Santa Hat for Sickle Cell: The Blog

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Who doesn’t love a Santa hat? It’s the simplest way to get into the Christmas spirit without having to do too much—and it keeps you warm! A win-win! Speaking of wins, because it’s the holiday season, I’d love to use this opportunity to give back to my local community and provide some much needed funds for a great cause. All of the proceeds generated from the purchase of this Santa hat pattern through December 31st, 2023 will be donated to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois. 

Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder where there’s a single point mutation in hemoglobin, a protein in your red blood cells (RBCs) that carry oxygen to all your organs, tissues, and cells. This hemoglobin gene mutation causes those RBCs to “sickle” in shape, making it difficult for them to get oxygen all over the body. This can cause anemia, risk of blood clots and stroke, intensely painful vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), also called sickle pain crises, and a myriad of other awful complications. It affects more than 100,000 people in the US and more than 20 MILLION people worldwide. In the US most people who have SCD are Black or of African descent. Though, it also can impact those of Hispanic, Middle Eastern, South East Asian, and Southern European backgrounds as well. Check out this information from the NIH here. And this info from the CDC. 

Today, December 8th 2023, the FDA approved the first cell-based gene therapies for the treatment of SCD in patients 12 years and older. Okay, THIS IS A HUGE DEAL! (For non-science folks, beware: the nerd is jumping out here.) CASGEVY is the first FDA-approved therapy using CRISPR/Cas9, a type of genome editing technology. This is where a person’s own blood stem cells are isolated, the genome is edited with the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and then the cells are transplanted back into the body to increase the amount of fetal hemoglobin, a type of hemoglobin that helps oxygen delivery. LYFGENIA uses a lentiviral vector to deliver a specific type of hemoglobin that has a lower risk of sickling. 

Okay, the science lesson is over for the day, but the big point is that there are now 2 new gene therapies on the market to help those with sickle cell disease. One of which uses cutting edge CRISPR/Cas9 technology that has taken since 2012 to finally get to market (and won the inventors the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2020).

Dr. Charlie, pre-PhD, with her advisor, Dr. Manu Platt, and her lab mate Dr. Hannah Song at Sickle Cell Day at the Georgia State Capitol, January 2017.

If you do choose to purchase this pattern, know that you are helping to move the needle and provide for those with sickle cell disease that are in need during a time of truly marvelous scientific history. Tag me @drcharlieuntangled and use the hashtag #SantaHatforSCD.

Materials and Pattern Information

Materials

Measurements

  • Gauge: ~10 sts x ~10 rows in 4” in hdcslst 

  • Finished hat: average adult hat size

    • ~15” H (without brim or pom) x 22” around 

Techniques to know (beginner)

  • Crochet

  • Knitting

    • 1x1 ribbing

    • Binding off

    • Knitting in the round

  • General

    • Basic seaming using whip stitch & mattress stitch (or similar)

    • Making a pom pom either by hand or with a pom pom maker

Abbreviations

  • beg - beginning

  • BOR - beginning of round

  • BLO - back loop only

  • CC - contrast color

  • ch - chain stitch(es)

  • hdcslst - half double crochet slip stitch (yarn over slip stitch)

  • MC - main color

  • sc - single crochet

  • sl st - slip stitch

  • st(s) - stitch(es)

Tips from the doctor

  • This hat pattern is crocheted with the option for a crochet brim or a knitted brim. Use whichever version you’re most comfortable with. For the crochet brim technique, check out the video by Toni from TL Yarn Crafts who breaks down her tried and true crochet brim method that I use here.

  • The metallic red yarn pictured is called Poinsettia from Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, but it unfortunately has been discontinued. Fortunately their cranberry colorway is very similar, just without the metallic addition. I did link to the metallic version of the cream colored yarn called starlight if you still want to add some bling to your project.

Patterns you may be interested in

Akia Parks