How to Make a Dream Catcher from a Hula Hoop
After a death in the family, my eight-year old niece went through a phase of having nightmares. Bedtime stories, warm milk and lots of TLC didn't seem to help. Finally one day we got a little dreamcatcher keychain in the mail along with a charity donation request and that sparked an idea.We explained to our niece that the dreamcatcher's job was to "catch" the bad dreams in the web woven inside the hoop. Good dreams were allowed to slip through and slide down the feathers at the bottom, to where she was sleeping. That's why a dreamcatcher is hung above the bed.She liked the idea so much that we bought a hula hoop at a dollar store and used some of my craft yarn to make a web for the inside. Then we tied a couple of feathers to the bottom of the hoop and hung it above her bed.She's slept peacefully since then.
Things You'll Need
- 1 hula hoop (from dollar store or WalMart)
- pieces of yarn, as pictured
- two feathers (from craft store, near the beads and trim)
Instructions
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How to Make a Dreamcatcher with a Hula Hoop
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1
Prop the hula hoop onto a work table or counter so it's in front of you. Cut 5 or 6 pieces of yarn into lengths from 12 to 16 inches long.
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2
Tie one piece of yarn in the middle of the top of the hoop, and knot it securely. Now tie that same piece of yarn to the bottom of the hoop, and knot it again.
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3
Now take the remaining 4-5 pieces of yarn and tie them randomly around the hoop, so that the pattern resembles a large web. After you finish tying on the yarn, snip any loose ends so that it looks neat.
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4
Tie two feathers together with a piece of yarn, and then tie the bundle to the bottom of the loop.
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5
Make a loop with a 6" piece of yarn and tie it to the top of the hoop. Position the hoop above the headbord and hang it on the wall.
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1
Tips & Warnings
There are two different size hula hoops at a dollar store - buy the smaller one (like the one in the photo) if you can find it; they're plenty big.
If you live near a park you can find usually feathers there to use instead of purchasing them.
This is not a toy or a crib mobile. Not suitable for children under five. Don't hang one of these above a crib or put in a toddler's room, as it's too easy for little fingers to try to pry the yarn loose.
- Photo Credit Claire Bush
