How to Do the Inside of a Dreamcatcher

The original creators of dreamcatchers, the Ojibwe people, refer to them as "Asubakacin" and "Bwaajige Ngwaagan."

Often hung above the bed, dreamcatchers are supposed to catch bad dreams before they come to us. Although preventing nightmares is just one of the beliefs about dreamcatchers, they are still very prevalent in Native American cultures. Whether you are creating a dreamcatcher to stop your bad dreams or to keep the demons away, a dreamcatcher's purpose can be decided after you make it.

Things You'll Need

• 4 to 16 feet of string
• Beads
• Feathers
• Large ring

Instructions

1. Knot a loop at the top of your dreamcatcher. The loop will act as a hanger and a place keeper.

2. Grab the long end of the string and place it over the front side of the ring. Move the string to the back of the ring and bring it through the hole you just created. Make sure that the string is not too tight. Repeat every 1 to 1 1/2 inches until you are finished with the first round.

3. Bring the string around the previous round's stitch in its middle. Continue stitching around each previous stitch's middle. With every stitch, it should bring the previous round closer towards the middle of the ring. Continue until there is a grape-sized hole in the center.

4. Add a bead in the third or fourth round. The bead signifies a spider.

5. Stop stitching once you get to the middle. Tie the dreamcatcher by stitching the same place two times. Finish with a simple knot. Attach 2 to 3 feathers to the end of the string.

References

• Native American Technology and Art: Instruction for Making Dream Catchers
• Eagle Spirit Ministry: How to Make a Dream Catcher