Pages

Friday, July 3, 2009

How to Make a Dreamcatcher

We decided to try and make Dreamcatchers yesterday...a simple star design and then a more advanced one that proved a little tricky.


We'll start with the simple one.
Materials Required:
yarn
a yogurt or margarine lid
a few beads
scissors
a few feathers
string



















Take your plastic lids, punch a little hole to get you started with the scissors and then cut out the inside. You want to leave at least 1/4 inch of the lid...they usually have a raised edge to show you where to cut to.
Our lids were about 5 inches in diameter. You don't want to go with a really large lid as it won't be stable when you cut out the middle.


Take your yarn and cut off a piece that when formed in a ball will fit in your palm....that should be enough.



Kids sometimes have trouble when winding the yarn around the ring....so if you make a simple shuttle it will stem the frustration and the tangles.
I took a toilet paper roll and squished it. You can use a piece of cardboard. At school the kids wind their wool around a glue stick....use what you have, it's only temporary.




Start your wool by laying it lengthwise on the cardboard and then wind around it width wise.





















Start winding the ring with wool or yarn. When you come around catch the loose end.













"winding Dreamcatchers in the sun"





When you get to the end tie off the yarn with a knot and clip the end.







Now you are going to make the web. Cut a length of string. For the simple star pattern you only need to cut a string about 24 inches.





Start weaving your web...follow the #'s on the pattern...make sure you wrap the string around the ring at least once at every point of the star...otherwise the string will just slide off your catcher.


















Place a bead in your Dreamcatcher to be the spider or the spirit bead.







Tie off the string when you have finished the design.
If you want you can make a double star at this point.





Start at #1 and then continue...at #6 slide on your bead. #7 is where you tie off.


When finished add a loop for hanging at position #3...that will keep your bead in the center of your star.




Cut a length of yarn or wool about 14 inches long and tie onto the bottom of the catcher.





String on 3 beads on each end and then make a knot.
I like to have them at different lengths so trim your yarn to your liking.




To add feathers just slide them into the bead holes. The beads will hold them into place.

















That's it. You can now hang it above your bead. You can make a double star if you want for a more substantial web or you can try the advanced version.




The hardest part I found with the advanced version is keeping the same amount of slack between the loops. It's not till you are weaving the 3rd or 4th round that you realize you may have a bit of a hole.
The kids still enjoyed making them though so its worth a try.


































I found it easier to make my loop before we started to loop around the ring.













Here is the first round of weaving.
















Here we are at the 3rd.




Here at the fourth there is a bit of a hole at the top...we tried to ease the string over and it looked much better.

Add your tails with the beads and feathers and you're done.

Give it a try. The kids are going to practice the advanced one because they really like the look of it.
take care
gail

33 comments:

  1. This is really lovely! I love the recycling! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your dreamcatchers are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for sharing.
    My kids would love to make one of these.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have a 1 and half yr old son who loves colorful things... am so glad that you came up with this. I am gonna make one for him... hope he enjoys this too as much he enjoys wind chimes in his room...

    Thanks Gail

    And am gonna link this on my blog... do i have your permission??

    Sangy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sangy, yes I would be thrilled if you linked. Thanks for asking.
    Crafty Mermaid, Kelly, and Anne thank you so much for your support...greatly appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gail, by any chance do u know a easty utorial on brickstich?

      Delete
  6. Gail,
    I am thrilled to finally have instructions for making these! Thank you for posting them.
    I love the star center with the single bead. I am definietly making one for my Christmas tree!

    Pam from Gingerbread Snowflakes

    ReplyDelete
  7. looks like a pentagram

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is really great, I used this for my demonstration speech. Everyone had a great time making these : )

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is AMAZING!!!! My mom's Bday is in June and she would love some dreamcatchers made by her grandchildren!! We'll definitely be making these. Thank you so much for a great tutorial!!

    You Rock!
    Hugs, Ashlyn

    ReplyDelete
  10. Awesome idea im gonna give it to one of my friends on her birthday but a bigger version tank you smart idea!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. THANK you so much for this!!! haven't found any tutorial as easy and great as this :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. This was such a great and easy way to make a dream catcher, thank you for posting!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. these instructions are easy to follow. thanks! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, I'm trying to make one for a project and this really helps! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  15. The star is a good idea the other is a great idea but you dont spiral you finish a full loop then work another full loop reach the center slip a bead on and wala! The spiral just looks slightly off

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is awesome. My little brothers and I are using this to make our parents dreamcatchers for Christmas! Thanks for posting this :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. yes! :) Easy (the star), cute and I'm able to recycle. Doing this tomorrow! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I always wondered how to make a dream catcher, as they seemed so hard to figure out....until I saw this page. You make it fun and easy! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  19. thanks on the instructions for the dream catcher! i found these ones to be the easyest but also looks the best as well!

    ReplyDelete
  20. At last! Instructions that leave me thinking I may actually be able to do this. Do you think the advanced one would be too difficult for 6 year olds? My daughter has the notion to make them with friends at her birthday party...

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you for sharing the directions on how to make the large dream catchers. Up to this point I had only seen directions for the small ones. I will have to try this soon! Again thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  22. My 4.5yr old son just asked if we could make a dream catcher & thanks to your tutorial i can say yes we can :) cheers

    ReplyDelete
  23. What yarn did you use? The green light blue red / rainbow one is just gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  24. We just made one - they are sooooo easy!
    Thanks for your instructions - and recycling the margarine lid - just brilliant :D

    ReplyDelete
  25. We just made one. Your instructions are so easy.
    Using the old margarine container - just brilliant.
    Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Just made these for my kids! They requested some to help catch bad dreams! These were easy didn't take very long & I was able to use yarn for the whole thing! Thank you for the easy tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is sooooo cool! My mom is about to have a baby and I wanted to make a present for him or her. But we don't know if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl- and a dream catcher would be perfect for both! Thank you so so SOOO much!

    ReplyDelete
  28. These are really something, supercool and totally awesome

    ReplyDelete
  29. Beautiful dreamcatchers and great directions. Love to have you come link up with us @costours.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am going to try this looks pretty simple. Thank you

    ReplyDelete