Bring the spirit of aloha into your crochet projects with this free and beginner-friendly plumeria lei pattern. Inspired by the vibrant blooms of Hawaii, this crochet lei is perfect for graduations, luaus, or as a lasting keepsake from your tropical adventures.
Discover a beautiful and easy crochet lei pattern that captures the essence of Hawaiian tradition. This crochet plumeria lei is crafted by working in a spiral, creating the illusion of individual plumeria flowers seamlessly connected.
Using simple stitches and worsted-weight yarn in white and yellow, it's an easy and quick crochet project for all skill levels. If you're looking for a free crochet Hawaiian flower pattern or a fun project to make your own Hawaii crochet souvenir, this is it. Whether you're new to crochet leis or you're looking to add to your collection of crochet Hawaiian flower designs, I hope this pattern brings a little bit of aloha to your life.
What You Need / Materials
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- Worsted weight (medium #4) yarn in the following colors:
- Yellow (I used Caron Simply Soft in Soft Sunshine)
- White (I used Caron Simply Soft in White)
- 4.5 mm Crochet Hook
- Yarn Needle
- Stitch Markers
- Scissors
Yarns Substitutions
- KnitPick's Brava Worsted
- Hobbii's Amigo XL
- Red Heart Super Saver
- Bernat Super Value
- Lion Brand's Vanna's Choice
Finished Size
Finished crochet lei measures approximately 30-45 cm (12-18 inches) in length.
Level of Difficulty
- ★☆☆☆☆ Beginner / Easy
- Requires familiarity with stitches used (below).
Stitches & Abbreviations
- st/sts - stitch/stitches
- ch - chain
- sc - single crochet
Pattern Notes
- This pattern is written using US crochet terms.
- The lei is worked in a spiral, but it creates an illusion of individual flowers strung together
- You can make a shorter one or double it up as a flower crown!
- I have naturally tight tension when crocheting, so if you find that your flowers are looking too floppy, size down your hook
Free Crochet Pattern
Using a 4.5 mm crochet hook and yellow yarn...
Ch 140-160 (depending on the length you want)
Row 1: Alternate between 2 sc and 3 sc in each ch, starting from the second ch from the hook, until you reach the end of your foundation ch
Change to white yarn...
Row 2: Join with a standing sc to the first st, [ch 10, sc into the next 2 sts] x repeat until the end of your curl
Finishing Touches
Once you're finished, just tie/sew the two ends together. I decided to finish off my yarn lei with an "unfinished loose pom-pom". I simply wrapped some yarn around a small pencil case and then tied it in the middle with some yarn scraps.
Inspiration Behind the Crochet Design
I can't get out of my head how much I love Hawaii. It's no wonder people often choose it as their destination for a getaway, honeymoon, or even a wedding! Despite being a popular tourist spot, the Hawaiian Islands have managed to preserve their rich culture and unique way of life, which I deeply admire. The aloha spirit is palpable everywhere, especially during local celebrations.
My grandma shares this love for Hawaii and has a close friend residing there. When I was younger, she would often say she hoped I'd marry someone from Hawaii so she could move there with me. Funny enough, my husband actually has family living in Honolulu!
During our visit, we were greeted at the airport with beautiful leis, a gesture that instantly made me fall in love with this Hawaiian tradition. We happened to be in Honolulu on May 1st, known as "Lei Day," a special celebration dedicated to the art of lei-making.
The festivities included hula dances, lei-making demonstrations, and even lei competitions. It was heartwarming to see these traditions being celebrated and passed down through generations.
After returning home, I couldn't stop thinking about Hawaii. I wish I could have brought back a fresh lei, but knowing it wouldn't last, I decided to crochet one that would last forever. This crochet plumeria lei pattern is inspired by the iconic plumeria flower, known for its vibrant colors and delightful fragrance.
By sharing this free Hawaiian crochet pattern, I hope to bring a piece of the islands to your home. Whether you're looking to create a lasting keepsake, a unique gift, or simply want to immerse yourself in the aloha spirit, this crochet lei pattern is a wonderful way to do so.
Creative Uses and Ideas
- Graduation Ceremonies: Gift to graduates as a lasting alternative to fresh flower leis.
- Luau or Hawaiian-Themed Parties: Use as festive accessories or decorations to enhance the tropical atmosphere.
- Home Decor: Hang on walls, doors, or mantels to bring a touch of the islands into your home.
- Photo Booth Prop: Incorporate into photo booths at events for guests to wear, adding a vibrant, tropical flair to their pictures.
- Costume Accessories: Complement hula and other Hawaiian-inspired costumes.
- Car Rearview Mirror Decoration: Hang from your car's mirror for a cheerful touch. Make sure it's not obstructing your view!
- Craft Fair Items: Sell as unique handmade gifts at markets or fairs.
- Fundraising Items: Create and sell to support schools, clubs, or community events.
- Flower Crown for Festivals: Double up the lei and wear it as a flower crown to music festivals to achieve a boho or fairy aesthetic.
Share Your Creation with Me!
Did you make your own Plumeria Crochet Lei? I'd love to see it! Please share it with me on Instagram and/or use the #onceuponacheerio hashtag.
What's Next?
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This is an original crochet pattern written by Juli Anne of Once Upon a Cheerio. Please do not claim this crochet pattern as your own. If you wish to share this crochet pattern, you may link to this blog post, but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for personal use, but please DO NOT sell or distribute the crochet pattern.
You may sell products made from this crochet pattern, but please credit the design to Juli Anne of Once Upon a Cheerio, and provide a link to my blog www.OnceUponaCheerio.com. Permission is NOT granted for mass production or factory manufacturing of any kind. Thank you for understanding!
I'm having trouble with attaching the white yarn. I attach, chain 10 and sc in the next two but it looks drastically different from your pictures, any advice?
Hey! It's a bit hard for me to know what it's looking like without a photo, but a key thing is that your yellow part needs to be all twisted/spiral in order to give it that illusion of multiple flowers later on.
Hello, how do you get the white petals to bundle so cute? Mine turn out big, open and floppy, not very pretty.
Hello! Are the yellow and white yarn you used for the project both the same weight? For mine, I think I just manually adjusted them with my hands and brushed it together once it was completed. Feel free to send me an email with photos if needed :)
The same thing as the other commenters is happening to me too. I'm not sure if I'm misunderstanding the pattern? The white yarn chains just end up like big loops coming off the yellow curl, and doesn't make it look like a flower. I'm using the same exact yarns, just different colors. Am I misunderstanding? Thank you!
Hello! I think this crochet lei is just one of those crochet patterns that you have to trust the process for. It doesn't look like much at the beginning but will eventually turn out looking like a lei. :)
Hi Juli! I don't think Row 2 is accurate as others who have left comments are having trouble with making the white look fluffy and close together (myself included). It looks better and similar to yours in the pictures if it was chain 7 and sc into the next two stitches. It's not exact, but it looks better than chaining 10. Ch 10 makes the "petals" look to long. As someone from Hawai'i, I do appreciate you trying to make a plumeria lei, as I have not seen a pattern for it yet!
Hello! I've found that the type of yarn you're using matters too. I used a pretty lightweight acrylic yarn, so maybe that's why it didn't seem so big/floppy. you can try making the less chains and see if that would stay better.
Do you by chance have a video on making the plumeria lei? It has been a long time since I have done any crocheting. A visual would be so helpful for a beginner.
Thank you!
Hello! I don't have a video tutorial for this pattern. It's on my to do list! Will upload it once I record it!
I just want to say that I love this lei!! I'm working at a summer camp that has Hawaiian themed Fridays and I thought combining leis with one of my passions would be great, and this pattern made it that much easier to make them. I'm hoping to have a lot to pass around by the time I get there. The chain 10 does look very doubtful at first, but it 100% is a trust the process kind of thing. I am using hobby lobby I love this yarn w/ a 5mm hook. I would also recommend to others to solely use colors that do not change. I used scrap yarn for the first to make sure I would like it, and it does look good, but the second one with white & purple looks 10x better with the easy contrast.
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