Knitted Hanukkah Decorations and Other Patterns for Jewish Holidays

Frequently Knitting for Charity has featured Christmas gifts or Christmas-related knits; however, only once or twice have we featured knitted Hanukkah decorations. So today, I’ve rounded up for our Jewish friends (or our friends who have Jewish friends and are looking for gift ideas) this collection of patterns for knitted Hanukkah decorations as well as other Jewish holiday designs.

For simplicity’s sake, I’ve divided these into three categories: dreidel patterns, menorah patterns, and Star of David patterns. There’s also a bonus category: patterns to make kippahs or yarmulkes.

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Kippah/Yarmulke Patterns

Basic Knit Kippah (Yarmulke): This is the simplest pattern of the collection, yet it is still a fine-looking project.

Bukharin Yarmulke Pattern: This yarmulke uses colorwork to create a beautiful design. The pattern is designed to create a very stiff hat.

Sam’s Kippah: This pattern is designed for an older child or a young adult. It has two stitch pattern options for the sides.

These were all the free (and a few not-quite-free) knitting patterns relating to Hanukkah and Jewish holidays I could find. Do you know of any more? Feel free to let me know!

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Dreidel Patterns

Knit Simple Dreidels: They are named for Knit Simple magazine, but these are also very easy patterns that can be whipped up quickly in either fingering weight or worsted weight yarn.

Dreidel Catnip Pet Toy: Why should humans have all the fun? This is a simple toy to make for a kosher kitty.

Dreidel Table Runner & Napkin Holders: This is my favorite pattern of the bunch. It’s stylish and simply a pleasure to behold.

Dreidel Dishcloth: Because you can never have enough dishcloths. (Scroll down until you see the photo of the dreidel dishcloth; the pattern follows.)

In this way, these kippot bring peace and happiness to my children’s head and to my own as well.

I’ve been asked to share the pattern several times and I’ve finally gotten a PDF together with the instructions. If you are not Jewish, have no use for a kippah and just want to make a cute beanie for your kids, the pattern has a modification for making a “deeper” hat. There are modifications for younger kids and adult sizing as well. It’s a VERY simple pattern you will likely memorize after the first hat, and with a little tweaking for different yarns, use time and again to make hats on the fly. It can get addictive. Consider yourself warned!

Comments

1. Tracey Gaglio says December 23, 2015 at 4:27 pm

Greetings I am looking for a kippah pattern knitted for my dughters wedding. I can not find a good pattern to save my life. Any suggesting? Please advise Thanks
Tracey

I had a hard time finding anything I loved which is why I created these for my sons! I think more crocheted patterns are out there. I would start on Ravelry.com and look at hats in the weight of yarn you want to use, and then see if any of them might be made in an abbreviated fashion (ie just knit the crown portion). Good luck!

I wish your site had been available 35 years ago! When my so went to yeshiva, the Internet didn’t exist and he often lost or forgot his kippot as young boys do. Once or twice weekly we scrambled to replace his kippot. I spent considerable time figuring out patterns I could crochet quickly but none was as colourful and fun (and easy) as these. Thank you for posting these patterns in time for my grandchildren.

Thanks for leaving a comment! I am still making these regularly, as they knit up in a night or two. Currently making some out of noro yarn while I travel in Israel 🙂

Thank you! My son will be starting kindergarten at a Jewish Day School in the fall and will need to wear a kippah every day. I also always need to be making something, so this is perfect.

awesome! I hope you enjoy as much as I do. I’ve been continuing to make these and am saving all the ones I make for my son’s bar mitzvah. Don’t be put off by the shape when you are done – you need to wash and block it over something round. 🙂