I got lei'd!

[quneur]

Lei Humu Papa - The comtempary art of making hat bands.
Lei Kolohala - Lei made from pheasants.

This is my first try. It took approximately three weeks working on it a few hours a night or about 40 hours total. Traditionally, they use a felt backing but I used a canvas-type backing for stiffiness. It isn't very elastic so I can pull the string tighter w/o it curling. It took approximately +8 birds; using the head feathers of chinese ring necks. There isn't that many feathers large enough on one bird.

The first third I used one stitch per feather but the remaining 2/3 two stitches per feather (too small for 3).

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

Nice.

Have you seen the color of a male Kalij pheasant?

Try making a band from that.

But First, you have to get one.

Not the easiest to find or acquire.

Highly Prized locally.

 

[quneur]

We hunted Molokai Ranch almost exclusively back in the late 70's and early 80's with a trip to Parker Ranch once year. There was a number of Chinese ring necks but no Kalij pheasants. It would nice be a prize to even see one.

I heard it takes about 6 Kalij pheasants to make one band. It took me 5 seasons of saving ring neck feathers. The best feathers were in back of the neck; everywhere else the feathers were too small.

Put pictures of the hat band after you're done.

BTW, people are paying good prices for them.

Aloha.

 

[timn8er]

That's a great thread title.