How to Make a Kippa

Last Updated: November 14, 2022

Kippah -literally means "dome." is also known as yarmulke in Yiddish. It is a skullcap covering the upper part of the head that is worn by Jewish males to draw out inner respect to the God. It is required when going to religious events like at prayer ceremonies, weddings or funerals. Below are few steps to make a kippah for your loved ones.

Steps

1
Take the Measurement: Measure your head for kippah by wrapping a tape around in the place the kippah will end.
2
Select the cloth for kippah: Traditionally, Jewish people use black color for kippah, but you can choose any of your favourite color as per your choice. When choosing the material of the cloth you can use velvet, suede or hand crocheted cloths, once again the choice is yours, depending on the one you want to use for your kippah.

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3
Give a Circular shape: After choosing the cloth and measuring the head size, with the help of a compass or a bowl mark a circular shape on your cloth and cut the cloth as per the size of the head of wearer with the help of scissors.
4
Measure the Radius: Mark a straight line and cut from the edge of the cloth to the center forming the radius of the cloth. Pull the cloth together forming a cone like shape giving an inch of overlap. You may also cut another line to the centre, 2 inches (5.1 cm) apart from the other cut making it look like a pie without a slice.
5
Stitch the cut together: Start from the edge to the centre and stitch the cut together until the middle of the overlap. You can easily do this by running it on your sewing machine or simply by hands. If you do not wish to use a needle and thread, you can also use adhesive.
6
Fix the edges: In order to fix the edges, simply fold the rim around 5 mm and sew it all around. For this you can use sewing machine but it is not difficult by hand as well. You can use the same color tape for a solid colour look, or a different colour to create a different style.
7
Decorate your kippah as you like. With these simple steps you can make a nice looking kippah that you can either gift to your friends or for your own use.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I put a ribbon trim around the yarmulke?

Community Answer

You could take a thin strip of ribbon, wrap it around the yarmulke, and sew it into place with some thread. You could also use super glue, although the appearance won't be as neat in the end.
Question

What is the average size of a yarmulke?

Community Answer

Different communities have different traditions which can vary not just the size, but the shape, fabric and color as well. Among ashkenazi chareidim (my community) it is usually black velvet, and of a size that is big enough for it to fit neatly on the head without constantly falling off.