Whit's Knits: Crocheted Passover Yarmulke

With Passover approaching, these beautifully simple crocheted yarmulkes are easy enough to whip up amidst all your other Seder preparations. Holidays are made special by the unique ways each family finds to interpret the traditions of the day, from handed down rituals to secret recipes. If year after year your guests were offered these hand crafted yarmulkes, the day would only be enriched. As my mother loves to say, God is in the details!

Materials

• 2 skeins of Hand Jive's Nature's Palette Fingering, 100% merino wool. These colors are "Light Teal" and "Spruce". Two skeins is enough to make at least 4 yarmulkes (two in each color).

• A US size D crochet hook.

• A removable stitch marker (or safety pin).

The Pattern

Gauge

6 1/2 single crochets = 1 inch

Finished Size

5 1/2 inches in diameter

To Begin

With the Main Color, chain 4 and slip stitch into the first chain to make a ring.

Round 1: Chain 1, 8 single crochet (sc) into the ring.

Note: Mark the first stitch of the next round with a removable marker. Make sure to reposition the marker at the beginning of each round to mark the new first stitch.

Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch. (16 stitches)

Round 3: *1 sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (24 stitches)

Round 4: *2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 2 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. (32 stitches)

Round 5: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 6: *1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (40 stitches)

Round 7: *2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 4 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. (48 stitches)

Round 8: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 9: *1 sc in next 5 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (56 stitches)

Round 10: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 11: *2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 6 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. (64 stitches)

Round 12: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 13: *1 sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (72 stitches)

Round 14: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 15: *2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 8 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. (80 stitches)

Round 16: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 17: *1 sc in next 9 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (88 stitches)

Round 18: 1 sc in each stitch.

Change Colors

At the beginning of Round 19 change colors. Here's how:

Begin the first single crochet by pulling just one loop through with the old color.

Finish the single crochet with the new color.

Move the removable marker to mark the beginning of the round.

Round 19: *2 sc in next stitch, 1 sc in next 10 stitches, repeat from * to end of round. (96 stitches)

Round 20: 1 sc in each stitch.

Round 21: 1 sc in each stitch.

Cut the yarn and pull the tail through the last stitch.

Block the yarmulke by wetting it, sqeezing it dry and laying it over the bottom of a small bowl.

Try switching the colors for variety!