How to Make a Dreamcatcher - Dreamcatchers You Can Make At Home

Thanks to today’s technology, it’s easy to discover and get to know the many cultures this world has to offer. In fact, we can even take inspiration from different cultures and traditions for our own lives. This article will highlight a beautiful tradition that in recent years we have adapted into our own home decoration. We’ll also show you how to design your own dreamcatcher using materials you can access in everyday life. Dreamcatchers are a wonderful addition to any home and what better time to create such a wonderful decoration than when we’re all stuck at home?

A cultural staple: What is a Dreamcatcher?

The dreamcatcher is an item found in many different cultures and represents a common meaning in most. We can find different designs from the Mayan, Ancient Egyptian, Shaman and most famously Native American civilisations. Most commonly known as a “Dreamcatcher” in English, it is a symbol used to repel evil spirits. It was widely believed that a person’s spirit would travel whilst they were asleep and a dreamcatcher was intended to protect the spirit on its travels.

The Native Americans would use feathers they had collected when hunting and gathering to create their dreamcatchers. Some would then hang the ones they’d made at the head of their bed. Although we do not suggest using real feathers from hunted animals today, you can buy artificial feathers and also use pendants, rings, natural materials and other things to make your dreamcatcher.

How Do You Make A Dreamcatcher?

The basics you will need for your dreamcatcher are a rattan hoop, string (preferably hemp) and whatever other materials you wish to decorate it with. A hoop is the most common shape for a dreamcatcher, but if you fancy something a bit different, you can use a triangle, square or any other shape you want instead. Firstly, design the skeleton of the dreamcatcher as you’d like it. If you’d prefer the wood not to be visible, you can wrap round it with string or ribbon.

Next, start knitting your base lines across the diameter of your rattan shape. Be careful not to knit the string too tightly. You can then start creating the “dream trap” with a spiderweb design by knitting knots in the middle of each base line. After finishing the knitting, you can add special ornaments to the trap.

How To Personalise Your Dreamcatcher

You can use almost anything you like to personalise your dreamcatcher. The most popular options are feathers, precious stones, beads, rings, flower stems and dried flower petals. However if you don’t want to customise it with beads and stones, you can always use thick threads to make a fringe.

Creative Dreamcatcher Designs

It is important that you create a design that is unique to you, as dreamcatchers are symbolic representations of our very being. You may just want to keep it as a beautiful, decorative piece. But then you might want to use it for its intended purpose. Whatever the reason, you can always come back to it and make changes as you wish or make new ones with different designs.

For example, you can use different shapes for each one you make, or you can design a whole new shape by combining different rattan structures. You can also alter the dream trap by knitting different fabrics or threads into your base.

There is no end to the different types of patterns you can knit into your dream trap and there also so many materials that will work well. Macrame thread works brilliantly with natural decoration such as leaves and stems. Changing the colours of your thread can also make a huge difference.

Hanging ornaments from the bottom of the structure emphasises the mystical nature of the dreamcatcher. To do this, you can use different colour thread/rope and weave beads or stones onto the ends. Alternatively, you can add bird feathers (artifical of course), flower stems (from plants such as lavender) or dried flower heads/petals.