DIY Ribbon Lei v.1.1

Per request, the following includes a little more information on how to make a two-color version of the puffy ribbon lei.

First, tie an anchor bead (or just a big knot) to a long string.  I used plain sewing thread, though you can also try embroidery floss if you want something super sturdy.

Grab two spools of ribbon.  I used 1/4", 50 cent rolls from Michael's. String on one of the colors.

Poke the ribbon through two more times, creating two loops.  Each loop should be the length of your needle to ensure you keep the overall lei a consistant size.

Now, string on the second color ribbon (green in this case).

Repeat the same action, creating two loops of green.

Now pick up the yellow ribbon where you left off, and create two more loops.

Back with green loops.

Back and forth, that's all there is to it! It gets easier once you have a little chunk done - the loops tend to bunch up at the base of the needle, making it easier to quickly repeat the looping.

Two yellow.

Two green

When you reach the end of your ribbon spools, the ends might not match up perfectly.  You can either cut off the excess, or make a smaller loop to hide the end.

Whee!

Here's an almost finished one..I need to go back and get a few more spools of ribbon still!

And here's the one I did last year..

The amount of ribbon you'll need really just depends on how long your lei is, how long your needle is, and how tightly you squish the loops together.  A general amount would be about 50-60 yards of ribbon (total).
I haven't tried it yet, but I think adding small beads between ribbon loops would probably help reduce the amount of ribbon used.

Anyway, I hope this helps a little! Best of luck with your lei!