Make an easy God’s Eyes or Ojo de Dios using popsicle sticks and yarn. It is a great craft, perfect for working on fine motor skills, but also brilliant for learning basic weaving.
God’s eyes or Ojo de Dios (oh-ho-day-DEE-ohs) originally come from the Huichol people of Central Northwest Mexico, were created as protective and spiritual symbols that helped them connect more deeply to the natural world.
Learn how to make a god’s eye craft (or Ojo de dios) with this step by step photo tutorial! All you need is yarn and sticks to make this beautiful traditional craft
How to make God’s Eyes
God’s Eyes are a simple weaving project, perfect for doing with children of all ages
Watch the Video: How to make a God’s Eye Craft
Supplies to make classic God’s Eye craft
- Yarn
- Popsicle sticks or sticks
- Scissors
First off you take two sticks around the same size. which is why popsicle sticks work really well for this. To make life easier for children you can use glue to connect the two sticks together into a cross shape. If your children are older, then you can skip this step.
Using yarn, tie a noose knot and tighten it around the intersection of the sticks. Wind the yarn in a figure eight around the centre, first from right to left diagonally, then from left to right.
Begin weaving your first round. Work counter-clockwise, moving the yarn behind the top stick, back over the top stick, behind the left stick, over the left stick, behind the bottom stick, over the bottomstick, and behind and over the right stick to complete one round. We developed a verse as we went to remind us to go under over etc.
Change colours by knotting the new colour to the old one.
You can keep added colours as you require, but before cutting off the old one do a few rounds so it is secure.
Then turn it over and you have this fab God’s Eye:
What is a God’s Eye?
The Ojo de Dios (Eye of God in Spanish) is woven with yarn and wood, often using several colours. The weaving of an Ojo de Dios is an ancient contemplative and spiritual practice for many. They are often created for celebration or blessing, presented as a gift or designed to bless a home. In certain homes they are hung on to the cot of a new born baby.
When you’re done, you can hang the God’s Eye somewhere important as a symbol of good luck.
Now we have made popsicle stick God’s Eyes, I really want to make miniature matchstick God’s eyes.
This is fab but I am rubbish at things like this ekkkk lol.
I like the Spanish translation! Great idea for a fun craft project this summer
WOW i love this, I’m going to have to try this over the summer with my girls.
I am not sure I can figure out how to do this, but it sounds like a totally fun and spiritiually enhancing craft.
This looks like fun – I’d never heard of one until today x x
I remember making these once when I was working with children, they are actually really fun. x
I have so many sticks by my front door I could build a bonfire! I think I’m going to try this with my Sunday club.
I have a daughter who I am sure would love to make one of these, I guess I should dig out my bag of wool. I will pin it now so I know how to find it again, thanks x
This looks like a lot of fun and will keep the kids occupied for some time
I love these! What a fun little project and I like the history behind them as well!
They have a similar thing in Greece, Jen, but it is made of glass. It is supposed to protect you from the evil eye, lol but they freak me out! I much prefer your version of it!xx