HOW TO MAKE A DREAMCATCHER By: Ashley Bell

Step 1

•Gather the materials.

•The materials needed to create a dream catcher are:

• A hoop, (it needs to be the specific size that you are trying to create)

• Four yards of leather (or whatever other material that you would like to wrap around the hoop),

• Three yards of waxed thread (or whatever material you would like to use for the web)

• Scissors • Glue• A clamp or a clothes pin

Step 2

•The second step after you gather the materials is to wrap the leather (or whatever material you have chosen) around the hoop

•This may take some time, but it is the most important step in creating a dreamcatcher.

•You have to make sure the material you are using is tightly woven around the hoop and not twisted.

•Once you find where you are going to start you will have to glue the beginning end of the material to the hoop and begin the wrapping.

•A way for keeping the material on the hoop while wrapping use either the clamp, clothes pin, or anything that can hold the material in place.

Step 3

•The next step is to start the web with the thread you have chosen to use.

•You need to make seven to nine (half inch) hitch knots around the hoop with the thread.

•To do this you will have to wrap the material around the hoop and bring it back through the loop that was made with the thread.

•Make sure to pull tightly or else the thread will come loose and/or, cause the web to sag.

Step 4

•Now that the hitch knots are made you can now begin with the web.

•You have to take your material through the first loop (hitch knot) you made and put it through the middle of that knot.

• After you have it through the loop, make a half inch hitch knot and pull it tightly.

• Continue doing this around the entire hoop to create the web.

•Once you get to the center with just a small hole left double knot the material and cut off the excess thread. Then glue the excess on the web.

Step 5

•This step is only if you would like to add decorative items.

•You will use leather strips that are about eight inches long, and attach them to the side of the hoop.

•Make sure that the strips are tied tightly around the hoop.

•Once the strands are tied onto the hoop you can begin stringing beads.

•When you are finished with the beads double knot the strip close to the bead. Then the strips will hang from the sides of the dreamcatcher.

Step 6

•You can also attach feathers.

• To do this you can either fit the feather into the knot of just glue it onto the leather strips on both sides of the dreamcatcher.

•It doesn’t matter what kind of feathers you use though.

• The Native Americans used eagle feathers, but it is illegal for us to use them today. The Native Americans now need special permits to use these today.

Step 7

•You can add more to the dreamcatcher by putting a concho with a leather strand at the top of the hoop by tying it to the top with a double knot.

•The concho is placed on the dreamcatcher to hold it up onto something.

• This is important if you would like to keep it near you while you are sleeping.

Step 8

•To finish up the dreamcatcher a bead can be placed in the center of the dreamcatcher.

• It is believed that the bead catches strength and knowledge from dreams that are floating in the air, and this is then passed onto the dreamer that the dreamcatcher is closest to.

• Other people will place a lizard or a gecko, which signifies a dreamer.

Bibliography

http://cousinsoriginals.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/DREAM_CATCHER_large_with_shell.219195828_std.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y8dVgrlzuG0/Sn3tM7UHMHI/AAAAAAAABoA/vFvlOHuKm8A/s400/Dream+Catcher+3.jpg

http://www.dream-catchers.org/