For the past few months the Ladies’ Sewing Group and other Holy Trinity volunteers have been knitting prayer shawls in order to reach out to those in need of comfort and solace. We would like to offer the shawls to mothers of baptized babies, to shut-ins, to the ill or hospitalized or recovering, or to anyone else for whom reminders of God’s love and the prayers of the knitters are appropriate.
You may use your own pattern, but the finished size should be approximately 25″ x 70″
The following patterns have been developed by Victoria Galo and Janet Bristow (2006 All rights Reserved).
KNITTING INSTRUCTIONS:
Materials: Lion Brand “Homespun”, 3 skeins
Size 11 or 13 knitting needles
Cast on stitches in multiples of three — 54, 57, or 60 (if you are doing the Trinity Stitch) Otherwise, cast on between 54 or 60 depending on how wide you wish your shawl to be.
Trinity Stitch:
First row: k3, p3, to end
Second row: Always begin the next row with the opposite stitch from what you see. For instance, if the first stitch on the needle is a knit, then start with a purl. IT SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE RIBBING. Knit the purls and purl the knits.
Third Row: continue the k3, p3 pattern always knitting the purls and purling the knits from the previous row.
NOTE: If you cast on 57 stitches you will start each row with a k3.
Once desired length is reached, bind off loosely in knit. Add fringe if desired.
Garter stitch:
Knit every row. Finish off as above.
CROCHET INSTRUCTIONS
Materials: Lion Brand “Homespun”, approximately 4 skeins (Crocheting typically uses more yarn than knitting, so you might have to adjust the width and size of hook, or use another 1/2 skein)
Crochet hook size: M, N, or P
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 turn. Do 1 row of single crochet to end. Chain 3 and turn.
Do 3 rows of double crochet, chaining 3 at the end of each row.
Repeat pattern to end (1 row single, 3 rows double) End with 1 row of single.
Finish off with fringe if desired.
Visit the prayer shawl website for more ideas about variations of stitches, prayers while knitting or crocheting, and other interesting and helpful information www.shawlministry.com When your shawls are completed, please bring them to the narthex. They will be distributed by The Christophers.
For more information, contact Ann Frey of Social Ministry.