Make a happy felt dreidel necklace to celebrate Hanukkah with littles

We’re getting a little topsy turvy with dreidels! On Hanukkah, we spin tops called dreidels (Sevivon in Hebrew). It’s always fun to find other creative ways to include dreidels in our Hanukkah celebrations. Recently we made edible dreidels from marshmallows, chocolate kisses and sprinkles too - they were just so delicious!

Learn how to bake your own edible dreidels here!

Another way to make a dreidel is from craft felt. We have a tradition to make puffy felt necklaces for the Jewish holidays. We’ve made tiny owls for Tu B’shevat, hamantaschen for Purim, matzah topped with parsley for Passover, apples and honey bees for Rosh Hashanah and now dreidels for Hanukkah!

This sweet puffy dreidel necklace is decorated with pony beads and perfect for littles. It’s just so cute and happy, and when we put it on, we can’t help but sing the dreidel song!

Making a puffy felt dreidel necklace is a simple sewing project for parents to do with littles, and for older children with some adult supervision. You only need a few materials. So let’s go make a puffy dreidel necklace for Hanukkah!

Puffy Dreidel Necklace

Here’s what you’ll need for each necklace:

2 - 3” x 5” rectangles of of felt
Small rectangles of felt in black (eyes and smile) and pink (cheeks)
Sewing needle
Embroidery floss
Necklace cording (about 36” - we like bakers twine and yarn)
2 Cotton balls
Straight pin (optional)
Scissors
Craft glue
Pony beads

Here’s how to make this cute necklace!

1. We’ll start by cutting all our pieces. Cut 2 dreidels from the rectangles of felt, and cut eyes, smile and cheeks from the black and pink pieces.

2. Lay your dreidel pieces side by side. Unroll a cotton ball and place it on top of the bottom dreidel, along with the necklace cord that’s folded in half and sticking out the top of the dreidel. It can be helpful to dab a little hot glue on the cord to hold it in place (adults only for hot glue).

3. Place the top dreidel on the cotton and line the edges up. If you’d like, you can use a straight pin to hold the dreidel shapes together. Sew a running stitch all around the inner edges of the cut felt.

4. Glue on the eyes and cheeks. This is my favorite step - when the necklace becomes a little dreidel with a sweet and happy personality!

Oh, hi, little dreidel! Nice to meet you!

5. Now it’s time for decorations! Grab some pony and paper beads, and invite your little to string them onto the necklace!

That’s it! We’re all done with this little puffy dreidel necklace!

It’s fun for your little to wear the necklace and pretend to be a dreidel! There’s a cute action rhyme, called “Spin Little Dreidel” that’s just so much fun! It goes like this:

Spin little dreidel, go, go, go (turn around)

Spin little dreidel, now go slow (turn slowly)

Spin little dreidel, jump so high (jump)

Spin little dreidel, reach for the sky (stretch arms upward)

Spin little dreidel, touch your nose (touch nose)

Spin little dreidel, stand on your toes (stand on toes)

Spin little dreidel take a hop (hop on one foot)

Spin little dreidel, don’t you stop (keep hopping)

Spin little dreidel, spin around (turn)

Spin little dreidel, drop to the ground (sit down)

Learn how to make a felt menorah here! — Learn how to make a felt menorah *here*!

Get ready for smiles, laughter and a little dizziness with this action rhyme! If you’re looking for more activities to do with your family during Hanukkah, we’re celebrating with:

Homemade sufganiyot (mini-donuts) - they’re gluten free too!
DIY cookie menorah
DIY felt menorah
Hanukkah chef hats
DIY dream doll for sweet dreams all through Hanukkah and the Hebrew month of Kislev!

You can click here for our complete Hanukkah Round-up! How does your family celebrate Hanukkah? Let us know in the comments below, and let us know if you make a puffy dreidel necklace or if try any of these other activities!

We wish you a very Happy Hanukkah!

Chag Sameach!

~ Jennifer