Ojo de dios (God's Eyes)

A very easy craft, suitable for Rainbows and Brownies; Guides can try the more complicated version at the bottom of the page!

The Huichol Indians of Mexico and the Aymara Indians of Bolivia weave brightly colored threads on a simple frame of crossed sticks to make a design called "Ojo de Dios" or "Eye of God". Originally, "God's Eyes" were made to be placed on an altar so that the gods could watch over the praying people and protect them.

Materials 

  • embroidery silks or wool in several colours
  • 2 lolly or craft sticks
  • Glue
  • Scissors

 
Method  
  • Glue the two craft sticks together in a cross.
  • Take one colour of wool and wrap it over and around one stick, then over and around the next, over and around the next, and so on. Keep doing that until the colour is used up.


  • Tie a different colour onto the previous one with a secure knot.
  • Repeat steps 2 and 3 until complete.

  • Take a piece of wool or thread and make a hanging loop for your God's Eye.


  • You can make a larger, more complicated decoration with multiple "God's Eyes" by crossing 2 larger sticks ,12 inches or longer, and then crossing a short stick at the end of each long one.
  • Weave out only about 2-3 inches from the centre of the shorter sticks, farther on the longer ones. To make this larger one, you are really just making five single "God's Eyes" the way you did above.
  • Weave the centre "God's Eye" first. Then weave each of the four smaller "Eyes", projecting out from the centre, using the same method.

 

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