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Originally published on May 4, 2016, updated on April 25, 2022 and March 24, 2023.

This is the time of year for graduation and for a braided ribbon lei (or two or three).  I grew up in Hawai’i and graduation means giving graduation leis to all the graduates you know. These step-by-step instructions makes it easy to create your own ribbon lei.

In Hawaiian culture, fresh flower leis are often given, but there are many different styles of leis that can be made and given. Since I currently live on the mainland where it’s more difficult to come across fresh flowers (at a reasonable price) to make leis, I rely on the traditional Hawaiian ribbon lei.

Traditionally you make the lei in the graduate’s school colors. This results in a lei that is also a nice graduation keepsake. Learning how to make a ribbon lei is simple and once you get the hang of it, you can make a single strand in under 30 minutes. I’ve included a ribbon lei making video, too, to make it easier to follow the tutorial.

If you grew up in Hawai’i then you have a mom, grandmom or auntie that has been making ribbon leis for years.

If you didn’t grow up in Hawai’i the best way to explain how leis are a staple of every graduation is to show you a photo after my high school graduation ceremony. I still received more leis after this photo was taken and I did not receive a lot of leis by Hawaiian graduation standards.

With my second “baby” graduating this year, I’m in full-on lei making mode. If I lived in Hawai’i now, I would talk to my aunties and neighbors to get fresh flowers from their yards. My favorite fresh plumeria source was to walk to the post office. There were several old (which means full of flowers) plumeria trees at the post office that provided us with many, many homemade leis for graduations and hula performances.

Since I live on the mainland where fresh flowers cost almost as much as a college education, I turn to the traditional ribbon graduation leis.

How to Make a Ribbon Lei

Supplies

Pick up 2 spools of ribbon at your craft store. I recommend either satin ribbon or grosgrain ribbon when you are first learning to make a ribbon lei. These ribbons are readily available, relatively inexpensive and easy to work with. Later when you are more experienced, you can experiment with different types of ribbon.

These spools of 10 yards of ribbon work perfectly for a small or average size graduate. For a tall or larger graduate, you’ll want 12 yards of each color of ribbon.  I prefer to use the 1/4 inch ribbon and that’s a great size to use when you’re first learning how to make a ribbon lei.

How to Start the Ribbon Lei

Remove the ribbon from the spools. Find the middle of each color of ribbon. Crease the ribbon at the mid-point.

I prefer the ribbon lei making method I’m sharing here, but if you’d like to make a thinner lei or want to use fewer inches of each ribbon, you can leave the ribbon on the spool. Start with the spool end of the ribbon rather than at the center of each length of ribbon.

Step Two

Insert the first ribbon loop (the light blue) inside the other loop. 

Step Three

Insert the second ribbon loop (the dark blue) inside the previous loop. Pull the previous loop (the light blue) tight. Be careful not to pull the loop so tight that the ribbon buckles. You want the loops to secure each other, but still have the ribbon lei lay flat. 

Step Four

Insert the first ribbon loop (the light blue) inside the previous loop. 

Step Five

Pull the previous loop (the dark blue) tight. Be careful not to pull the loop so tight that the ribbon buckles. You want the braided ribbon to lay flat and smooth.

If one of the loops twist, take the time to straighten it out before continuing. If you don’t take the time to make the adjustments as you go, you’ll find that your pattern isn’t smooth and even later. It’s best to go slowly and make sure each loop is smooth and even now. 

Step Six

As you braid the ribbon you will see the checkboard pattern develop. Continue the braiding pattern with the loops until you reach the end of the ribbons. 

Step Seven

When the ribbon is too short to continue making loops, thread the ribbon through the final loop and pull tight.

Step Eight

Tie the two colors of ribbon securely into a double knot.

Step Nine

Secure the two ends of the lei with thread Add a coordinating bow to cover the joined ends of the ribbon lei. Add a tag wishing your graduate best wishes. 

This creates a lei that is approximately 40 inches in length. You can make a longer lei for the height of your graduate by starting at the end of each ribbon spool rather than at the middle of the length of ribbon.

Ribbon Lei Frequently Asked Questions

How much ribbon do you need for a ribbon lei?

You will need 10-12 yards of ribbon depending on the height of the graduate.

How long does it take to make a ribbon lei?

It takes about 30 minutes if you follow my diy ribbon lei tutorial. The first lei may take you a bit longer as you learn the technique, but you will pick the steps up quickly so that by your second lei, you really should be able to make one in about 30 minutes.

How do you start a braided ribbon lei?

A braided ribbon lei begins with two loops of ribbon, one loop in each of the two colors of ribbon. You can follow the photos below or the step-by-step video.

How do you make a two ribbon lei?

There are many different ribbon lei instructions online, I share my easy-to-follow tutorial that includes text instructions, photos, audio and a how to video to make easy, even for a beginner to make their own ribbon lei.

How do you make a ribbon lei with 4 ribbons?

A 4 ribbon ribbon lei is just another variation on the braided ribbon lei and is commonly known as a double braided ribbon lei. You can find my double braided ribbon lei instructions to make this variation.

How do you choose the colors in a ribbon lei?

Ribbon leis are traditionally made in the graduate’s school colors. If the lei is not for graduation, you can choose other color combinations that are important to the graduate, like favorite sports team colors, or really whatever colors you want. 

More Lei Tutorials

Books on ribbon lei making available on Amazon:

You can give a single strand ribbon lei or now that you know how to make a ribbon lei, you can give your graduate the traditional three strand lei to celebrate their big day and big accomplishment. Happy Graduation.

You can find all our best Hawaiian crafts and recipes in the table below. You can scroll though the table and look for ideas or search for specific ideas with the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner (on desktop). Click on the topic and then click through the specific article.