DIY Flower Lei For Graduation - Pretty Collected

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Home / Get Inspired Previous / Next DIY Flower Lei for Graduation

April 17, 2025 2 min read

Leis are one of the most popular things sold during graduation season. Family and friends flock to flower shops to get their hands on these pretty flower pieces! BUT if you are a crafter and DIY lover just like myself, then you will love making your own lei! It feels so much more personal when you gift it to the graduate, and that's one more DIY off your bucket list ;)

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

A little backstory on making my first lei.... a couple years ago my niece graduated, and I was on a last minute hunt for a lei to bring her. All the local flower shops were all sold out, so I turned to my local grocery store for some carnations to make one myself! Luckily I found some really great tutorials online to make a super simple lei AND on a budget!! Today I want to share these great tips with you, so you can make a lei for an upcoming graduation or even bridal shower or baby shower!

Supplies You'll Need:

• 3 Bouquets of Carnations - I chose varying colors to add some movement in the lei
• Artificial Carnations if you do not want to make a fresh carnation lei
• Dental Floss - yup, you heard me right, dental floss!! If you prefer something a bit stronger you can buy thicker string.
• Scissors
• Long needle or sewing needle
• Ribbon (optional)
• Bowl (optional - for placing all your cut flowers into)

Steps to Make Carnation Lei

1. Cut carnation heads from all the stems & place the carnations into a bowl.

2. Thread your floss or string through your needle and tie two or three knots to secure the floss onto the needle.

3. Poke the needle through the stem of the carnation.

4. Push down on a flat surface and pull the needle through.

If you are using a long needle you will be able to get it through the top of the carnation just fine. However, if you are using a sewing needle, then use a hard surface to push down on the bottom of the needle to get it through the top of the flower.

5. You can then use your scissors or your fingers to grab the needle fully through the top of the flower.

6. Repeat steps until you have strung all the carnations.

7. Push the carnations as close together as possible, so none of the stems show! Be careful not to push with too much force if you are using floss, as you can break the floss.

8. Once you have strung all your flowers, cut the string to release the needle. Bring the two ends close together and tie three knots.

Optional - Add ribbon to each side of the lei. Once you have strung all your carnations, cut each end of the floss leaving a few inches on each end. Tie three knots on each end. Cut two pieces of ribbon about 6 inches long. Knot each ribbon onto each side of the lei. 

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