUTIFUL leis...BUT there are SO many ways to
CREATE and CUSTOMIZE leis.

In this post I want to give you SAMPLE glimpses of some the things I have EXPERIMENTED with.

DIRECTIONS: Stitch down one edge, using 1/4"-3/8" stitches. then pulled  tight.  It's twisted, but don't over twist or it could begin to cup and become bell-shaped.  If that happens twist it back the other way.  A random back and forth pattern is better than a true spiral in my opinion.

I really like the idea of making a larger lei by twisting a 5/8" satin ribbon lei and a 7/8" organza lei together.  They would definitely need to be longer because twisting together takes up length.  Adding a 3rd ribbon lei would make design sense because odd numbers are eye pleasing.  This is something I would like to try in the future.

I have used this light blue ribbon to make individual buds in a lei which is very PRETTY but also very time consuming.  Here I've EXPERIMENTED with a very simple technique...Eye ball the center and stitching right down it. The stitch length is about 3/8", maybe as much as a 1/2".  Use the same twisting technique as suggested above for the 5/8" satin ribbon.  This one will not try to cup like stitching one side will...but could look tight if over twisted, if that makes sense.

This technique as an INTERESTING look.
DIRECTIONS: Barely overlap a 5/8" ribbon and 1 1/2" ribbon and stitch together.  The stitch length is better longer because the 2 ribbons together are so thick. I used about a 1/2" stitch.  It will not condense as much as other single ribbon leis.  A clear high/low pattern is evident with the 2 different widths of ribbon.  Because the pattern stands out so much creating a uniform spiral when twisting it is a good idea.

RIBBONS:
2 1/4" Double-Sided (Faced) Satin Ribbon Purple
2 1/4" Double-Sided Satin Ribbon Aqua
7/8" Solid Edge Organza Ribbon Pink (3.5" loops with twist)
5/8" Double-Sided Satin Ribbon Hot Pink (3.5" loops)
3/8" Solid Edge Organza Ribbon Green Apple (4" points)
1/8" Satin Ribbon Green Apple (4" points)

PATTERN: Purple and Aqua offset 3/8" (need a refresher?)
LEFT edge- pink organza and hot pink bud with alternating green points.

There are SO many POSSIBILITIES  when making LEIS that I am sure I will revisit them next SPRING when graduations come around again, but for now I am wrapping them up...
I hope that you have been INSPIRED to TRY something New!

PS This may be the busiest time of year with so many TIME SENSITIVE things happening from graduations and gardening to prom corsages. I am not sure what next week will bring but I am leaning toward STRAWBERRY FREEZER JAM.  It's a FAMILY FAVORITE & a TRADITION!  SEE you NEXT WEEK!