If you’ve ever had someone in your life going through a rough time, whether a personal loss or an illness, I can bet you’ve sat and wondered what you could do to help bring them some comfort. The solution for those of us handy with the hook and yarn is to make a crochet prayer shawl.
The process for making a crochet prayer shawl is therapeutic for the creator as well. She will often sit and think about the perfect yarn and pattern for the recipient, putting thought into how much comfort it will bring in this time of need.
Once she’s ready to begin working, the creator will then often say a prayer or blessing for the troubled one. These thoughts and emotions are carried throughout the shawl making process with one final prayer for the recipient before it is given to them.
“Shawls … made for centuries universal and embracing,
symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God.
They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace,
mother, hug, shelter and beautify.
Those who have received these shawls have been
uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to
fly above their troubles…”
Written in 1998 by: Janet Severi Bristow
Copyright ©2015 via shawlministry.com
In some communities, whenever someone is in need of a prayer shawl, groups of well-wishers will gather in a circle to say prayers while the shawl is passed from person to person, and each person creates a few stitches on the finished project. This is a wonderful way to pass many blessings on to the recipient and let them know that the village is there for them during their time of need.
If you are in need of a crochet prayer shawl pattern, or just want to have some beautiful shawls to hook up, our friends at AllFreeCrochet have put together a free eBook for you to download. In the Seven Free Crochet Prayer Shawls eBook, you’ll find seven unique, comforting, and extra special shawls to make for someone in need, a charity or for yourself. Each pattern is easy to memorize for a soothing work in progress, and are all wonderful gifts for someone in need.
You may find that the recipient will take great comfort in your crochet prayer shawl and will cherish it. She may find that an important part of her healing process is to keep the shawl, or pass it on to someone else in need at a later date. Your beautiful work will go on to comfort someone else, and hopefully will do so for years to come.
Download the 7 Free Crochet Prayer Shawls eBook now!
Have you ever made a prayer shawl?
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Prayer shawls are such a wonderful craft for both maker and recipient. There’s a 3-part blog post series on Lion Brand that I’ve written about how to make prayer shawls, how to get the most out of prayer shawl crafting and how you can enjoy prayer shawls even if you don’t consider yourself to be someone who prays. I think this is a very versatile and rewarding craft experience!
About 6 years ago, our small church (about 25 weekly), started a Prayer Shawl Ministry. We have about 10 ladies (varies from year-to-year) who crochet, knit and quilt beautiful prayer shawls. We make the shawls individually, and then the shawls are prayed over by the entire church. Sometimes we know who we are crafting for, and sometimes we make them in advance so that we have extras on hand. Our shawls have been shipped all over the USA, and one will soon be shipped overseas. Our church has given over 200 shawls. I don’t know who is more blessed, the giver or the recipient, but people say that they feel God’s arms wrap around them through the shawls!
That sounds like a great way to spend time together and bringing friends and family together in a positive way. In my Cynthia Patton Ministry I will dedicate and support those who are deserving of great things. Which is just about everybody.
I have made prayer shawls without knowing they were prayer shawls! I have crocheted shawls and blankets for friends who were sick or in recuperation from illness. And I have always thought that each stitch is a payer for my sick friends. Or a blessing for the new babies who were being born. So, now I know i was making prayer shawls! And I plan to keep making them!
Thank You!
Yes Ms Lagorio recognizing the Love you have woven into your work is the most rewarding prayer that can be said over time and mean so many different things to so many people who will be changed by it. Because your yarn will outlive you. Think about the imprint of time ahead 4-5 generations from now. The older the item or pattern the more precious it becomes.
Yes Ms Lagorio recognizing the Love you have woven into your work is the most rewarding prayer that can be said over time and mean so many different things to so many people who will be changed by it. Because your yarn will outlive you. Think about the imprint of time ahead 4-5 generations from now. The older the item or pattern the more precious it becomes.
I am from South Africa and would love make a prayer shawls. It is knew to me and am existed to be part of it. I would like to share with my church and prayer friends.
Would it be possible for me take part?
Looking forward to hear from you.
Kind regards
In God’s love
Felicia Neethling
You don’t have to wait for someone to let you know you can join in. Choose a pattern and begin making your prayer shawls. Once you know how, then share it with others in your church so they too can learn and share with others.
Everything you need to know to start a shawl ministry is on a website:www.shawlministry.org.
I have been with our church’s ministry since we began it about ten years ago. It is a beautiful ministry, and comforting for the shawl maker as much as the person in need for whom we make our shawls. I hope you will join us in this work.
I do not pray, ! crochet. Is any pattern o.k.?
i also make about 30 to 40 Blankets for Children,<>, in missoury. Also I knit Beenies and Hats for Kids and homeless People.
i would like to make Shawls for people who have even less then I do, i am 69 years old
Love to help Barbara
Your work is a prayer Barbara. You don’t have to belong to a church or a religion to pray. The beenies, blankets etc that you make for others is just like praying.
GOD Bless you, for the good works you do for others.
I am not seeing where to send a prayer shawl to Rush. Could you tell me here?
Hi Bobbie! You can find all the info here: http://www.stitchandunwind.com/prayer-shawls-for-rush-charity-drive/
Thanks for your interest!
I’ve been making them for a few years now for Smilow Cancer Center – it’s such a gratifying feeling to know that you can give a ‘little uplift’ in the lives of others – whether you know them or not!
I’ve also made baby caps to be taken to new infants in Malawi.
I recommend this to anyone who might be interested – you won’t be sorry!
So disappointed! None of the prayer shawl pattern links worked!
Hi Eunice,
The prayer shawl patterns can all be found in our free eBook, 7 Free Crochet Prayer Shawls. You can find them by clicking here and clicking the “download” link under the cover image. Hope that helps!
I have always crocheted rugs for great aunts, grand mothers & grand fathers and expected babies alike. When my mum-in-law was in a home and a little bit broken I made a rug and my daughters helped, my son and even my husband did a few rows. I left it out on my chair and whoever sat in the chair did a bit. We all agreed it was made with love and it soon became granny’s favorite. <3 Shelly
Prayer Shawls are some of the most beautiful shawls I have ever had the pleasure of making but this website does not offer any that were worth downloading. They don’t even let you see the finished product that say they are offering. Not worth the look if you ask me but that is just my opinion on the prayer shawls advertised by them.
I make afghans and shawls for people in our in-patient Hospice facility. You might want to check your local Hospice agencies and see if they provide volunteers an opportunity to crochet (or knit) shawls or lap blankets for patients, either at home or in a facility. I’ve been a volunteer for many years, and I’ve seen what a comfort such a hand-made craft can be for patients and their families alike.
We have a prayer shawl group here in our church in Greenock(Scotland) and we have been knitting and crocheting for the last 8 or 9 years. We also give the shawls to people in nursing homes and in the community. We also have been doing layettes for our local social work department
when I was in prison I started a Crochet Love group that crocheted lap’ghans, hats, gloves, and slippers for veterans and children in federally funded housing. Now that I’m home this is another ministry I believe I would like to begin. Thanks for sharing your patterns. God bless you all.