Dream catchers are said to protect people from nightmares and bad dreams by filtering out the negative energy or spirits that would otherwise cause these things. You hang them above your bed, so that they can catch this negative energy.
We can also use them as a decorative piece, hung anywhere in your home where there is light so it can catch the sun’s rays.
Making a dream catcher is a fun and creative way to spend some time. It’s great for those interested in getting crafty with their hands, as it doesn’t require any specific knowledge to create. Just a handful of materials and your hands.
It’s a project that could lead to bigger do-it-yourself projects. The best way to improve your craft is by getting your hands dirty with it. Starting small makes sure you can finish your first project and build up momentum.
In this article, we will show you how to make an authentic-looking dream catcher using simple materials that are easy to find. I’ll walk you through the steps, so just follow along with me.
Make a Dream Catcher: What You’ll Need
A dream catcher is typically made with four basic materials:
- A hoop
- Strings
- Beads
- Feathers
- Glue
We can make the hoop from wood or metal, while the strings are most often made of natural fibers such as cotton or wool.
Beads and small pieces of colored cloth, as well as feathers, are also used for decoration on some dream catchers. These decorations may take the form of ribbons, bells, shells, stones and flowers. It’s important that all materials be lightweight so they won’t weigh down the finished product.
For this reason, it’s best not to use anything heavier than beads in your design if possible. Feathers will not work if they’re too big as they’ll be too heavy, which risks deforming the dream catcher in the long run.
There are several places that you can buy string, feathers, and beads. You can buy them online or go to your local craft store. I enjoy making my dream catcher so if all the materials aren’t available when I go to the store then I will just make do with what they have in stock and return another time to get the other items.
Editor’s note: You can paint the feathers. We recommend using a Wargamer brush for it, as it lets you be very precise with your painting.
Building a Dream Catcher: Step By Step Guide
Making a dream catcher is easy if you break the process down in small steps. By following the ones outlined in this section, anyone can build their own dream catcher.
If you prefer to follow along a video, here’s one that shows in great detail how the process looks:
Gather the Materials and Equipment
Make sure you have everything ready before starting, so you don’t end up interrupting the work to fetch the materials.
Shape the Hoop
You can build the hoop yourself by wire-wrapping the frame and covering it with faux suede. Alternatively, you can buy one.
Tie strings around the ends of hoop
The short string should be looped over the hoop, then through the hole on top of the hoop. Tie a knot near where it crosses over long string and pull tight to form an X shape on back side of hoop. Repeat these steps with other end of each string
Bring short end of longer string around front again and tie a half knot on top of first knot
Doing this will create a loop to hang your dream catcher when finished.
Add the Feathers
You can either buy feathers from the store or cut up some old ones that are too tattered for other crafts.
The feather should be long and thin enough so it doesn’t weigh down the hoop when attached at one end with yarn. Tie a knot at the end of the string, then slide it onto one side of hoop and push to other until they are even.
Add the Beads (Optional)
Add beads in a circular pattern on the hoop with each bead overlapping its neighbor by half an inch. The gap between any two adjacent beads should not exceed one inch.
Finish with the Decorations (Optional)
Ribbons and bells are excellent ways to decorate the dream catcher, if you want them. These are simply tied onto the hoop with a small knot, then hung in an opening of your choice so they can swing back and forth as air moves through it.
Bonus tips
- To make sure that all materials stay light weight use beads instead of heavier items such as shells.
- To make a dream catcher that’s lighter and more colorful, use some of your old clothes or fabric scraps instead of cotton string for the strings.
- You can also add beads to this style by sewing them onto the hoop before you tie on any other decorations so they’ll be easier to access once it’s complete.
- If you’re not sure what to use for the feathers, try using some old cotton wool balls or stuffing from an old toy.
- For those who are looking to decorate their dream catchers without any colors, all they need is a hoop and strings that match in color (or black). They can then add ribbons, beads, feathers and other decoration without worrying about clashing colors.
What Is the Purpose of a Dream catcher?
Dream catchers are a Native American tradition that’s thought to provide protection for the sleeper and their dreams. It was believed that by hanging it above the bed, it would filter out bad dreams and allow only good ones to drift down.
But what could be the cause of nightmares and other unpleasant night sensations? Some people think they happen at random, others think they are psychic attacks. I can’t guarantee you’ll solve the issues with a dream catcher, but—knowing how our mind works—it wouldn’t surprise me if it did.
Obviously, there is no scientific reason for dream catchers to work. But if you make one and it does, then why would you care? Make your own and see for yourself.
A dream catcher is a large hoop with asymmetric strings tied around its center. Dream catchers are made for the purpose of catching bad dreams and holding them in while letting all good things from the outside come in. Traditionally, they were used by our ancestors to help people have sweet dreams.
Dream catchers are held closed with a small loose knot at one end. This is so that when the sleeper sleeps, they can toss and turn all they want without the dream catcher coming undone and allowing their bad dreams to escape.
Just like the person sleeping, they could toss around without worrying about everything ever coming undone. The hoop has many thin strings attached, usually four or five depending on where it comes from. These thin strings are made of yarn and they come from a variety of objects such as bones, feathers, fur or beads.
Also Read: What to Do After a Nightmare: Know The Root Causes
Conclusions
Making a dream catcher is within anyone’s reach. It doesn’t require many materials, and it’s a fun project to keep yourself busy for a bit. If you aren’t used to building things with your hands, it’s very likely that your first project won’t come out quite right.
That’s a good reason to start with something simple like a dream catcher. It’s inexpensive and doesn’t take too much time. You can try making 3-4 with just a couple of hours of work. You’ll get good in no time!
Dream catchers are an interesting way of decorating your house. Plus, they can bring you peace of mind during sleep. Symbols are powerful when we believe in them, so there’s no reason to be skeptic about them.
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