Dream catchers are thought to hold onto bad dreams until the sun destroys them.
Dream catchers are decorative, circular webs that are part of the Native American culture. Originally called "sacred hoops," Native American parents made dream catchers to protect their children from nightmares. Many Native American tribes create dream catchers based on the belief that bad dreams are caught in the web and good dreams slip through to reach the sleeper. The dream catcher holds onto the bad dreams until the morning light, which destroys the bad dreams. You can easily make homemade dream catchers from natural materials and decorative accessories.
Instructions
1. Cut the round reed into a 26-inch long section. You can find thin, round reeds for basket weaving at many craft and hobby stores. You can also use thin willow twig that is fresh or a dried grapevine to make the dream catcher.
2. Shape the reed into a circle that is up to 5-1/2 inches in diameter. Traditional Native American dream catchers are roughly the size of an adult's hand, no larger. Overlap the ends of the reed to secure the circle.
3. Unroll 2 feet of yarn. Tie the end of the yarn around one section of the reed circle, near the overlapped section. Wrap the yarn tightly around the perimeter of the reed to further secure the circle. Cut the yarn from the skein when the reed circle is wrapped completely. Tuck the end of the yarn into the yarn around the reed.
4. Cut a 5-foot long section of twine. Make a loop with one end of the twine and tie it to the reed circle so that it is outside the circle. This loop is the one you will use to hang your dream catcher.
5. Hold the twine in place at the loop and wrap the twine loosely in another loop around the reed circle, 2 inches from the first loop. Insert the free end of the twine through the loose loop and pull it taut, but not tight enough to distort the shape of the circle. This is a hitch knot. Make hitch knots every 1-1/2 to 2 inches around the perimeter of the reed circle. Make the last hitch knot 1/2-inch from the hanging loop.
6. Begin the second row of the dream catcher web by creating hitch knots in the center of each piece of twine between the hitch knots in the first row. As you pull the hitch knots taut, the twine from the first row will move towards the center of the reed circle.
7. Repeat Step 6 to make the web for your dream catcher fill the inside of the reed circle. Add beads to the twine after the fourth row of the web, if you like. Knot the twine when the hole in the center of the dream catcher is between 1/4- and 1/2-inch in diameter.
8. Hang the dream catcher. Cut the twine to hang 5 inches below the bottom of the dream catcher. Thread beads over the draping twine and tie one or two feathers onto the end. Cut the excess twine.
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