How to Make a Dreamcatcher
Please feel free to print these directions to use as a reference

Supplies you will need to make a Dreamcatcher 5 inches in diameter:

1 5" metal ring
4 yds Suede Lacing 1/8 inch wide
3 yds imitation sinew,
(plain, unwaxed dental floss works well if you can't find sinew)
1 Small Concho in a design of your choice
12 Pony Beads Color 1
6 Pony Beads Color 2
1 pkg. of feathers of your choice
Your choice of colors for beads to use is entirely up to you.

You will also need:
scissors
glue (I use the thick designer tacky-glue)
spring-type clothes-pin to use as a clamp

You should be able to find these supplies at your local craft shop
or in the craft department of most major discount stores.


Instructions

Cut 3 pieces of the suede lacing 8 inches long
Cut 1 piece of the lacing 12 inches long (to use as a hanger)
Glue one end of the remaining lacing to the ring, using the clothes-pin to hold it in place until the glue dries.
Wrap the suede lacing around the ring until you reach the starting point again, being careful not to twist the lacing. Try to make it as smooth as possible.
Glue the end of the lacing to the ring and again use the clothes-pin as a clamp to hold it in place til the glue dries.

To make the web, tie one end of the immitation sinew to the ring. Make nine half-hitch knots around the ring spacing them equally and approximately 1-1/2" apart. Make the last hitch a little closer to the first knot to prevent a large gap from forming. Keep the thread pulled snug between each knot.
Begin the next row of the web by tying hitches in the middle of the thread that you have already weaved on row 1.
Continue weaving in the same way until you have a small hole left in the centre.
Tie a double knot in the cord, add a small drop of glue to the knot and cut off any remaining thread when completely dry.

To make the loop to hang your Dreamcatcher, use the 12" piece of suede lacing. Fold it in half and tie a knot in the open end. At the top of the ring, where the ends of the wrapped lacing meet, attach the hanger by slipping the loop end through the ring and then around the ring and over the knot. Pull the lacing tight to secure it in place.

Tie two 8" pieces of suede lacing about one third of the way up each side of the ring using a double knot. Slide a color 1 pony bead, then a color 2 pony bead, then another color 1 pony bead onto each end of lacing and secure with a knot.

Using the last 8" piece of lacing to attach small concho to top middle of the ring. Slide three pony beads onto each end of this lacing also: color 1, color 2, color 1.

Push two feathers up inside the beads on each end of lacing except for the ones hanging from the concho. Add a small drop of glue to the end of the feathers if needed.

The last 4 feathers are attatched by placing 2 on each side of the concho at the point where the knot attaches it to the ring.

You can make your Dreamcatcher in a larger size if you prefer, but remember you will need more lacing to cover the ring and you will want to make the hanging pieces longer to maintain a balanced scale. As a general rule you will need 2/3 the number in yards of lacing as the diameter in inches of the ring, (Example: 4 yards lacing for a 6 inch ring, 8 yards lacing for 12 inch ring, etc.)


I hope you have fun making your very own Dreamcatcher. If you have any questions regarding these instructions, don't hesitate to send me an e-mail and I will attempt to answer your questions as soon as possible.

Click the "back" button on your browser to return to the Legend of the Dreamcatcher Page.



Page created on Jan.10, 1999 by:
BlakidSuzn

Copyright © BIS Web Design


1