Finger Knit Lei - May Day Kids Craft

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

These easy-to-make finger knit lei are the perfect craft to celebrate May Day with your kids!

May Day is Lei Day in Hawai’i! I grew up in Hawai’i, where May Day is a big deal. As kids, we would always perform hula for our families in our school’s May Day show. Festivals are also held throughout the state to celebrate.

My kids are being raised on the mainland, and it makes me sad that they miss out on the May Day celebrations. I try my best to incorporate Hawaiian culture into their lives. So, for this May Day, we are making these finger knit lei. It is a craft we would make as kids in Hawai’i, and I’m glad my kids are learning how to make them too!

Kids Books From Hawai’i

How do you make a finger knit lei?

Supplies:

yarn
scissors
your fingers

Step 1: Tuck the end of the yarn between your thumb and your palm. If you’re right handed, use your left hand. If you’re left handed, use your right hand.

Step 2: Weave the yarn in a “figure 8”, going behind the index finger, in front of the middle finger, behind the ring finger and in front of the pinky. Then do it again in the opposite direction to form loops around each finger.

Step 3: Next, wrap the yarn around all four fingers as shown below. Then, pull the bottom loop on each finger over the yarn and over each finger. It should look like the last picture below when it’s completed.

Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the lei is about 3/4 of the length you want it to be. Then, cut the yarn, leaving a few inches at the end. Take the end of the string and string it through the loops on each finger, starting with the pinky. Then, remove the loops from each finger and pull the string until it forms a knot. Pull both ends of the lei to tighten the knit (it will make the lei a little longer as well). Tie the two ends together, and you have a lei to wear!