A Lei for Graduation

The daughter of one of my co-workers graduated. Her mom made her this awesome lei.


Wouldn't you have just loved to receive one of these for your graduation?!? My co-worker said her aunt made one for the future college freshman, too, except the aunt shaped the dollar bills into butterflies. I would have loved to have seen that!


My co-worker said she intended to order a real Hawaiian lei for her daughter, too, but she forgot until the day before graduation. Just too many things going on!!!

I volunteered to crochet a lei. My co-worker couldn't believe I could get one done that fast. (She doesn't know how much my "crochet elbow" has been bothering me, and I didn't tell her because I wanted to do something special for her daughter. This was the perfect opportunity for me.)

As I was crocheting, I further worked out my elbow and arm by typing up the pattern, too. Now I can make another one (far in advance!) in school colors next time a girl in my family graduates. Or I could make a rainbow one just because!

You may do whatever you'd like with lei scarves you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!


Finished Size: 48 inches long and 3 inches wide at widest point
Materials: Small amounts of acrylic worsted weight yarn in 4 or more colors (I used peach, pink, lavender and sea foam green), size H crochet hook

Lei Scarf Instructions

Flower Motifs (make 18 or number to achieve desired length)

Make magic ring.

Round 1: With flower center color, ch 2 (counts as one dc), 11 dc in ring; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Pull magic circle tight.
NOTE: I made all my flower centers first, 18 of them, 6 of each color, before working the petal round.

Round 2: With flower petal color, [1 sc in any dc (or next in repeats), 5 dc in next dc] 6 times; sl st in starting sc; bind off.
NOTE: I weave in my ends as I go by crocheting over them when possible. I also clip ends as I finish each motif so I don't have to worry about it after completing the project and perhaps having one or two missed ends remaining when I present the gift.


Leaves (make 18)

With leaf color, 1 sc in middle dc of any petal of flower motif, [ch 6, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sk next ch, 5 dc in next ch, sk next ch, 1 sc in next ch (1st leaf made), 1 sc in same dc of flower petal, ch 9, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, sk next ch, [[yo and draw up loop through next ch, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook]] 4 times, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook, ch 1, sk next ch (2nd leaf made), 1 sc in same dc of flower petal, ch 8, 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch, sl st in next ch, turn, 1 sc in next sc, 1 hdc in next sc, 1 dc in next sc, 1 hdc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc (connecting leaf made), ch 1, 1 sc in middle dc of any petal of next flower motif] 18 times (or number of times to match number of flower motifs), ending after 2nd leaf of final repeat, 1 sc in same dc of flower petal, bind off; weave in ends.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.


Finish: I did not block my lei scarf because I like the natural curl, but blocking is possible if desired by pinning on ironing board, misting lightly with water, then hovering slightly above scarf with steam iron. Do not make contact between iron and acrylic yarn. Allow to dry. Remove pins. Gift away!


Linking up with Busy Hands Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts.

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Snowflake Monday

Need a summertime break from flake crochet?

Here's a Cap and Mortarboard flake you can put on a key chain or hang from the rear view mirror for that special graduate. Of course, the flake may be made without the cap and tassel, but why would you want to do that?!? If you know someone in the Class of 2010 (or 2011 or 2012, etc.), this is a highly unique way of showing your pride in the accomplishment.

Of course, this Cap and Mortarboard could be made with a plain hexagon motif (or even a square) instead of a snowflake, but again, why would you want to do that? The snowflake makes it stand out as something special.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes or key chains you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!Finished Size: 2 inches from point to point and 3/4 of an inch tall
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in white and a small amount of crochet thread or embroidery floss in school colors, optional 2010 confetti if available or make sure to set aside a 2011 or 2012 confetti for coming years' seniors, size 10 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or foil, cellophane tape, glue, small container for glue if desired (I took the cap off the bottle and painted with the glue directly out of the bottle), paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, key chain OR clear thread or fishing line

Snowflake Mortarboard and Cap Instructions

Snowflake

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc and ch 2), sc in ring, *ch 2, dc in ring, ch 2, sc in ring; repeat from * 5 times; ch 2, sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 5 for a total of 6 petals. Do not pull magic circle too tight.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 2: In same ch as sl st, work: sc, ch 3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, dc, ch 2, sl st in top of dc just worked, ch 3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, sc, ch 3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1; in next dc and in each of next 5 dc around work: *sc, ch 3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, dc, ch 2, sl st in top of dc just made, ch 3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, sc, ch 3, sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1; sl st in starting sc of this row; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish Snowflake: Tape wax paper or foil to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or foil.

Paint snowflake with glue. Do not water down glue. This snowflake needs to be as stiff as possible. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or foil.

While snowflake is drying, make cap and tassel as follows.

Cap

Ch 2, sl st into 1st ch OR make magic ring.

Round 1: 8 sc in ring. Do not join. Pull magic ring tight.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around for a total of 16. Do not join.

Round 3: Sc around, increasing on 1 sc every other stitch for a total of 24 sc.

Round 4: Sc around.

Round 5: Sc around.

Round 6: Sc, hdc, dc, tr, ch 1, sl st in top of tr just worked, dc, hdc, sc in each of next 9 sc, hdc, dc, tr, ch 1, sl st in top of tr just worked, dc, hdc, sc in each of next 4 sc, bind off; weave in ends.

Stiffening of cap is not required, but stiffening it will make it more durable, particularly if it's on a key chain or somewhere it will be handled frequently and possibly without tenderness.

Tassel

While cap is drying, if you have stiffened it, make tassel by cutting colored thread or embroidery floss into 3-inch pieces, 10 of each color. (I did this by wrapping the thread around two fingertips ten times and then cutting one end of loop after removing from my fingers.) Take one 12-inch piece of thread in either color and tie a knot around the middle of the thread pieces. Continue tying knots with the 12-inch piece of thread until you have a 1-inch "cat chain" (that's what we called in when I was in grade school – thick enough that kitty couldn't pull it apart with claws).

Take another small piece of thread (about 4 or 5 inches) of either color and tie a knot around top of tassel, about 1/4 inch from cat chain. Wrap ends around to other side of tassel and tie another knot. Using crochet hook, pull ends through top of tassel and down through center of tassel to become part of tassel. Cut tassel ends evenly. If you have the appropriate year confetti, attach one onto the band of the tassel with a tiny dab of glue and allow to dry thoroughly.

Assembly

Pull one end of remaining 12-inch thread on tassel through middle of snowflake, then around one stitch at top of cap, pulling down through the cap and then back up. Pull same end of thread back through snowflake, and tie a knot with other remaining end of thread on tassel, pulling tightly. Tie another knot around key chain, but this time not pulling tightly, leaving a small ring that moves freely on key chain. Tie another knot, and pull very tightly. Pull both ends back though snowflake and cap, cut very close to cap and cover ends with tiny drop of glue. Allow to dry thoroughly.

If desired, secure cat chain of tassel to snowflake mortarboard with small dab of glue and allow to dry thoroughly.

To use cap as an ornament or mirror dangly instead of a key chain, pull a 10-inch clear thread through top center of snowflake, going down through the top and then back up around one stitch. Tie securely, and reinforce with a dab of glue if desired. Knot top ends of thread and also dab with glue for strength if desired. After glue dries, Snowflake Cap and Mortarboard are ready to hang!

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