A dream catcher is a hoop with a woven web across it and feathers hanging below. The old story says bad dreams get caught in the web and good ones slide down the feathers to whoever sleeps underneath. Emilie Lefler of the Untidy Artist channel made this one with her daughter Sydney, and it takes an afternoon with supplies from any craft store.
How to make a dream catcher: the short version
- Wrap a metal hoop in suede lace and tie it off.
- Knot waxed cord around the hoop in even loops to make the first round.
- Work each new round into the middle of the loops before it, toward the center.
- Add a few beads near the middle and knot off.
- Tint feathers if you like, wire them to cords and tie them to the bottom.
Choosing a hoop and cord
A 6 inch metal ring is a good first size. Smaller hoops make the web fiddly, and bigger ones need a lot of cord and patience. The inner ring of a wooden embroidery hoop works too. For the web, waxed cord is the easy choice for a beginner because it grips itself and the knots stay where you put them. Plain cotton string slides around and the web goes lopsided.
Cut about 10 feet of cord for a 6 inch hoop. It is better to end with extra than to run out halfway, and you can wind it around your fingers into a small ball so it does not tangle.
Getting an even web
The whole web uses one knot. Take the cord over the hoop or the cord in front of you, then back through the loop you made, and pull it snug. Spacing is what makes it look neat. Emilie used seven knots in the first round, about two inches apart. Each round after that sits in the middle of the loops from the round before, so the openings shrink as you work in.
Keep the tension the same all the way round. A loose loop sags and a tight one pulls the shape out of line. If a round goes wrong, it is easier to undo a few knots now than to fix it later.
Ideas to make it your own
- Colour. Swap the suede and cord for coloured ones, or tint the feathers with a little food colouring, as Sydney did.
- Beads. Thread a bead on every other knot near the center, or scatter them through the whole web.
- Trim. Hang braided cord, lace or bead strings between the feathers.
- Size. Make a set of three hoops in different sizes and hang them together.
The same knotting skills show up in a macrame wall hanging, and a dream catcher hangs well beside a homemade wind chime or a suncatcher in a window. If you use an embroidery hoop as the frame, see how to finish an embroidery hoop for neat tie-off ideas.
Common mistakes
- Gaps in the suede. Wrap tightly and push the turns together as you go.
- Uneven first round. Mark the hoop lightly with a pencil before you start.
- Feathers slipping. Wrap the wire firmly and add a dab of glue if needed.
It makes a lovely afternoon project with a grandchild. They can pick the beads and feathers while you handle the knots.
