Native American Amulet - Dream Catcher

January 23, 2014 Needlework techniques / Scrapbooking / Scrapbooking workshops 16 077 0

Many are familiar with such an unusual device as a dream catcher, whose origin is associated with an ancient Native American legend. According to the legend, dreams and energy floating in the night air fall into the web of the catcher and are woven into its threads. Good energy finds a way out and goes down the long threads to the sleeping man, endowing him with wisdom and helping to solve life problems. And the negative forces become entangled in the nodes of weaving and beads, finding no way out, and dissolve with the appearance of the first rays of the sun. A dream catcher can be a real amulet that protects the owner from negative energy and bad exposure. At the same time, it is believed that only the dream catcher who has done it with his own hands possesses real magical power: during the manufacturing process he is endowed with human energy. So, let's move on to the lesson from which you will learn how to make your own dream catcher.

For the amulet you will need:

- ring-shaped base. Traditionally, the amulet uses a willow twisted into a ring, but you can also use the inner circle from the hoop;
- a cord or thread with a length of 12 to 14 meters. The threads should not be too thin: a woolen thread, braid or waxed cord is suitable for the amulet. It is believed that, choosing the color of the thread for the dream catcher, preference should be given to natural, "natural" shades;
- wooden beads of different sizes. It is advisable to use natural materials, but in modern dream traps also use all kinds of beads made of glass, plastic or natural stones;
- feathers. The feathers of various colors needed for the amulet can be purchased at handicraft and scrapbooking stores;
- transparent moment glue;
- scissors.

Working process:

To the ring, taken as the basis of the amulet, you need to firmly tie a long cord, leaving about 20 of the other edge free for attaching beads and feathers. Start tightly wrapping the thread around the warp, taking care not to leave gaps between turns. It is advisable that the thread does not break in the process. After wrapping the entire base, tightly tie the threads to the cord left at the beginning of the work. All nodules can be lubricated with clear, quick-drying glue to strengthen them.

Then, close to the knot, you should tie the initial thread, which will braid the amulet. To start the first row of the web, step 3-4 centimeters from the beginning of the thread and make a loop: wrap the hoop in the clockwise direction and thread the thread into the hole that has formed, tightening it tightly. Continue making similar loops in a circle. In the process of making a dream catcher, wooden beads, shells can be woven into a spider's web, if desired, securing them with knots.

When the first row is finished, immediately go to the second circle. Now the thread does not need to be wrapped around the warp, but to fasten the loops on the thread itself, which makes up the first row of the dream catcher. Continue to weave around the next rows. The radius of the hole inside the weave should gradually decrease.

Weaving can be completed when a small circle of thread forms in the very center of the trap.Gently tie the end of the cord, securing it with a bundle. Apply a small drop of instant glue to the knot so that the cobweb does not melt. Align the rows of weaving and cut the end of the thread.

At the next stage, you can start decorating the amulet. String the beads on the cord left before starting work and secure them with a bundle so that they do not fall off. When the beads are strung on a thread, you need to firmly tie the end of the cord to the base of the feathers chosen for the dream catcher.