Art Around the World

Cut a long piece of yarn – about 3-4 arm lengths. It's better to have too much than too little!

Use a small dab of hot glue to attach the end of your yarn to the hoop. Hold it in place until it sets (about 10 seconds).

Wrap the yarn around the hoop, keeping each wrap close to the previous one. Pull tight but not so tight that the yarn breaks. Cover the glued end as you wrap.

Keep wrapping in the same direction all the way around the hoop. Make sure there are no gaps where the wood shows through.

If you run out of yarn before finishing, use a small dab of hot glue to secure the end. Then start a new piece slightly overlapping where you stopped.

When you've wrapped all the way around and returned to your starting point, use hot glue to secure the final end. Tuck it under the previous wraps for a clean finish.

Before starting the web, tie a small loop of yarn at the top of your hoop. This is where you'll hang your finished dream catcher.

Cut a piece of yarn about 6-8 arm lengths long. You need a lot for the web!

Tie one end of the yarn securely to the hoop, right next to your hanging loop. Double knot it so it won't come loose.

Stretch the yarn across the hoop and loop it around the hoop at an equal distance (about 1.5-2 inches). To make the loop: wrap the yarn around the hoop, then bring the yarn through the loop you created, pulling snug. This is called a hitch knot.

Keep making hitch knots around the hoop at equal intervals. You should have 8-12 anchor points around the entire hoop when you return to your starting point. Traditional dream catchers have 8 points (for the spider's legs).

Instead of looping around the hoop, now loop your yarn around the MIDDLE of each yarn section from the first round. This brings your web spiraling inward toward the center.

As you weave, you can slide a bead onto the yarn before making your next hitch knot. This traps the bead in your web!

Continue making hitch knots in the middle of each yarn section, spiraling inward with each round.

As you get closer to the center, it's important to maintain even tension. Not too tight (which warps the web) and not too loose (which makes it saggy).

Stop weaving when you have a small hole in the center (about the size of a nickel or quarter). This hole is important – it's where good dreams pass through!

When you're happy with your center hole, tie off the yarn with a secure knot. You can add a small dab of hot glue to make sure it doesn't come undone. Trim excess yarn.

Traditional dream catchers often have 1-3 dangles hanging from the bottom. Decide how many you want and where they'll go (center bottom, or spread along the lower half).

Cut pieces of yarn for each dangle – they can be the same length or different lengths for visual interest. About 6-10 inches works well.

Tie each dangle string securely to the bottom portion of your hoop. Double knot to make sure it's secure.

Thread beads onto each dangle string. You can use one large bead or several smaller ones. The beads help weigh down the feathers.

Slide the quill (stem) of each feather through the hole of your last bead, OR use a small dab of hot glue to attach the feather to the end of the string. The bead method looks cleaner.

Add a small dab of hot glue where the feather meets the last bead to keep it from falling out. Trim any excess yarn below the feathers.

Is your hanging loop secure at the top? Test it by holding your dream catcher by the loop.

Are there any gaps in your yarn wrapping? Add extra wraps or a dab of glue if needed.

Are all the knots in your web tight? Gently tug on different sections to test.

Do you have a center hole for good dreams to pass through?

Are your feathers and beads securely attached? Give them a gentle tug.

Trim any loose yarn ends. Remove any visible glue strings.