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Shawl Ministry

Prayer Shawl/Comfort Shawl

http://www.shawlministry.com/

To purchase a custom prayer shawl, click here.

As Unitarian Universalists, many of us are afraid of the word "prayer" and "prayer shawl," because it conjurs up negative images for us. However, there is nothing negative about starting a prayer shawl or comfort shawl ministry. In fact, you can call it the knitting ministry, the needlework ministry or as one group refers to itself: Purls of Wisdom! The name is not near as important as the ministry. You are making items to comfort those who are facing grave illness, often fatal and/or to their families. For example, my daughter was going to have heart surgery. It wasn't her first, but it all seemed harder, because we had to travel about 1,000 miles to the doctor. Luckily, we had friends in the area and a whole congregation of UUs that we knew. When they found out, they gave my daughter, Erin, a beautiful prayer shawl, which she took with her to the hospital and into surgery along with her stuffed bear. The surgery was 9 hours. And I might have been beside myself, but I was comforted by the prayer shawl that I was wearing.

Easy Shawl Pattern

The easiest shawl pattern is like a long and wide scarf with fringe. Cast on 60 stitches, knit until the shawl is 60 inches long. This takes approximately 4 skeins of thread with fringe. Fringe can be about 10 inches long. Use size 19 needles. This will make the shawl come together quickly. Other patterns can be found at http://www.shawlministry.com.

Praying and Meditating While Creating

To make your Comfort Shawl or Prayer Shawl both a spiritual experience for you the knitter and for the wearer, meditate on the person (even if you don't know who you are creating your shawl for) and think healing thoughts. Some chanting could be done, if you enjoy chanting. In a group, start with a Chalice Lighting (see Knitting into the Mystery [http://www.amazon.com/Knitting-into-Mystery-Shawl-Knitting-Ministry/dp/0819219673] for inspirational words and the book also offers ideas for cards and words on cards). Put on some good meditative music and make sure everyone has tea, coffee, etc. and just knit. The laughter that usually comes is not the absence of meditation! Talk among the knitters and crocheters and other needlework is natural and should be encouraged for community building.

But I don't know how to knit or crochet...

Don't worry, there is probably a knitter or a crochet person in your congregation. There is also a lot of good information on the Web and in every bookstore. With good drawings, you can learn to knit on your own. I'm not as familiar with crochet, but I'm sure it is just as easy.

Here are some Web Pages that I have found helpful:

http://www.knitty.com/

http://learntoknit.lionbrand.com/

http://learntocrochet.lionbrand.com/

http://www.knitting-and.com/

http://knitting.about.com/library/blshawlpatindex.htm

http://www.knittingforcharity.org/knit_shawl_patterns_for_prayer.html

http://www.lionbrand.com/

http://www.halcyonyarn.com/

http://www.plymouthyarn.com/

http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/

http://www.straw.com/cpy/index.html

http://www.schaeferyarn.com/

http://nutmeg.gen.nz/fakesheep/yarns.html

Updated 10/2009 Ó UUStoryteller.com
Webweaver: Connie Dunn

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