Free Pattern: Little Dreidel

This is an intermediate-level knitting pattern for everyone to enjoy. Please check out the Mochimochi Shop for more patterns that you’ll love!

A quick handmade Hanukkah gift, this knitted dreidel actually works!

Techniques included I-cord and knitting in the round on double-pointed needles. Fingering-weight yarn is recommended, but sport and worsted weight yarn should also work great—use needle size that’s 3-4 sizes down from the general recommendation for the yarn you’re using.

You’ll need:
– Fingering-weight yarn in a main color (about 8 yards) and at least one contrasting color (2 yards), plus a bit of black if you want to embroider a face
– Set of size 1 US (2.25mm) double-pointed needles
– Small tapestry needle
– Small amount of stuffing

Notes:
– The finished project is very small and is not a suitable toy for small children.
– You can scale this pattern up with thicker yarn and bigger needles.

A list of pattern abbreviations can be found here.

——– Pattern starts here! ——–

Dreidel (worked top to bottom)
Cast on 10 stitches onto one DPN to work flat.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: K1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k1 (8 sts).
Rows 3-12: Beginning with a purl row, work 10 rows of St st.
Instead of turning for the next row, rotate the piece 90 degrees clockwise, and with a second DPN, pick up and knit 8 stitches along the adjacent side.
Rotate the piece again, and with a third DPN, pick up and knit 8 stitches along the cast-on edge.
Rotate the piece once more, and with a forth DPN, pick up and knit 8 more stitches along the remaining side.

You should now have 32 stitches on your needles, which you will work in a round. If you like, redistribute them onto 3 DPNs.
Rnds 13-20: Knit (8 rnds).
Rnd 21: [K2tog, k4, k2tog] 4 times (24 sts).
Rnds 22 and 23: Knit.
Rnd 24: [K2tog, k2, k2tog] 4 times (16 sts).
Rnds 25 and 26: Knit.
Stuff the piece.
Rnd 27: [K2tog] 8 times (8 sts).
Break the yarn and draw it tightly through the stitches with a tapestry needle.

Handle
Cast on 4 stitches onto one DPN.
Knit 6 rows of I-cord, pulling the yarn tightly for the first stitch in each row.
Break the yarn and draw it tightly through the stitches with a tapestry needle, from right to left.

With the tail still on the tapestry needle, insert the tip of the I-cord down through the top of the dreidel at the middle, being careful not to split any stitches. Carefully pull the I-cord partially into the dreidel, so that a couple of I-cord rows are on the inside. Weave the tail through the piece several times to secure in place, and weave the other tail down through the I-cord and into the dreidel.

Weave in any remaining loose ends.

With any contrasting color, embroider the faces of the dreidel. Here is my attempt at Hebrew letters—please reference a proper source when making your own for accuracy!

Happy Hannukah!

Please do not copy or distribute any part of this pattern without permission.
Please do not sell items made from this pattern without permission.

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