by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: July 02, 2008   Last Updated: July 25, 2011

Making a prayer shawl isn't just about crocheting, it is about praying as well. At many church this is a ministry. There are several websites that offer free patterns to produce these shawls. Many shawl ministries use Lion Homespun yarn; it produces a soft and luxurious shawl which anyone will love to be able to wrap up in. Depending on how tightly you crochet a K-P crochet hook will work best.

Shawl Ministry Directions

You will begin to chain stitches, depending on the yarn, your hook and how tightly you chain. It can be anywhere from 50 to 60. Chain one and turn, single crochet in each of the chains. Chain three, turn and double crochet into each single crochet. Repeat double crochet twice then one row of single crochet. Repeat this until your shawl is about 55 inches long. Chain one turn and do one row of single crochet and end.

At this point you may decide to add a fringe, we always do. I use a rug hooking hock to do the fringe. Decide how long you want your fringe to be. Five inches is what I prefer. You will need to cut the yarn ten inches long. I take a piece of cardboard and cut it to a five inch size. I then wrap the yarn around it and then cut one side with scissors, you now have identical pieces. I take three pieces grab them with the rug hook and push through the top of the single crochet. Use the hook to grab the loose and pull it through the folded end of the fringe.

Lion Brand has several different patterns. What you will get from them are lots of choices at different skill levels the downside is that you need to register if you want to get one of their patterns free. You also will not get any of the prayer aspects of the shawl which defeats the purpose. I am going to suggest that if you want to use one of their patterns you also go to the shawl ministry site so that you will understand the prayer aspects of shawl ministry.

There are many ways to produce these shawls and many different ways to use them. We have been giving them to the people that are actually sick. Our thinking was that since we are praying for them on our prayer line we would give them the shawl. At my girlfriends church they give the shawl to the family members of the terminally ill. They want to comfort them as they sit by the bedside of their loved ones. My friend told me that the ministry began in hospice units and that this was the original purpose.

These two sites offer both patterns and prayers for making your prayer shawl.

Pine Island Presbyterian Church

The Waiting Room Ministry

Shawl Ministry Prayers

It doesn't matter which of the patterns you choose or which prayer, it is only important that you combine the two with love. This is one ministry that will never run out of people who need the comfort of a shawl.

As your ministry grows, you may  receive requests for prayer shawls for sick children, women and men. Be sure to keep that in mind when choosing colors.

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