God's Eye Craft

A simple craft from my childhood. God's eyes were originally made by the Huichol, the indigenous people of what's now western Mexico, and they appeared on everything from altars to large ceremonial shields. And it was only when Spanish colonists arrived in the region in the 1500s that these woven yarn charms got the name that's still used today. Upon observing their ritual significance to the Huichol, the Roman Catholic Spanish dubbed them "ojos de dios," or eyes of God.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Yarn

Sticks or Popsicle Sticks

Scissors

Step 2: Connect Your Sticks

With a small bit of yarn, tie your two sticks together.

Step 3: Wrap the Yarn

Firmly hold the end of your yarn against the center of the sticks. Wrap the yarn fully around one stick (under, over, under) then move onto the next stick and wrap fully around.

Keep moving around in a circle, wrapping the yarn around each stick as you go.

Step 4: Finish

Wrap yarn until only a little bit of the sticks are showing.

Make a knot around the stick to tie off the yarn.

Cut off the excess yarn.