How to Sew a Yamaka
A yamaka, also referred to as a yarmulke, is a tiny, round cap worn by Jewish men during religious ceremonies. Jews are required to cover their heads during prayer as a sign of respect. Some people also call this the kippah, symbolizing a flat circle situated at the back of a man’s scalp. Although yamakas have no standard color or size, most Jewish men prefer their kippahs sewn in a small and unobtrusive pattern. There is no restricted pattern assigned to Jewish people when creating their own yamaka, so you can choose any color or design when sewing one.
Instructions
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1
Choose the color and pattern for your customized yamaka. Although most yamakas come in black velvet, you can also use satin, suede or crocheted variations.
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Pick the fabric that you will use to create your yamaka. You can use any type of fabric, from satin and leather to cotton and silk. Consider the fabric weight and whether or not the fabric is washable.
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3
Create a pattern for your yamaka with your pencil and drawing paper. Choose the size that you want for your yamaka and draw a circle on your paper following your desired size. Yamakas come in sizes, from small to extra large. Small-sized yamakas are 5 3/16 inches in diameter, medium sizes come in 5 5/8 inches in diameter, large sizes are 6 1/6 inches in diameter and extra large yamakas go as big as 6 3/10 inches in diameter.
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Next to the pattern, draw another circle, about 1/2 inch larger than the first one. The added space will provide enough allowance for seaming your yamaka.
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Place your pattern over your fabric and use a couple of pins to pin them together. Use your scissors to cut around the perimeter of your circular pattern.
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Insert the thread into the eye of the needle to prepare for sewing. Sew your yamaka by backstitching on the wrong side of your fabric, sewing towards the middle of the circle. To backstitch, run the thread down the cloth and run it back up. Then run the thread back again to where you first inserted the thread. Do this until you finish the whole yamaka. Use a 1/4-inch seam allowance while sewing and press the seam open.
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Fold over 1/4 inch around your circle’s perimeter and press it with an iron. Repeat the same step with the other circle.
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Create a more complex pattern for your yamaka by taking the original circle pattern and dividing it into four.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want a peaked yamaka, cut the fabric directly from the edge of the circle to the middle of the pattern. Trace a quarter of your circle onto a piece of paper and add 1/2 inch to the curved and two straight sides of your quarter. Use your scissors to cut through the four pieces and sew the straight sides together in order to recreate a circle.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
