Have you heard about the Shetland MRI scanner appeal? I know from personal experience just how important MRI scans are, since it was inside one of these machines that my stroke was diagnosed nine years ago. Magnetic resonance imaging is an incredibly important diagnostic tool not just for brain injuries, like my stroke, but for all kinds of bodily conditions affecting everything from bones to blood vessels. At the moment, if you live in Shetland and need an MRI scan you have to make a long journey by plane or boat to Aberdeen or Glasgow. Travel to and from Shetland is frequently disrupted by the weather; patients have to make such journeys in situations of extreme distress and pain; and the financial burden of such journeys to Shetland’s local NHS is very high. Currently, around 600 such journeys to and from the Scottish mainland for essential MRI scans are made from Shetland each year, and this figure is likely to keep on rising.
Shetland knitter, Harriet Middleton, also understands the importance of MRI scans from her own personal experience, having had to travel to and from Aberdeen for regular scans after cancer treatment. So Harriet decided to use her skills to raise money for the Shetland MRI scanner appeal.
Harriet began fundraising by knitting and selling her finished items around Shetland. And she’s now designed a hat pattern to extend the effort to raise funds for Shetland’s MRI scanner around the world. The Harriet’s hat pattern costs just £4 to download as a PDF , with all proceeds going directly to the appeal.
If you’d like to knit your hat in Shetland wool, my friends at Jamieson and Smith have put together a yarn pack and yarn is also available from Jamieson’s of Shetland (remember you’ll need to buy your pattern separately!)
A MRI scanner would make a huge difference both to Shetlanders and to the Shetland NHS. I very rarely use this space for charitable purposes, but feel very strongly about this cause, and hope that you’ll support it.
Thankyou!
Kate x
Buy your Harriet’s hat pattern here.
Read more about the difference an MRI scanner would make to Shetland
Find out more about the Shetland MRI scanner appeal
KDD & Co 
I don’t knit at all. Is there any way to purchase an already knitted hat ?
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A really lovely way to raise funds for such an important appeal. Very disappointed though – I bought the pattern in May and still not received it…
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Rachel – you should have received it automatically. I’m sure if you contact MRI makers directly they can resolve this straight away.
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Many thanks, will do. Best wishes Rachel
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The Minnesota Knitters Guild is hosting a Harriet’s Hat Knit Along to coordinate with Worldwide Knit in Public Day June 8th. It would be great to knit with others all over the world for such a good cause. Here’s a link for the Ravelry page for people who are interested. I have my pattern, needles and yarn ready! https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/minnesota-knitters-guild/3923573/51-75#58.
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Thanks Kate. Well worth passing this information along, I think. I have purchased Harriet’s Hat pattern and will pick up the yarn this summer when I visit Shetland.
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Wanted to add a little extra since this is such a great and worthwhile cause!
Alas, PayPal would not let me change the amount, can this be fixed?
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Thanks so much for the gesture Ingrid. There’s a donate page on the site with a specific PayPal donate button, for those in your UK it also gives the opportunity to add gift aid.
Thanks again for your support 😊
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I bought the pattern and made my harriets hat already ;-) Today I take my hat to shetland on holiday :-)
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speedy work! Have a wonderful holiday!
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Beautiful hat but beyond my skill level. Harriet you are so skilled and your colour sense fantastic. Online donation made, myself and my dad have had MRI scans within 30 minutes drive, we are so fortunate.
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What a great idea! I’m definateley supporting this. Being a MRI physicist who likes to knit !
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Wonderful initiative! So glad to have you back, Kate! I did make the donation, which I don’t regret at all, but didn’t receive the pattern as a download. Any ideas who to contact?
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Yes, great fundraising idea. I too, have donated but I cannot find the link to the endowment fund to print off the pattern. So like Sumitomum, who do I contact, please? I have my Paypal receipt number.
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Sold on the idea of course. And actually we ought to wear our hats as much as possible, it will become a club!
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my MRI hat is already on the needles and I hope everyone attending SWW in September will join in to make one….its good to give back to places that are special to your heart and Shetland is one of those places for me (even though I won’t have stepped onto the Island till September)
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What an awesome idea. I have been in those machines. Scary to say the least but so important!
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MRIs are amazing and can save lives. Harriet – thank you. Kate – thank you for putting it up. I may be on the other side of the world in the “Downunder” part but I have lived in some very remote places, including one where flying out was the only option if you needed medical treatment. I know how distressing it can be.
Hope the necessary money is raised very quickly and that Shetlanders get trained staff to go with it.
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I am so happy to donate for such an amazing cause.
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Oh my god, I just watched the video. I did not know it was possible for anyone to knit that fast!!! I am going to watch it again to see if I can pick up some tips on speeding up my knitting :)
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Just got the pattern! It is lovely little hat with beautiful colour choices.
MRI scanners save lives and should be a health care priority. Thank you for sharing this fundraising campaign. And thanks to Harriet for taking action!! I would love to hear how much money has been raised.
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Thank you for sharing. I’ve had two MRIs for back issues, and I could not imagine the trial of having to travel that far for one! It’s a lovely pattern to boot!
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Happy to donate! I am so grateful for this imaging technology and it’s usefulness in diagnosis and saving lives. Since my husband developed a brain tumor due to metastatic cancer he has had two MRIs leading to an effective treatment. This tool should be readily available to everyone who needs it.
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Great shout out Kate. What a worthwhile cause. I hope all your followers purchase this lovely pattern which exemplifies not only Shetland knitting, but the colours of the Scottish coastline. Happy knitting Kate & Co, it’s good to hear from you.
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I will definitely share and support this! I am blessed to live near Johns Hopkins Hospital where my rare disease was diagnosed with an MRI. I have had 4 in 4 years, the latest was just two weeks ago. I cannot even imagine having to travel that far for one. Thank you Kate for sharing this important post💕
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I just bought he pattern and the wool from J and S. Thank you both, Kate and Harriet. It is a worthwhile cause and I am delighted to be able to help. My niece will be warmer this winter…she lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada and has good use for lovely, wool hats.
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I am fortunate to have a nearby MRI scanner. In fact I’ve just had my yearly scan and I’m so grateful that the process is so easy for me. Pattern bought.
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I’ve come to say thank you for highlighting mum’s (Harriet Middleton) hat pattern and the Shetland MRI Scanner appeal along with it. We’re all incredibly grateful and what you’ve posted has had a huge, huge, impact. The knitting community here in Shetland has as always stepped up, but perhaps more touching is how the story and reason behind the hat has garnered so much support all around the globe.
We hear daily from people from all over who have bought the pattern, with their own personal connection to MRI Scanners. Often times they can’t imagine how it would’ve been if they had to travel as far by sea or air in their circumstances.
We can’t thank you enough for your support, it’s incredible, thank you.
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Thank you, Billy. All the very best with the fundraising!
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My daughter, a doctor, and I visited Shetland for a yarn buying holiday last year. We are very happy to buy the pattern, knit the hat and support the MRI Appeal. Who knows, one day she may go to work at the hospital.
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Thanks so much Sandra, we can always use good doctors too!
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My wife (Sandra) bought the pattern, but due to the similarity of some of the shades we are struggling to read the patterns. Do you have the charts A to E with each stitch shown as a number/letter rather than coloured in.
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If you send a copy of the PayPal receipt using the contact page, it might be that you’re one of the ones who got sent the wrong file when we were closing a back door allowing people to get the pattern for free. For some reason it sent an obsolete pattern rather than the updated one. Happy to send the update if it’s that
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Thank you for helping out with the appeal. I have had MRIs for my health and I have had them as part of studies. Apparently I am good at lying very still for long amounts of time. The idea of transporting an already ailing patient across a large body of water for an MRI makes me shudder. I follow the appeal on FB and repost it to get friends and family in Canada and the USA interested too. Harriet has done wonderful things. So many Shetlanders have pulled out all stops to find creative ways to raise money for the machine. It’s awe inspiring.
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What a worthy appeal. I was happy to donate to your cause.
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As an oncology nurse I know how important MRIs are. Thank you for sharing! I have donated!
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Thank you for sharing this opportunity to help with something so important to the Shetland community and we get the pattern for this lovely hat. An MRI has helped to save and diagnose a few people close to me. The time and expense to travel so far is a terrible burden, so I am so pleased I can help in a little way.
I haven’t got a lot of free time, so your blog is the only one I follow consistently. I have learned SO many brilliant knitting skills from you, your patterns are as fun to wear as they are to create. I also love learning more about your area in Scotland, the wool industry, knitwear and it’s history, plus Tom’s stunning photos. Your blog brings me joy. I thank you for taking so much time to share with me and so many others!
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Done. I live in London and have regular head MRIs myself. But I go to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery which is a 35 minute tube journey from home or a 20 minute brisk walk from my office.
You’d think the NHS could send a mobile scanner there a few times a year to at least cater for the regular scans Shetlanders require.
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Off to buy the pattern–what a lovely idea. I think of you often, Kate. My mom had a series of strokes. One was missed because they used a CAT scan, which showed she was clear (despite a searing headache). It wasn’t until the doc realized she was partially blind, and she had an MRI, that she was diagnosed with a third stroke. My parents live in a small town in the states, and they have to go to a larger town about 35 miles away, and that is hard enough. I can’t imagine the journey from Shetland when you are not well.
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What a wonderful idea. I will purchase one
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I donated right away. My husband is getting treatment for lung cancer in Rural Arizona. We have to travel over an hour on a windy mountain road to his Chemo and then back over the mountain to another town further north for his Radiation treatments. This is nothing compared to what folks in Shetland are having to do for good medical care! My thoughts and prayers go out to them. And bless you Harriet for doing this! It is an honor to participate.
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Got it already. Just think, if all the folk that follow Kate decided to make this hat, then Shetland would be well on its way to get the scanner. I know from personal experience how important these scanners are. My husband was diagnosed in time with cancer, and I have had to have 2 scans. But we only travelled 30 minutes, I cannot bear to think what it must be like to make that long journey to thecmainland. Good luck Harriet.
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I just bought the pattern because of your post. Thank you Harriet for donating all proceeds to such a worthy cause.
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I have actually bought this pattern I must order the wool as I believe all profits from the kits sold are going to the appeal
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Huge thanks for highlighting this! I live in northern Canada (a bit further north than Lerwick) so absolutely understand traveling from a remote place for health care. Our community recently fundraised for a MRI too. I’m grateful to be able to support our northern neighbours
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A very worthy cause and one I will be supporting. Although, to be honest, my one time in an MRI scanner (gallstones) was terrifying as I am claustrophobic, and will never willingly do it again. However, I still believe they are extremely vital pieces of equipment and you definitely need one in the Shetlands.
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As an islander I cannot endorse this strongly enough. Not so long ago (25 years or so) our hospital stopped doing mammograms which required that any woman going for routine mammograms or for “a reason” had to go off island. It isn’t nearly as arduous a trip as from Shetland to the mainland but still a huge deterrent. Fortunately we all made such a stink that the hospital management relented and we now have a much improved radiology dept in our new hospital. We even have an MRI scanner and other diagnostic tools. What a blessing. I always felt particularly strongly about this since I diagnosed with very early breast cancer during a routine mammogram at our hospital (before they closed that dept. down for several years).
Thanks for bringing this to our attention and I’d like to donate “off line,” so as to speak. Is there a way to contribute aside from buying a pattern and/or yarn?
Thanks. Ginny Jones, islander in the US
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Ginny, on the Shetland MRI Scanner Appeal website (linked above), they give information about donations by cheque, with a mailing address.
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Excellent! You KNOW I donated, as a nurse I know how important the correct test can be! Thank you for putting it out there and thank you Harriet!
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I shall happily contribute BUT would argue that a local case should be made to buy one from NHS funds – if only because as you say the cost of transporting patients could be offset. Is there someone locally with expertise to read these scans, or more likely an arrangement to share files with a current service eg Aberdeen for reporting there.
Just some thoughts – off now to buy Harriet’s Hat!
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And I’ve folloed links and find that this is part of an NHS Shetland campaign, and all is thought about! Excellent.
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I saw this on Facebook recently and didn’t hesitate to buy it.
The pattern is beautiful and well done.
I know from personal experience how important an MRI can be.
I live only 30 minutes from an MRI facility. I can’t imagine having to get on a plane or ferry when not feeling well. Great cause
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Thank you for reminding those of us who take such things for granted that it isn’t so accessible for all. A worthy cause indeed! I’m not sure I will knit this beautiful hat – although it would be good practice for my colorwork skills (or lack of!) but I will certainly purchase the pattern. And will see if I can round up!
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It was a lovely idea to promote this particular cause. My purchase will give me a fun project and help others in the process. I am very fortunate to have easy access to medical care. As the mother of a medical doctor, I know how important proper diagnostic facilities are to many small communities.
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Wonderful – the gift that just keeps on giving!! Thanks Kate for posting this. I also have had more than one MRI but only have to drive 20 minutes for the scan. It is probably one of the best diagnostic tools we have and I am happy to support the initiative for Shetland. AND my family will be very happy to receive the hats they will be receiving for Christmas!
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I will make a donation! You deserve an MRI scanner closer to you. Things I take for granted where I live. So good to have you back. Whether you know it or not, your sharing of your “journey” in life helps me deal with mine. I hope each day brings you more inner peace. 💜
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Thank you Kate. It is a very worthy cause. I bought the pattern and wool last week. Even though I have photographic inks in my printer, two of the blue squares are very similar in the charts. I would advise people to download the photo from the scanner appeal page. It is much clearer than the print out. 🐏♥️
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What a fabulous woman! Thank you for making us aware of Harriet’s work, and the link to the appeal. I have donated and down loaded. This will be perfect for my own handspun Shetland wool.
It’s so lovely to read you again, Kate. Wishing you well always.
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Just bought the pattern and donated via PayPal. Reading this blog reminded me that not all are as fortunate as we are when it comes to access to medical care and equipment. Living in the Greater Rochester, NY area with amazing medical care less than an hour drive away is truly lifesaving. All should be so fortunate!
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Great cause!
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Lovely idea to sell the pattern and kits. I had an MRI once (fibroids). It’s a shame Shetlanders have to travel so far for this diagnostic tool. I’m in for the pattern and yarn too! Thank you.
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A very worthy cause and a lovely hat. It’s on my ever-increasing to do list.
Wonderful to have you back, Kate. ❤️
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