The making of a kippah...

First comes the knitting. I knit each kippah from a pattern that I developed. (If you are a knitter and would like this pattern, you can get it at my other shop: cozycoleman.etsy.com.)

It doesn't look like much after it is knit. It is the felting that gives it the rich velvety texture.

The felting process is relatively simple. I throw it in my washing machine on hot, with an old pair of my daughter's sneakers. Then I throw it in the dryer (without the sneakers, because they make an awful thudding sound)

Usually once through does the trick, sometimes I have to wash them twice.

When my washer was broken I had a friend do it for me... her water must be much hotter than mine! After she was done I was able to introduce a line of baby-sized kippot! lol.

They are usually pretty misshapen after this process, so I then block them by pinning the yarmulke to a Styrofoam ball and steam ironing it.

For someone who hates ironing, I do an awful lot of it for my art!

Now Comes the fun part. Using a special needle called a felting needle, I "paint" the designs on.

This is done with scraps of yarn and tiny pieces of raw wool (roving) which I dye myself with kool aid and other natural food dyes.

Finally, I pin the kippah back on its Styrofoam ball and steam block and needle felt it until it is the shape I want.

The finishing touch: kippah keepers sewn into the underside of the yarmulke. I use hair clips on mine and it works really well. I could do cartwheels and not lose my yarmulke... that is, if I could do cartwheels!