From Wikipedia:
In some Native American and First Nations cultures, a dreamcatcher (Ojibwe: asabikeshiinh, the inanimate form of the word for 'spider') is a handmade willow hoop, on which is woven a net or web. It may also be decorated with sacred items such as certain feathers or beads. Traditionally, dreamcatchers are hung over a cradle or bed as protection. It originates in Anishinaabe culture as "the spider web charm" - asubakacin 'net-like' (White Earth Nation); bwaajige ngwaagan 'dream snare' (Curve Lake First Nation)' - a hoop with woven string or sinew meant to replicate a spider's web, used as a protective charm for infants. Dream catchers were adopted in the Pan-Indian Movement of the 1960s and 1970s and gained popularity as widely marketed "Native crafts items" in the 1980s.
I enjoyed the patterns of the dreamcatchers and wanted to design some patterns inspired by them. It has been pointed out to me that the following patterns are not dreamcatchers, as they weren't made by an indigenous person who is trained in doing so. Proper dreamcatchers have a spiritual and cultural significance which should be respected. So I am calling these patterns "rounds". They are stretched out with a frame of wire and are quite large. They can be hung up.
I concentrated on the shape and the netting. You need a circle of lace. There are two ways to do this. I have started with a roundel. Click here to see how to work a roundel. Click here to see how to start or finish a roundel. However, a roundel makes a small pattern, so this dreamcatcher has three concentric roundels, connected to each other using sewings.
The other way is to do a mat, where you do a section, then turn the lace to do the next section. This is done a number of times, perhaps 6 or 4. See circular mat.
© Jo Edkins 2025 - return to lace index
