Calling all Knitters and Crocheters!!

Our prayer shawls supply has drastically dwindled, so pick up your needles and hooks and get ‘em moving!

Our purpose is to lend prayer support to others in a very tangible way. Loving hearts and hands make up the Prayer Shawl Ministry. The knitter or crocheter prays for the recipient as her needles create a soft shawl that brings physical warmth and spiritual comfort. The prayer shawl is given to someone who is in crisis or who suffers in body, mind or spirit. It’s an embrace of prayer that serves as a tangible reminder of God’s constant love and presence that can bring healing to the heart.

Thanks to the efforts of those creating the shawls, residents of tent city, women’s shelters, new moms and those in our congregation facing crisis or suffering in the mind, body or spirit have been brought physical warmth and spiritual comfort by the embrace of a prayer filled shawl.

Feel free to use your own pattern or follow suggestions:

Yarn:

2 ­ 6oz. Skeins (available FREE from HSLC)

Knit Pattern:

Use size 11 or 13 needles.

1. Cast on 57 stitches, fairly loosely.
2. Knit 3, purl 3 to the end of the row.
3. Turn and knit the purl stitches & purl the knit stitches (with 57 stitches, you will always start and end a row with K 3).
4. Continue pattern of knit 3, purl 3. Bind off loosely with a knit row.

NOTE: You can also knit every row (garter stitch).

Fringe: Cut 114 lengths of yarn 12” long. The yarn lengths are doubled over for 6” fringe. Use 57 lengths on each end of the shawl.

Crochet Pattern:

Use a crochet hook size M or N. Loosely chain 54 stitches.

1. First row: Ch 1, turn, single crochet in each of the stitches to the end.
2. Repeated row: Ch 3 and turn.
3. Double crochet in top of each single crochet.
4. Repeat this double crochet row 2 more times. Repeat pattern to end. (1 row SC, 3 rows DC) End with 1 row SC.

Add fringe as described in knit pattern above.

Need Yarn?

We have a lot that has been donated at this time, so please come by the Blood Pressure Clinic between 9-11 on March 28 to pick some up to make shawls. All knitters and crocheters are welcome to join this ministry. Please drop off the finished shawl at the church office. A prayer card will be attached before they are given out. You may write your own prayer card, if you wish. Donations to purchase yarn are welcomed. Additional patterns are available.

Don’t know how to knit?

Not to worry! Sign up by the Blood Pressure Clinic if you are interested in a knitting class taught by Minna Brask. Minna is happy to offer instructions on knitting prayer shawls or baby hats. Please feel free to suggest names of those who might need a prayer shawl.

Prayer Shawl Prayer

Loving God,
We give thanks for the gift of our hands.
Give us the grace to see our hands as you see them,
as instruments of grace.
Use our hands, O God,
to carry out your works of mercy and love.
May the shawls our hands create
bring blessings to those they wrap in love
and healing to those upon whom they rest.
Amen

For more information regarding the Prayer Shawl Ministry, contact the HSLC Parish Nurses.