It took more than a few cups of chai, but I’m pleased to share that I’ve finally added a wider size to the start with chai hair ribbon pattern; yes, the tea got cold before I finished the edits.

The original design, which had a quiet launch in September of 2024, came from my desire to expand handknit options for women who do not feel comfortable wearing a kippah in shul, but still want to cover in a meaningful way, and from all the sock yarns that multiply in my stash.

With that in mind, this pattern does not require a particular belief, or any belief at all; it’s just a small, useful shape that happens to carry meaning if you want it to. My hope is that you can be kind to others.

That’s where the name comes from, and where the double meaning lives. Chai is the Hebrew word for life. Written in Hebrew, חי, has a numerical value of eighteen, and that’s a number that shows up everywhere in Jewish life, tucked into gift amounts and anniversaries and this pattern’s stitch count. Masala chai is also one of my favourite ways to drink tea, so the pattern name carries a lot in a few simple letters.

The new size is wider, a double chai. Because this whole pattern started as a way to use up mini skeins and stray scraps of sock yarn, the maths runs a bit opposite the way you’d expect for a larger size. Work a wider ribbon with the same amount of yarn and you’ll get a shorter length. If you want both long and wide, you’ll need more yardage. The fabric is quite stretchy, and I’ve found a ribbon of 24 inches, 61 cm, fits around my head with length to spare. Samples shown in Yarn Over New York Alphabet City tweed sock mini skein, Enchanted State (narrow) and By Amalie Merino Sock Mini, Strawberry Clouds (wide).

A portion of every sale supports Chai Lifeline, an international network that provides social, emotional, and practical support to children, families, and communities living through medical crises and trauma. It felt right to tie the name to something that carries the same weight.

If you’ve already purchased the pattern, the revised PDF has been sent to you. If you have questions or didn’t receive it, please reach out; there is no need to repurchase for the additional size. If you’re new to it, you can find it here: start with chai.