Macrame Dream Catcher
Add boho vibes to your home decor with a macrame dream catcher! Our DIY dreamcatcher features a beautiful flower pattern and only requires simple knots and basic macrame supplies.
Banish bad dreams and negative energy with this stylish craft! Dream catchers are said to allow good dreams through, while any nightmares get caught in the web. Follow our step-by-step photo and video tutorial to make one of your own!
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DIY Macrame Dream Catcher
Materials:
- 3mm Macrame cord
- 6inchMacrame hoop(metal or wood)
- Super glue
- 12Wood beads(12 mm)
Equipment:
Check Out The Video Tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Attach cords to form a circle
- Cut 8 pieces of macrame cord, each of them 80 inches (or 200 cm) long.
- Fold one cord in half, setting it down with the middle fold at the top.
- Create a 2 inch circle by passing the right cord over the left cord so the right cord is on top.Fold a second cord in half and place the middle fold under the circle you just created.
- Attach the second cord to the first with a lark’s head knot. To do this, bring the top of the middle loop over, pull the loose cords through, and pull tight.Then pull the right cord out from inside the loop, so that all four cords are on the outside.
- Attach the remaining six cords to the loop with a lark’s head knot.
- Pull on the two cords belonging to the initial circle.
- Pull and adjust the attached cords until you’ve formed a small circle, about 1/2 inch wide in the middle.
- Flip the circle upside-down and tape two of the cords to your table or working surface.As you work your way around the circle you’ll have to peel up the tape and re-attach it to new cords.
Step 3: Create the first point of the flower
- Tie a double half hitch knot with two of the cords that are immediately beside each other. (You can start at any place, as long as the two cords belong to the same strand.)To do this, bring the left cord over the right cord, and then cross the right cord over, creating a loop. Bring the end of the right cord under and through, and then pull tight.
- Repeat the same knot with the same two cords to complete the double half hitch knot.
- Tie a double half hitch knot with the next two cords to the right.Bring the right cord over the left, cross the left over the top, and then pull through and tight. Repeat.
- Now we’re going to work with the inner two cords out of the four we’ve been working with. (Cords 2 and 3 if you label them 1 – 4, from left to right.)Bring cord 3 over cord 2, and then cross cord 2 over 3. Pull the end through the bottom to make a loop.
- Pull the cords so that there’s a space, about 1/2 inch from the previous knots.
- Tie a second knot, being sure to keep the spacing in the loop. (Don’t pull too tight and close the loop).
Step 4: Repeat step 3 with the remaining cords
- Turn the circle and re-tape it so you’re working with the next four cords.Repeat the exact same knots as in Step 3.
- Repeat the same knots again for the next two sections.
Step 5: Complete the inner flower ring
- There are four areas where two strands side by side do not come to a point. Choose one of those areas to work with the two strands.Cross the right strand over the left, bring the end of the right under and through, and pull. Leave the same size (1/2 inch) gap to match the other tied cords.
- Tie a second knot with these same cords, completing the double half hitch.
- Do the same double half hitch knot for the next three sections.You should now have eight inner points of a flower.
Step 6: Create the outer flower ring
- Choose two cords that are beside each other, but do not belong to the same knot.Cross the right cord over the left, then pull the end of the left over and under through the loop. Pull to leave a larger gap than the first points (about 1 inch).
- Tie the second knot with the same cords, maintaining the spacing.
- Tie a double half hitch knot with the next two strands.
- Tie six more double half hitch knots, turning the project and re-taping as needed as you work your way around the circle.
Step 7: Connect the cords to the macrame hoop
- Spread the cords out evenly in a circle and place the macrame hoop on top of the cords, with the inner ring of the flower centered.
- Each point of the flower has two cords. Attach these cords to the macrame hoop, working with one point at a time.To do this, take the end of the left cord and wrap it over the metal ring. Then pull the end under and through the loop it created. Repeat, tying a second knot.
- Repeat the last step with the right cord, tying two knots and pushing the knots close together.The point of the flower should now be right beside the metal ring.
- Connect the remaining points in the same way so all the cords are evenly spaced and attached to the hoop.
- Add a drop of super glue to the center of each knot where it meets the ring.This will keep the points in place and stop them from unraveling.
Step 8: Create a hanger and add cords to the bottom of the hoop
- Choose two strands to be the top of your dreamcatcher and create a loop with the cords. Pull the strands through the loop and pull tight, creating a basic knot about 5 inches above the ring. Cut off the extra cord above the knot.
- Cut off the cords from the top four sections (two on either side of the hanger) close to the knots on the hoop. Keep these eight cords for the next step.Do not cutthe cords on the bottom three sections.
- Attach one of the cut off cords to the bottom of the hoop with a lark’s head knot.Fold the cord in half and place the loop under the hoop, to the right of the left point. Put the ends through and pull tight.
- Attach the next three cords in the same way between the left and middle points. Add the remaining four cords between the middle and the right points.Adjust the cords so that they’re spaced evenly.
Step 9: Trim the cords and attach beads
- Trim the ends of the cords so that they’re all an even length. (Ours are about 9-1/2 inches long, measured from the middle.)
- String a wooden bead on the leftmost cord and secure it with a knot. Don’t add a bead to the next cord, and simply tie a knot.
- Repeat the pattern and add a bead to the end of every other cord.
- Your macrame dream catcher is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Be careful when cutting off the long cords! Be sure to leave the bottom three sections and the top two cords to use as a hanger.
- You need at least a 6 inch macrame hoop to make this dreamcatcher. But if you want to make a bigger dream catcher with a larger hoop, you can do this and still follow our tutorial. Simply leave more space between the ring and the outer flower points if you’re using a large ring. Or you can make the web larger by repeating step 6 to add a third round of flower points. If you do this, be sure to start with longer cords!
What string is used for dreamcatchers?
We used a 3mm cotton macrame “rope” to make our macrame dream catcher. Cotton macrame cord is really nice to work with since it’s strong, but also flexible and soft.
What do you need to make a macrame dream catcher?
To make a macrame dreamcatcher you need 3 main supplies:
- macrame cord in the colour of your choice
- a macrame hoop (metal ring)
- wooden beads
Where is the best place to put a dreamcatcher?
Dream catchers are traditionally kept in a child’s bedroom, near a crib or the headboard of the bed. You can also place dreamcatchers in the window, where sunlight is said to destroy all the bad dreams that are caught in the web.
Nowadays a lot of people treat dreamcatchers as a decoration, using them as wall hangings in the living room or any other place you want to create positive vibes.
Where can I buy a macrame hoop and macrame cord?
You can buy metal rings and macrame cord from Michaels or another craft store. And both Etsy and Amazon are good online resources for macrame supplies.
There are also a lot of macrame specific shops and websites. Try Googling “macrame supplies your city name here” to find a local store!
These macrame dreamcatchers are a great intermediate level macrame project! They’re so intricate and pretty, which also makes them a really cool homemade gift.
Add even more style by tying on small macrame feathers (which are a really fun beginners project) to the bottom of the cords that don’t have beads!
Here’s even more macrame craft ideas:
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books- A- Million | Indiebound | Indigo | Amazon Canada
