Green Prayer Shawl

 

I began this between Christmas and New Year, as a prayer shawl for a friend whose Christmas communication said she was due to have a major operation early in January. I like making prayer shawls, a way of thinking about health, healing and friendship and wrapping someone symbolically in care.  I was not far into this one, , using a 200gm ball of 8ply I had in my stash, when I had doubts about its appropriateness. I doubted my friend would like the colour, or would ever use a shawl, especially at this time of year where she lives. I continued knitting it. I’ve done this before with a prayer shawl, and just as I finished it, the right person turned up, loved it and used it on her healing journey. Trust the process.

It took about 4 weeks to knit, in between other projects. It has an 8 line pattern and after about 10 pattern repeats I could manage without the pattern - an ideal situation for a prayer shawl, freeing my mind to think about friendship and healing. 

I began using my favourite bamboo circular needles, knitting back and forth. Part of the way through I acquired some ebony needles as part of a Christmas gift. They are fabulous, so lovely to hold. I've ordered 2 sets and never want to use anything else!

I kept going until I reached the recommended length of 152cm and the end of a pattern. 

Unfortunately, the wool ran out 7 stitches before the end! (I marked the wool end with a circle). Fortunately I had another ball and could join the extra 15cm needed to finish!

It looked like this around my neck before blocking, about 24cmx152cm.   

The next day I blocked it, using blocking tiles and pin blocks, supplemented by blocking pins, laid out diagonally across my dining table. It blocked to 44cmx200cm.

Now, over the same dress, it looks like this.

It looks great, drapes nicely and can be worn various ways. Yes, there were a couple of ends to be woven in after I took the photo to the left. It's an easy pattern, once you get the hang of it and could be worked in a range of yarns and thicknesses.  

Sooner or later someone will claim it.  In the meantime, I have embroidery projects, and two Rowan knitting kits, awaiting my attention!

Andrea Mowry's Nightshift as Prayer Shawl

Nearly twenty years ago I came across the Prayer Shawl Ministry which describes itself as a program of applied Feminist Spirituality.  I like the concept - and have used it numerous times since. While I have most of the knitted Prayer Shawl books, any pattern can be used.  

For the past few weeks I've been working on a third Nightshift shawl using Noro Ito wool. I made two for my daughters last year and had the wool for a third for myself, but other things had higher priorities. When a friend in Sydney became very ill this year, I decided to make her a prayer shawl - and Nightshift was perfect. Using the Noro yarn simplifies the pattern - and adds to the effect.

It's also a joy to knit. The meditation of knitting for healing works both ways.

It's a simple pattern in the mosaic style, using two balls of yarn - two rows from one, two rows from the other.

I prefer knitting shawls from the long side, decreasing with progress.

This one works the other way - so rows take longer as you progress and it takes longer to see that progress. I just kept going until I judged I had only enough yarn left for the cast-off.

I blocked it on the carpet, using blocking wires to keep the edges straight.

It blocked really well and came out large, soft and flexible.

It has reached its destination and is bringing pleasure and warmth to Robin as she recovers in the last of our cool weather.

It brought me pleasure and warmth too.

Cat’s paw prayer shawl

A month or so ago I set about knitting a shawl for a friend who is recovering from serious illness. I like the concept of prayer shawls and have knitted a number. I have several books of patterns, but for this one I sought a pattern elsewhere.

My friend loves cats. I looked therefore, for a pattern that involved cats in some way. After quite a bit of searching I found a cat's paw pattern through Ravelry. It was in a book of patterns for use with North Ronaldsay yarn. North Ronaldsay is the most northerly of the Orkney Islands. This book, by Elizabeth Lovick,  took me on another journey of discovery. I didn't have North Ronaldsay yarn but  I had some three-ply yarn I thought would work.

I ordered an e-copy of the book as I wanted to knit the shawl  immediately. The patterns were so beautiful I ordered  Elizabeth Lovick's other books!

This shawl knits from the point, from few to many stitches. The edging is added at the end. I like adding the edging - it is somehow satisfying to work it in stages.

It knitted up quite quickly and looked, as usual, pretty raggy.









It did, nevertheless, pass the wedding ring test!









I then blocked it on a towel on the carpet.


I love the way the pattern and gossamer effect emerges from the raggyness.












It is lovely and soft,  my friend liked it and I really enjoyed making it. In fact, it has got me going - I'm now on a bit of a shawl knitting binge!