My mother moved to New Mexico when I went to college and she sent me a dream catcher. Right away I loved the idea of the dream catcher (to catch bad dreams) and I also loved the aesthetic. When Giuroiu Anton, Founder of Homesthetics Magazine, an online architecture art and design resource offered to share a tutorial for how to make a dream catcher with my readers I was totally excited. He writes as a guest for several architecture websites like Freshome and Architecture`n`Design. I think you will enjoy his instructions for making Native American dream catchers.
3 Simple Steps To Make A Dream Catcher
The Native American dream catcher is known to have a powerful history that originated in the heart of Ojibwe people, where the Asibikaashi, also known as the spider woman used the enchanted objects to protect infants.
The Native American dream catchers are constructed as a filter for dreams, it supposedly allow only good dreams to pass through the web created where the bad dreams got stuck. The first sun ray of each morning erased all the bad dreams captured through the night on the web, offering a clean filter for the night to come.
In recent times the dream catcher has lost its meaning along the way and is often overlooked despite its powerful heritage; the intricate items are mostly mass produced today, the natural materials being lost in the process. Only the ones that are truly interested by Native American dream catchers are manufacturing them by hand, personalized to a great extent, ready to be hung over the bed and ready to protect with their beautiful uniqueness. The short tutorial that follows will help you make a dream catcher; the process is simple and inexpensive.
Supplies Required To Make A Dream Catcher:
- A hoop about 6 inches ~ 15 centimeters
- Thread, yarn or twine
- Feathers
- Beads
- Glue
- Suede lacing
Step 1 – Purchase or Shape the Loop of the Dream Catcher
- If you are to use a willow or grapevine it is recommended to soak it in warm water for approximately 30 minutes.
- Bend the hoop next, secure the circle with a twist tie and land some heavy weights on it to make sure it remains all in a single plane.
- Dip the entire loop in tacky glue and proceed by wrapping suede lacing (or twine) tightly.
Step 2 – Weave The Dream Cather’s Web
- To make a dream catcher, one should start from the top, with a knot and place the connections about one inch apart
- A conventional hoop can contain 8 to 10 jumps along the hoop on the first level
- The last stop will mark the moment when you jump on tier two, on the midpoint of the first tier one hoop
Step 3 – Finish The Dream Catcher With Custom Accessories
- Tie the end of your thread when you are to unable to continue with the jumps, the middle should remain balanced
- Add colorful feathers to your dream-catcher to highlight verticality; beads could also bring it a more natural, rustic vibe
- Using heaver items in your composition will grant the dream catcher a beautiful, vertical position
Photos Courtesy to Homesthetics Magazine
That is how you make a dream catcher. Congratulations! Hopefully this is the first of many. One could consider creating dream catchers as beautiful DIY gifts.
Dream Catcher Tutorial Tips
The composition can become more complicated when the string used is thinner, allowing the web to be far more intricate, far denser and more graphic. One could also use a bigger hoop to obtain the same effect with thicker string.
Personalize you dream-catcher. Add your own personal elements. Layered or multi-hoop dream catchers can also be made. Get creative with simple elements and create something truly unique.
I hope this DIY dream catcher inspires you dream big and keeps you safe from anxiety about missing. It all starts with the dream! What do you think? We would love to hear your opinion on the subject in the comment section below.