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Dream Catcher

Top of galaxy dream catcher
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Keep the bad dreams away with this DIY dream catcher. I show you how to customize it and make it a galaxy dream catcher like mine. You’ll also learn how to make it glow in the dark.

Note: Some links in this post may contain affiliate links, which means at not cost to you, I may earn a commission. I am likely linking to items that can be trickier to get, making it easier for you to find the supplies you need.

Table of Contents

What is the Meaning of a Dream Catcher?

While a dream catcher, or dreamcatcher (though not the kpop group), is known today to keep away bad dreams and nightmares, that was not its original purpose. They originated from a legend in which a “Spider Woman” of Hopi mythology protects the children. Therefore people began making their own “webs” to protect their children from harm, hanging them above the childrens’ beds. From there it became associated with bed and sleep and therefore evolved to protection from bad dreams.

Don’t forget to pin it so you can come back to it later!

finished galaxy dream catcher with blue, purple, and pink, and feathers. the title reads "diy tutorial - dream catcher, abcrafty.com"

Materials for the DIY Dream Catcher

You could also get a kit (such as this one) that will have the pre-made hoops, cord, and feathers.
Mr. Pen Aluminum Craft Wire - 1.5 mm, 32.5 Feet, 1 Roll, Bendable, Flexible, Ideal for Crafts, Sculpting, Doll Armature, Modeling41%
Mr. Pen Aluminum Craft Wire - 1.5 mm, 32.5 Feet, 1 Roll, Bendable, Flexible, Ideal for Crafts, Sculpting, Doll Armature, Modeling
$9.99 ($0.31 / Foot)
TEKTON 8 Inch Bolt Cutter | 3386
TEKTON 8 Inch Bolt Cutter | 3386
Tenn Well Cooking Twine, 3Ply 656Feet 1mm Food Safe Cotton Kitchen String Butchers Twine for Roasting, Trussing Turkey, Tying Meat, Making Sausage, Baking and More
Tenn Well Cooking Twine, 3Ply 656Feet 1mm Food Safe Cotton Kitchen String Butchers Twine for Roasting, Trussing Turkey, Tying Meat, Making Sausage, Baking and More
Audamp Craft Feathers 300pcs Colorful Feathers for Craft DIY Wedding Home Party Decorations
Audamp Craft Feathers 300pcs Colorful Feathers for Craft DIY Wedding Home Party Decorations
Gywantt DIY Dream Catcher Kit - 5 Gold Metal Hoops, 50 Feathers, 10 Pcs Faux Suede Cord, 60 Wood Beads
Gywantt DIY Dream Catcher Kit - 5 Gold Metal Hoops, 50 Feathers, 10 Pcs Faux Suede Cord, 60 Wood Beads
Tulip Fabric Paint Pack - Non-Toxic and Permanent 3D Puff Paint for Fashion Party, 20 Color Pack12%
Tulip Fabric Paint Pack - Non-Toxic and Permanent 3D Puff Paint for Fashion Party, 20 Color Pack
$24.99 ($1.68 / Fl Oz)

Video Instructions to Make a Galaxy Dream Catcher

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How to Make a Dream Catcher Step by Step

Create the Hoop

To start, cut the wire to the size you’d like your dream catcher to be (this is the kind I’m using). Then shape the wire into a circle and attach the ends to each other with a small piece of strong tape.

Note: Typically wire is sold in large coils so if you like the size the coil is already in, you won’t need to do much actual shaping.

You can also skip this step and get pre-made rings such as these. You can also get them as a set in different sizes like this one.

Wire circle connected with duct tape

Take your yarn or cord and tie a knot around the wire. Then begin wrapping it tightly around the wire, covering the loose end in the process.

Note: I used a thicker yarn for this because I wanted the ring to be thicker. If you only have one type of yarn or string and want it to be thicker, you can make multiple layers of wrapping.

Tying yarn into a knot around a wire cirlce
wrapping yarn over wire circle, covering the knot

Be sure to cover all of the wire. Then once you reach the end, you can tie it into a knot around itself and cut it off.

yarn covering a wire circle

Make the Center Web of the Dream Catcher

Next, with a thinner yarn or cord, tie a knot around the hoop, cutting off the loose end. You want to try and get this between the wrapping so you can tuck it in to hide it.

Take the long end of this yarn, stretch it across the hoop so it reaches ~1/6 of the hoop’s diameter. Bring the yarn around the hoop and through the hole you just created with the yarn, creating a tightened loop around the hoop.

The end result should look like the image below.

Wrapping cord around the hoop to make a loop

Continue this process all around the hoop, creating your final loop at the same point at which you started. If you started making loops 1/6th down the hoop, then you should end up with 6 lines made with the yarn.

From here, you’ll continue to make loops, but instead of making it on the hoop itself, you’ll make them on the new lines of yarn you just made. As you can see in the image, wrap the yarn in the middle of the closest piece of yarn that’s stretching across the hoop.

Tying yarn onto the center strand of yarn, attached to a hoop

Repeat this same process for the rest of the yarn lines you previously made.

Then once you’re done with that row, you’ll notice you’ve made a new set of lines with the yarn so continue wrapping in the middle of these lines.

Next row of yarn wraps, beginning to shape the web of the dream catcher

Eventually the lines will become so small that you won’t be able to find a good middle point on which to make loops. At this point you can stop and tie off the yarn in a knot and cut it off.

Finishing the wraps for the inside web of the dream catcher
Cutting off the yarn at the center of the finished dream catcher web

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At this point, if you do not want to paint your dream catcher, you can skip ahead.

If you would like to paint it, now is the time to have fun with it. I used puffy fabric paints for this because they’re less likely to be absorbed by the yarn. Paints such as acrylic will often get absorbed in and you’ll have to do several coats to get a solid coverage. This is a great set to have on hand.

I actually put together a post on different types of fabric paints and the best ones to use for different projects.

Paint the Dream Catcher

Starting to paint the yarn covered hoop with fabric paint

Since I wanted to make a galaxy dream dream catcher, I mixed up purples, blues, and pinks from the fabric paints. (If you need help mixing purple or brown, I created a guide on how to make purple and brown).

Mixing pink and white fabric paint on a paint mixing palette

I then painted these colors in random areas of the web and around the edge of the dream catcher, blending them together.

I highly recommend doing this on some newspaper as it will get messy. You can see here I used a recycled plastic bag to cover my surface.

Painting galaxy dream catcher

This is also a good time to bring out the feathers and paint them as well.

Painting feathers in galaxy colors

I found getting in there and using my fingers made the blending process easier. Though doing so made the paint absorb more into the yarn, which meant I ended up having to do another coat.

Using fingers to blend the colors of fabric paint to create galaxy effect
Cutting long length of yarn, attached to dream catcher covered in yarn

Paint these in fabric paint as well (I again ended up just using my fingers).

If you’re not painting it, then you can skip to either making it glow in the dark, or adding the feathers.

Using fingers to apply fabric paint onto yarn in galaxy colors to the dream catcher

How to Make the Dream Catcher Glow in the Dark

Add any additional coats you may need and once partially dried, you can turn it into a glow in the dark dream catcher.

To do so, you’ll want glow in the dark fabric paint (this is the one I’m using). Apply it all over your dream catcher. And don’t worry that it’s covering your colors, it will dry clear.

tulip fabric paint glow in the dark
Painting the dream catcher with glow in the dark fabric paint

Lastly, let everything dry and then use a glue gun to attach the feathers to the ends of the yarn that are hanging down.

Using glue gun on the end of yarn painted in galaxy colors
Attaching galaxy painted feather to string of the dream catcher with glue gun

Once that glue all dries, you’ll have a finished DIY dream catcher (galaxy, glow-in-dark, or regular)!

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Finished galaxy dream catcher with feathers, blue, purple, and glitter

I really need to improve my skills of taking photos in the dark so please excuse the potato quality, but you get the idea of how cool this looks once the lights are out.

glow in the dark dream catcher, glowing green in the dark

Don’t forget to pin it so you can come back to it later!

first image is the galaxy dream catcher during the day and the second is the glow in the dark dream catcher glowing green at night. the title reads "glow in the dark dream catcher, abcrafty.com"

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Finished galaxy dream catcher with feathers, blue, purple, and glitter

Dream Catcher

Keep the bad dreams away with this DIY dream catcher. I show you how to customize it and make it a galaxy dream catcher like mine. You'll also learn how to make it glow in the dark.
Yield 1 Dream Catcher
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Project Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Materials
  

  • Thick wire
  • Strong tape
  • Yarn, string, or hemp cord If you don't plan to paint yours, choose the yarn, string, or hemp cord in the color you would like
  • Fabric paint This could also be acrylic paint, but if using acrylic, you'll likely need to do more coats
  • Feathers

Equipment

  • Wire cutters
  • Glue gun

Instructions
 

Create the hoop

  • Cut the wire to the size you'd like your dream catcher to be.
  • Shape the wire into a circle and attach the ends to each other with a small piece of strong tape.
  • Tie your yarn or card into a knot around the wire hoop.
  • Wrap it around the wire, covering the loose end in the process.
  • Be sure to cover all of the wire. Then once you reach the end, you can tie it into a knot around itself and cut it off.

Make the center web

  • With a thinner yarn or cord, tie a knot around the hoop, cutting off the loose end.
  • Take the long end of this yarn, stretch it across the hoop so it reaches ~1/6 of the hoop's diameter.
  • Bring the yarn around the hoop and through the hole you just created with the yarn, creating a tightened loop around the hoop.
  • Continue this process all around the hoop, creating your final loop at the same point at which you started. (If you started making loops 1/6th down the hoop, then you should end up with 6 lines made with the yarn).
  • From here, you'll continue to make loops, but instead of making it on the hoop itself, you'll make them on the new lines of yarn you just made
  • Repeat this same process for the rest of the yarn lines you previously made.
  • Then once you're done with that row, you'll notice you've made a new set of lines with the yarn so continue wrapping in the middle of these lines.
  • Eventually the lines will become so small that you won't be able to find a good middle point on which to make loops. At this point you can stop and tie off the yarn in a knot and cut it off.
  • Tie long lengths of yarn to one end of the hoop. You can choose how many and how long you would like them to be. I ended up with three of varied lengths.
  • Using the glue gun, glue the feathers to the end of the strings hanging down.

Paint the dream catcher

  • Paint the web and feathers with fabric paint in the color(s) of your choice.
  • Let the paint dry mostly before making it glow in the dark (or let it dry completely if you don't want it to glow in the dark)

Make it glow in the dark

  • Paint glow in the dark fabric paint all over the dream catcher. Don't worry if it covers your colors, it will dry clear.
  • Let it dry completely

Video

Notes

If you want to make it a galaxy dream catcher, mix different colors pinks, blues, and purples and apply them randomly. Be sure to blend them together.
Tip: I found getting in and using my fingers to blend the paint together made the process easier. That being said, doing so made the paint absorb more into the yarn, which meant I ended up having to do another coat.
Keyword DIY, dream catcher, dreamcatcher, fabric paint, galaxy, glow in the dark
Picture of Daniela Kretchmer

Daniela Kretchmer

Daniela is a lifelong crafter who loves to share her passion for crafting. Through classes or learning on her own, she likes to say she'll do pretty much any craft aside from scrapbooking. Her current personal obsessions include garden crafts, felting, and spinning yarn.

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