Dreamcatchers are charms to protect the dreams of chidren.
Dreamcatchers are a traditional craft from the Ojibway people that became popular in the craft movement of the 20th Century. Dreamcatchers are made of bent wood and string. Legend has it that the dreamcatcher will keep bad dreams from entering the mind of a child sleeping near it. Bad dreams die in the web of the dreamcatcher while good dreams pass through to the child. The structure of the dreamcatcher is basic but you can amend it for different looks.
Instructions
The Basic Design
1. Bend the vine or wood to form a circle. This is your hoop. Traditionally, a dreamcatcher is no wider than an adult's hand, roughly 3 to 8 inches in diameter. Use a small part of a tree branch from the end of the branch if it is pliable, or purchase dried grapevine from a craft store. Red willow or dog wood make good bases.
2. Twist the ends of the vine or wood hoop around each other to strengthen the dreamcatcher. Tape or glue the ends together if the twisting does not make them secure.
3. Knot a loop at one end of the string. Make the knot hole roughly 1 inch in diameter. Use this loop to hang your dreamcatcher when it is finished.
4. Tie the hanging loop around the top of the dreamcatcher. Tie it at the weakest part of your loop for added security. Let the rest of the string hang from the loop.
5. Make your first stitch. Hold the string and place it loosely over the top of the hoop. Wrap the string around the back of the hoop, forming a hole. Pull the string back through the hole to complete your first stitch. Make your stitch tight but with a little slack hanging for your next round of stitches.
6. Repeat step 5 around the entire hoop about every 2 inches apart for a total of 7 to 13 stitches until the last stitch of the first round is about 1/2 inch away from the hanging loop.
7. Make your second round of stitches. Place the string around the center of each stitch from the first round of stitches. Wrap the string halfway between the wrapped points of the first round of stitches. The slack on the first round of stitches act as the hoop for the second round. When you pull each stitch tight on the second round, a diamond shape will form as a spider web begins to form.
8. Continue the pattern with a multiple rounds of stitches until you are out of string. Your dreamcatcher must have a hole in its center.
9. Complete the dreamcatcher at the hole by stitching twice in the same place. Make a knot in the string. Pull this knot tight to secure the end.
Variations
10. Add beads as spiders. Traditional dreamcatchers have one or two beads on stitches to represent the spiders that take the bad dreams that are caught by the web. Alter this design by adding beads on several stitches.
11. Add feathers. Ojibway dreamcatchers have two feathers than dangle from the bottom. Take two pieces of string about 6 to 8 inches long each and tie them separately to the bottom of the hoop.
12. Wrap your vine in leather or suede. After you make your loop but before you begin stitching, wrap the hoop with a leather or suede strap to give your dreamcatcher a different look.
13. Leave a larger hole. Use the standard design but use only half the string. This will give you a dreamcatcher with a larger central hole for bigger dreams to get through. Complete three or four rounds of stitching to achieve this look.
14. Use multicolored string or twine. To make a colorful design, cut separate strips of string in different colors. Tie them together to make the longer piece of string you use to stitch. This gives you a multicolored web. Add contrasting colored beads to make this design even more eye-popping.
Related posts
Hang a dream catcher near where you sleep.A dream catcher is a form of traditional Native American art. You hang a dream catcher in the area where you sleep. The idea is that it will catch your ba...
Dream catchers are one of the most recognizable elements of Native American culture.Dream catchers are items that were originally created by the Ojibwe Native Americans from the Great Lakes Region...
Make a pendulum dreamcatcher to allow good dreams and energy flow.The center of a dreamcatcher resembles a spider's web with a hole in the center. The web catches bad dreams, which melt in the sun...
Make your own dream catchers by learning how to tie them.You can easily make your own dream catcher using a few simple materials. You need to use a special wrapping and tying technique and work ca...
Decorate your dreamcatcher with feathers and beads.A dreamcatcher is a Native American decoration that is intended to be hung over your bed or where you sleep in order to direct bad dreams away fr...
