Prayer Shawl Ministry

     In the late 1990's, two women felt called to begin a ministry of knitting prayer shawls for new mothers and women with breast cancer. The word of their new ministry soon spread and others picked up the movement

     Here at OLS, our shawl ministry has provided prayer shawls to men and women alike who are undergoing treatment for serious illness, have lost a loved one, or are suffering a time of great strife. Having been made in the presence of prayer, the shawl is imbued with the goodwill and prayers of its maker, is blessed by our community and stands as a symbol of our communal support for the one to whom it is given. It's a spiritual "hug", if you will!

     This past spring, I was privileged to meet Rev. Susan Izard, a UCC Minister and co-author of the book Knitting Into the Mystery. She and Sr. Cathleen O'Meara Murtha DM presented a workshop at a conference I attended. It was an amazing opportunity to see and learn more about prayer shawls. I had already read Knitting Into the Mystery and had questions about yarn type, patterns, etc and was fortunate to get answers from two women well-versed in this wonderful ministry.

     How do you make a prayer shawl? Shawls can be made while alone or as part of a group. When working alone, work in a prayerful manner, asking that peace, comfort, healing, etc be given to the recipient of the shawl you are working. In a group format, sit in a circle, and begin the one-hour session with prayer. There can be time for conversation, but most of the hour is spent in contemplative prayer, while knitting or crocheting. At the end of the session, each person prays aloud for whomever will receive their shawl. When a shawl is completed, it is passed around the circle, with each member adding her prayers to those of the others. This blessed shawl is then provided to the church, to be given away.

What makes a good shawl? In my experience and with the help of Susan and Sr. Cathy, there are several things that make a successful prayer shawl:

— Prayer! Without the maker's prayers, the completed piece is only a shawl. The prayers are what make the shawl a blessing.

— Yarn The yarn for prayer shawls should be soft, cuddly yarns; Lion Brand Homespun, Red Heart Lite n Lofty, bulky fibers, boucle` or brushed yarns all work well. Since I have learned more about this ministry, I avoid worsted weight yarn. It may be inexpensive, but it makes for a stiff, rough shawl, while yarns such as Homespun or Lite 'n Lofty make a soft, comfortable shawl, one you want to just wrap yourself in. Cost can vary depending on yarns and sales, but on average I spend around $20 to make a shawl. The cost for the yarn is mine and I consider it part of my ministry to make a shawl that I would want to wear!

— Pattern - While there is no one way to make a shawl, I tend to make mine rectangular, about 26" wide and 68"-72" long. I use a simple stitch (half-double crochet). You can do any type of stitch, but this works well, does not require counting and does not use too much yarn. (about 600-700 yards of yarn is needed for one shawl) Sometimes I add fringe, but not always.

— Needle Size I prefer a looser stitch, again to provide a softer completed piece. Generally, with Lion Homespun, or another bulky yarn, I will use at least a 10.5 mm hook (or a size 11 or 13 knitting needle). Currently, I'm working on a lightweight, brushed yarn, but am using a 15 mm hook; the end result is a light, lacy shawl, perfect for warmer weather, or for a woman thrown in to early menopause by chemo treatments. I will finish this shawl with fringe.

— Color I try to use muted, pretty colors. I also vary the colors of my shawls so that some are soft, comforting and pretty for women, and others are soft, neutral tones, that a man would be comfortable with. I stay away from harsh, bright solids. The Homespun again is a great choice, because all these colors are blends. While the skein has a dominant color, there are other colors shot through the entire run thus softening the overall effect, and providing a completed piece with a comforting color.

— Variety - Never be afraid to "mix it up" I have worked pieces using a homespun and a ribbon yarn at the same time. I've used a bigger needle, worked more stitches across. There isn't one right way to work a shawl, but I try to remember that whomever will be wearing the shawl will want it to be soft and comfortable..

I highly recommend Knitting Into the Mystery as a resource for ideas, prayers, and process information. If you are interested in this ministry, or would like more information, please feel free to contact me at the number listed in our parish directory. ~ Ann Garavaglia