The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, used to play a traditional game of chance during the eight days of Hanukkah. Each side of the top features a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet - nun, gimel, hay and shin.

Players take turns spinning the dreidel, and the letter that displays on the top after each spin determines what happens next, or if the player wins gelt (usually in the form of gold, foil-wrapped chocolate coins).

The game starts with each player putting a piece of gelt into the pot, and the top is then spinned:
• If the nun symbols is displayed, the player wins nothing and the dreidel is given to the next player.
• If the shin symbol is displayed, that player adds a piece of gelt to the pot.
• If the gimel symbol is displayed, that lucky player wins the pot and takes all the gelt.
• If the hay simbol is displayed, the player only collects half the gelt.

Playing the dreidel game is a wonderful way for families to bond during the Holiday and there are other versions of the game as well. You may want to try playing a life-sized version as well!

This free hand embroidery pattern features an image of all four sides of the dreidel, along with lettering along the bottom. Remember that Hanukkah is also spelled Chanukah or Hanukah- feel free to change the lettering if desired.

The full-size jpg pattern is featured here on this page. You can easily enlarge or reduce the size to suit your needs using the photo editing software on your system.

Directions for working the pattern using basic surface embroidery stitches begins on the next page, and shows a detail of the herringbone stitch used in the center of each dreidel.

Directions:
Cut a square of evenweave fabric four inches larger all around than the desired size of the embroidered area, and fold the fabric into quarters and mark the center point of the base fabric. Center the pattern under the fabric and *trace the embroidery design onto the fabric using a water-soluble fabric marking pen.

Embroider the design using your favorite embroidery thread (If using embroidery floss, use 2 strands of floss when working the pattern full-size) using an assortment of surface embroidery stitches.

Work the design in the traditional Hanukkah colors of blue and silver on white, or use bright primary colors for a festive look the kids will love.

The outlines of the dreidels can be worked in stem stitch or back stitch.

The center square area is designed to be worked in the herringbone stitch, and a detail of the stitch is shown above. Pay close attention to the stitches in the diagram, so that your stitches go over and under each other properly.

The hay, gimel, shin and nun symbols can be stitched as an outline, or use satin stitch to fill the letters.

Once completed, the design can be framed and displayed.
*TIP: If you have difficulty seeing the pattern through the fabric, use a light box, or trace the design by holding the fabric and pattern up to a window.
Please note: Photographs, patterns and illustrations contained in this project are by Cheryl Fall, are copyrighted © by Cheryl Fall, and licensed to About.com, Inc.

Do not redistribute these photographs or illustrations in any form.

This pattern is free for your own personal use only and is not to be used for items for resale.

If others would like to have the pattern, please give them the URL of this page, so that they may come to these pages and print the pattern for themselves. Thank you for respecting my copyright.

For additional information, see Copyright Myths Explained, or the U.S. Government Copyright Office at http://www.loc.gov/copyright.