Handout

Knitting And Crocheting Ministry

Needed: shawls, afghans, baby blankets, lap blankets, scarves and hats, socks, stuffed animals, and . . . ???

To comfort and support anyone in illness, grief, stress, or need;

To celebrate engagements, marriages, births, birthdays, anniversaries, baptismal days, graduations, recovery from illness;

To aid in prayer or meditation;

And, above all, to express our love for our brothers and sisters and our willingness to pray actively for them through the work of our hands.

Those who join in this ministry begin each project with prayers and blessings for the recipient and continue to pray as they work. When the project is finished, it is blessed at the altar and given as a gift.

You created every part of me, knitting me in my mother's womb.
For such handiwork, I praise you. Awesome is this great wonder.

 (Psalm 139: 13-14)

Prayers

 Gathering Prayer

(Taken from a prayer of self-dedication by Janet Bristow)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Mantle of Love, Healer of Hearts,

We light this candle as a reminder of Your presence as we begin.
We remember all who have come before us,
whose hands have been instruments of creation and beauty;
who have used humble tools and homespun wool

to provide cover and warmth

for themselves and those they loved;
who have felt, as we feel, the yarn in their fingers;
who have seen, as we see, the growth of the fabric;
who have heard, as we hear, the click of the needles.

O Lord, guide our attention to stay on course.
Hold us close and ground us.
Bless, also, this yarn and these needles.

Bless our hands . . . , These instruments of love . . .

They reach out, touch, stroke, scrub, lift, grasp, gesture and guide.
These hands, our hands, gifts of great importance,
Blessings be on them and in them as we begin.

In the name of the One who knit us in our mother’s womb,

we pray that our work may bring healing and wholeness,

 comfort and joy.

Amen.

A Blessing of Stoles

(A blessing by Fr. Ingeman)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

All that God has created and sustains, all the events He guides, and all human works that are good and have good purpose, prompt those who believe to praise and bless the Lord with hearts, hands, and voices.

He is the origin of every blessing. We proclaim our belief that all things work together for the good of those who fear and love God. We are sure that in all things we must seek the help of God, so that in complete reliance on His will we may in Christ do everything to His glory.

Lord, let your blessing be upon this [stole] and upon the one who will wear it. Give [her] new life and strength and spirit so that the power of your love will enable [her] to accomplish what is right and good.

May God, who is blessed above all, bless you in all things through Christ so that all things will work together for good.

And may almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Amen. 

A Gift Card

Here is a card that I used with the gift of a stole. We may want to find or write a prayer to attach to each item. I have “Made with love” labels, and we may want to create our own).

Dear _____,

May this shawl keep you

in comfort and in peace ,

May it sustain and embrace you,

And may it remind you that

we are all wrapped in God’s love.

On-line Resources

Shawl Ministry Home Page: http://www.shawlministry.com/

This page describes the history of the Shawl Ministry begun in 1998 by Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women's Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Connecticut. It also contains links to prayers, patterns, and other resources.

 Lion Brand Free Patterns:  http://www.lionbrand.com

A treasure trove of patterns and advice on both knitting and crocheting.

 The Craft Yarn Council: http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/

A really useful site. At the top of the home page, click on Free Projects or on Learn How.

 SearchBug: http://www.searchbug.com/directory.aspx/Arts/Crafts/

This is a huge list of links to on-line patterns and information about all crafts.

 Other on-line resources?? Please let me know and I’ll add them to the list.

The Original Prayer Shawl Pattern

(Also called Comfort Shawl or Peace Shawl)

Knitting: Knitting Needle size 11 or 13; Crochet: Size 'M', 'N' or 'P' crochet hook

Suggested Yarns: Lion Brand Homespun; Caron's Fascination; Bernat Bouclé ; Lion Brand Jiffy (5-6 skeins); Red Heart Light-n-Lofty and Baby Clouds (sz. 15 needles)

Amount of yarn needed for knitting (crochet will require at least ½ a skein more):

3 Skeins (6-oz., 185 yards) for 54 or 57 stitches
4 skeins (6-0z. 185 yards) for 60 stitches   

Knitting Directions

Cast on stitches in multiples of three - 54, 57, or 60.  For example, if you use size 11 needles and cast on 54 stitches, 3 skeins of yarn is enough.  Some yarns vary in pliability which will affect your outcome, as will your knitting tension.  If the yarn you have chosen has a multicolored stripe, be careful when tying on a new skein.  Make sure the color sequence is correct.  Also, tie on the new skein in the body of the shawl, instead of an edge, as the ends tend to show.

*   First Row: k3, p3, to end
*   Second Row: Same as the first row, BUT always start the next row with the opposite stitch of what you see. For instance, if the first stitch on the needle is a knit, then start with a purl.) KNIT THE PURLS AND PURL THE KNITS!!! It should NOT look like ribbing.

Note: If you cast on 57 stitches you will always start with K3

Crochet Directions

(Developed by Rita Glod)

Chain 54 stitches or desired width of shawl.
Chain 1, turn, single crochet in each of the stitches to end. Chain 3 and turn.
Double crochet in top of each single crochet. Repeat this row 2 more times.
Chain 1 and do 1 row of single crochet to end. Chain 3 and turn.
Do 3 rows of double crochet.  Repeat pattern to end (1 row single, 3 rows double)
End with 1 row of single. Finish with fringe.
 

To Complete the Shawl

Knit (crochet) until the piece measures from wrist to wrist, or approximately 57-58" long.  (Knitting: bind off with a knit row).  Use what you have left to cut fringe.  Suggestion for fringe: you can also do this before tying on the third skein, then continue knitting to the end.  Divide the pile in half and slip knot them to the ends, evenly spaced.  If the yarn is manufactured loosely wound, you might have to knot the ends of the fringe to keep it from unraveling.

"Prayer Shawl - Knitting Pattern" © 2004 All rights reserved.. 1998 - Written & Developed By Victoria Galo and Janet Bristow