3 skeins of Lion Brand Homespun (6 ounces each, 185 yards/169m)
Lion Brand Jiffy – 6 skeins, 2.5 ounces each
Lion Brand Jiffy - 5 skeins, 3 ounces each (135 yards/123m)
JoAnn’s Sensations rainbow Classic, Puzzle, or Shimmer**– 2 skeins, 11-16 ounces each (3 skeins will make two prayer shawls)
Bernat Baby** Boucle – 5 skeins, 3.5 ounce each
Bernat Soft Boucle – 3 skeins, 5 ounce each
Rainbow Bucle – 11 ozs, 853 yds, 780 meters
Red Heart Baby Cloud – 4 skeins, 6 ounces each
Red Heart 4 ply – 2 skeins, 7 ounces each or you can also work it with Bernat Baby Coordinates -2 skeins, 5.6 ounces (This yarn has a sparkle to it)
Red Heart Light and Lofty – 5 skeins, 6 ounces
Country Loom – 6 skeins, 5 ounces - 104 yards - 95 m
Red Heart TLC Essentials, Caron – 3 skeins, 4.5 ounces - 360 yards - 329 m (if worked single thread; 6 skeins for a double thread)
Sensations Tropics Blue/Green (2 skeins for a child’s shawl)
Prayer shawls and lap robes have been made for centuries. They are universal and embracing; they comfort and enfold; wrap and warm; mother and hug; shelter and embrace. Those who knit and receive shawls and robes are blessed.
The power of the prayer shawl is in its physical properties and source of warmth. It feels like a hug and serves as a reminder that people are praying for you and whatever your concern is. There always seems to be someone in need of a shawl, and in the course of making each one you come to feel closer to the person who will receive it. The gift of a prayer shawl enables the recipient to be surrounded by prayer, and is a tangible reminder of God’s care and love, encouragement, and inspiration.
In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo began the idea of the prayer shawl ministry as a result of their experience in a program on Spirituality. They decided to combine compassion and their love of knitting and crocheting into a powerful ecumenical ministry and spiritual practice that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace, as well as in celebration and joy.
People knit/crochet shawls and lap robes for many reasons. Most prayer shawl ministries knit/crochet shawls and robes to console those who are grieving, comfort those who are ill, and bring hope to those in despair. They may also be made to celebrate life and its milestones. The reasons to create a shawl or lap robe are as numerous as the people who make them.
The shawl maker begins the shawl with prayers and blessings for the recipient. Upon completion, a final blessing is offered before the shawl is sent on the way. Some recipients have continued the kindness by making a shawl or donating yarn to the ministry for a shawl for someone else in need. Thus, the blessing ripples from person-to-person, with both the giver and receiver feeling an unconditional embrace of a sheltering and comforting God!
Holy Trinity's Prayer Shawl Ministry began in 2005; since then, we have given away over 930 prayer shawls. We usually meet the second Saturday of the month; there are a few exceptions because of holiday weekends. We start each meeting with a prayer and then visit and work on our prayer shawls with treats to share. Fr. Bill and Brett stop by to bless the prayer shawls, too. Please feel free to drop by and see what we are doing or ask questions!
To learn more about this ministry, check out Knitting Into the Mystery by Susan Jorgensen & Susan Izard, or The Prayer Shawl Ministry by Lion Brand Yarn.
This gift was created especially for you with love and prayers.
May God who formed your being,
Who knit you together in your mother’s womb,
Who gave you the breath of life,
Renew you this day and give you hope to sustain you.
May this gift be a sign of Christ’s Healing Presence.
May it warm you when you are weary.
May it surround you with joy, grace you with peace, and wrap you in love.
Let us pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.