Prayer Shawl Instructions Materials: Knitting: Knitting Needle size 11 or 13 Crochet: Size ‘M’, ‘N’ or ‘P’ crochet hook The recommended yarn is Lion Brand Homespun. Amount of yarn needed: Knitted: 3 skeins (crocheting may need more) Start with a prayer. Once you are ready to begin, say a prayer for the individual for whom you are making the shawl. If you do not have an individual in mind, please pray for healing, good health, comfort and peace for the one who will receive the shawl. Please take time as you knit to repeat your prayer. Prayer is good for you as well as for the one who will wear the shawl. Knitting instructions. Cast on 57 stitches. The pattern for the shawl is called a 3-stitch seed pattern. You will knit 3 stitches and then purl 3 stitches. If you use 57 stitches, when you start the next row, you will always start by knitting 3 stitches. If you use a multiple of 3, it represents the Trinity. Instead of counting 1-2-3, try using “Father, Son, Holy Spirit” or “God-Bless-(name)”. As you create your shawl, you are knitting a purl stitch and purling a knit stitch. This pattern will give you a “popcorn” type effect. As you finish the first skein, just tie a solid knot with the yarn of the second skein, the ends of the knot can be woven into the shawl stitching later to hide this yarn joining. The normal length of the shawl measures from one wrist, up the arm, over the back, and down to the other wrist – without the fringe. Fringe. Before you start to knit with the third skein of yarn, cut the fringe pieces that you will add on when the shawl is done. Generally speaking, there is one piece of fringe for each stitch that you cast on – for each end of the shawl. So, if you cast on 57 stitches, you will need at least 114 pieces of fringe (but why not cut 10 extra just to be safe). The quickest way to make fringe is to get a sturdy piece of cardboard and cut it to the width of the fringe that you want. I prefer a shorter fringe as this yarn tends to ravel even when it has been knotted. I cut my cardboard 4 ½ inches wide. You can then wind the yarn around the cardboard and cut along one end, and you have your pieces of fringe. Use sharp scissors so as not to fray or snag the yarn. Once you have cut the desired fringe, tie on the third skein and continue your pattern allowing a few feet of yarn to cast off. Cast off by knitting two stitches and casting the first stitch on the needle over the second stitch. Knit the next stitch and cast the second stitch over it, etc. Be careful to cast off loosely, so that the end of the shawl does not pull tightly together. Add the fringe. Using a crochet hook, take a piece of fringe, fold it in half, put the crochet hook through a stitch at the bottom of the shawl and pull through the “loop” at the mid point of the folded piece of fringe. Pull halfway then catch the two cut ends of the fringe and pull them through the loop end and tighten. Make sure that the two cut ends are even when pulling them through the loop end. This will keep your fringe fairly even. Knot the ends of the fringe to keep it from fraying. The Original Prayer Shawl - Knitting Pattern © 2010 All rights reserved. Cast on stitches in multiples of three - 54, 57, or 60. For example, if you use size 11 needles and cast on 54 stitches, 3 skeins of 'slightly bulky' yarn is enough. Some yarns vary in elasticity which will affect your outcome, as will your knitting tension. If the yarn you have chosen has a multicolored stripe, be careful when tying on a new skein. Make sure the color sequence is correct. Also, tie on the new skein in the body of the shawl, instead of an edge, as the ends tend to show. * First Row: k3, p3, to end * Second Row: Always start the next row with the opposite stitch of what you see. For instance, if the first stitch on the needle is a knit, then start with a purl. KNIT THE PURLS AND PURL THE KNITS!!! It should NOT look like ribbing. Note: If you cast on 57 stitches you will always start with K3 The Original Prayer Shawl Crochet Pattern © 2010 All rights reserved. Chain 54 stitches or desired width of shawl. (See note below) 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 do 1 row of single crochet to end. Chain 3 and turn. Do 3 rows of double crochet. Repeat pattern to end (1 row single, 3 rows double) End with 1 row of single. Finish with fringe. *Note: that 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. It has been suggested that skeins of the same dye lot be purchased. Note: We have found the 54 stitches makes a very wide shawl, almost a blanket and that 45 stitches works better. To Complete the shawl: Knit (crochet) until the piece measures from wrist to wrist, or approximately 57-58" long. (Knitting: bind off with a knit row). Use what you have left to cut fringe. Suggestion for fringe: you can also do this before using the last skein. Divide the pile in half and slip knot them to the ends, evenly spaced. If the yarn is manufactured loosely wound, you might have to knot the ends of the fringe to keep it from unraveling. The making of a prayer shawl is a spiritual practice which embodies our thoughts and prayers for the receiver. It is a gift freely given with no strings attached. Made in prayer, as prayer, for prayer, the shawls are passed on hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart.