DIY Dream Catcher Using Crochet Doily and Wire

Sarune
by Sarune
2 Hours
Medium
Have you ever tried to make your own dream catcher? I made it once when I was little using plastic bangle, sewing thread and some feathers. But that was along time ago and dream catchers seem to be on trend for quite a while now. Oh my, I don’t even want to count those hours I spent scrolling trough Pinterest and adoring all those designs. There is just something magical about them, something I can’t explain, just feel. So I’m just sitting in my tiny balcony enjoying a fresh cup of mint tea and a soft breeze. Gazing at my freshly finished dream catchers (yes, I decided I need more than one) slowly dancing in the wind. So join me in today’s tutorial on how to make dream catcher using crochet doily, some wire, yarn, beads and leather.

Tools and Materials
  • A crochet doily. Thrift stores usually have loads of beautiful and cheap doilies. I got a set of linen ones from my auntie, can you believe she was going to throw them out?
  • Wire. Something thick enough to hold a shape but not too hard so you could bend it by hand. I used 1.6 mm zinc covered with PVC which I found at my local hardware store.
  • Yarn. One thicker kind (I used twine) to cover up wire and thinner (in my case cotton) to make strands and put beads on.
  • Beads of your choice. I used strands of thrifted necklaces made of wooden and glass beads.
  • Scrap of soft thin leather or other similar material to make feathers
  • Jewelry findings – jump rings and eye pins. I found that buying jewelry findings at Aliexpress in advance saves me lots of money.
  • Scissors, pliers, cutters, crochet hook and marker.
Start by making the “feathers”. Draw some leaf shapes on the back side of your leather. I had a piece of my mom’s 90’s jacket laying around. You might want to use some stencil but I went totally free style here and just draw everything by hand.
Cut out the shapes and cut them all the way around to create that fringe effect. Voila – your leaf turns into feather!
Now pierce the top of each feather and put a jump ring in it. Next attach an eye pin to each jump ring and leave it be for now. If you’re not sure how to work with pins or jump rings check out my DIY triangle pendant post for detailed pictures and tips.
Now you want to make a nice round shape out of wire. To do that find some cylinder shaped object (bucket, pot, stool top, column, pipe etc.) and wrap your wire around it. Make sure that the size of the circle is similar to the doily you have. I used bucket for mine. Twist the ends to hold together and cut the wire.
Loosen the ends of your wire a little bit and start putting on doily. I’m not sure how to describe it in words properly but you should simply put one end of the wire trough the holes of the doily and do that all the way round. I think it will be much clearer when you try and feel it yourself. Make sure that your doily is not too loose. If it is loose you will have to leave longer outer edges.
When you finish this step secure wire ends again and try to shape them into some kind of loop or hook for hanging. Also you might need to reshape your circle a little bit by hands. Mine looks somehow flattened in this picture but I ensure you it’s only because of poor angle while taking photo. Hang it in some easily reachable place and let’s move to making beaded strings.
Start by adding some smaller beads on already prepared eye pins and attaching jump rings at the ends (no more jump rings, I promise) Make any design you want or go totally random like I did here.
Now attach the thread to the jump ring and decorate it with larger beads. Secure beads with knots so they wouldn’t slide down. As you can see Jaques the cat decided to join in at this point. He enjoyed yarn ball and beads so much that he almost ruined the scene! No quail eggs for nasty Jaques today.
Back to the dream catcher. Hang your first strand. It should be the longest one and go directly to the center. Then hang other strands symmetrically and shorten each of them gradually. Don’t worry about not so beautiful yarn ends at the base. We will hide them eventually.
I decided to make seven “tails” for this dream catcher but I also made another one with only five of them. It’s totally up to you and basically depends on the size of the doily. Some tips for design: try to bring order by making your strings symmetrical and avoid too many colorful beads. Keep it simple and neat.
Now it’s time to cover up that ugly wire. Take some twine (or any other yarn you prefer) and crochet all the way around the wire in simple single crochet stitch. You might want to turn on some TV show at this point cause it takes some time to work all the way round with all those strings and wire. I think it took me about 40 minutes.
Keep crocheting all the way round and pay special attention to the bottom part where the strings hang. You want to cover up all loose ends but be careful not to “hook in” the strings themselves. Also strings tend to slide a little bit to sides so keep checking if the spaces between them are still the same equal length.
After you finish crocheting all the way round it should look something like this. Make final touches – fix that circle to make the shape perfect, trim loose ends, maybe twist a loop for hanging and you’re ready to go!
Hang your DIY dream catcher in a nice place and admire! I also made two smaller ones to create a matching set. It is a perfect earring holder too!
VISIT MY ORIGINAL BLOG POST FOR MORE PHOTOS OF EACH STEP AND PINTEREST FRIENDLY PICTURE!
Sarune
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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  1 question
  • Rory McBean Rory McBean on May 11, 2017

    Interesting! I never would have thought about using a doily for the center of the dreamcatcher. My question: Wouldn't it be easier to attach the beaded strands after covering the wire ring? Thank you, by the way. I'm inspired to make a researcher for the first time in years!

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  • Emma Emma on Apr 27, 2021

    I think its nice someone is inspired to create something beautiful for their own pleasure and dismayed that some people have to be so negative about a persons efforts when using what they can or have available when creatively inspired by an item significant to the wonderful native American culture. Im sure the great spirit would approve regardless of the materials. Yes an understandingmof the spiritual significance would be informative to the maker, but to create ones own rather than go and buy a commercially made in the thousands from a superstore gets my vote. In doing so it is already becoming an object of personal integrity and connected with the spirit of the person who made it. If one has one, then making their own is part of their own spiritual journey and connection with all that is.

  • Carollynda Carollynda on Aug 09, 2022

    I kind of agree with Gini, real dream catchers are a totally other craft. I have made dreamcatchers for years, because my mother told me her parents were Native American. But According to "Ancestry.com", my DNA found no trace of Native American!! Sorry Mom! Anyway, I've made them out of Grapevine, sinew, yarn, silver thread, and even a giant one from a Hula Hoop and Macrame Cord. I got so used to making the patterns, I think I made them in my sleep once before a craft show! And I used all kinds of feathers, from rainbow colors, pheasant, Turkey, Peacock, Faux Eagle, but I really like your 'feathers' and doile design and decorations. Very pretty, but NOT dreamcatchers. I am currently 75, and contemplating making a "Dreamcatcher" clock. But I doubt whether I can find Sinew and natural feathers and other materials, except grapevine. So I guess I'll start with that and see how it goes! BTW Your creations are BEAUTIFUL.😸🐈️🙂

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