Monday 21 March 2016

The Prayer Shawl

Have you ever heard of a Prayer Shawl? Well I can't say I had, apart from the Prayer Shawl or Tallit worn in Israel, until one of the young girls on the Down to Earth Simple Living Forums showed us a photo of a Prayer Blanket she was making during Lent. Each morning she would start off her day by crocheting one square and saying a prayer while she was making it and when it is finished it will be given to the Knit One Give One charity. What a lovely thing to do!

I asked her if she would mind me sharing her progress photos and she was happy to email them to me. You can also visit her at taralee.peace if you are on Instagram. I still haven't really mastered the whole Instagram thing as I have been busy trying to work out how to use my new smartphone as my old one kept turning itself off and on again which was very embarrassing in the middle of church or elsewhere as some very loud male voice used to shout out something as it was turning on. I never could work out what he was saying ;-) Technology!!



I was quite intrigued by this concept so had a look online for some information on prayer shawls and I couldn't believe how much there was. Of course Pinterest has lots of prayer shawl patterns.


On The Blessing Centre I found this prayer which could be included in a gift card with the shawl, blanket or whatever item a person is making.

The Prayer Shawl
-Nancy Peterson (adapted 2003)
This shawl was knit with love and care,
Each stitch  made with a special prayer;
To warm you when you feel a chill,
And hold you when you’re very ill.
To give you strength and hope and cheer,
To let you know that God is near.
As you wrap it ‘round you tight,
Know that God blesses you this night.




As well Lion Brand Yarns have a lot of patterns and information about the subject. There are knitted ones and crochet ones. In fact they have a couple of pages of patterns. Then there are cards which can be included with the gift as well as Pocket Prayer Shawls for those who wouldn't wear a shawl but would love to carry something in their purse to remind them of the person who spent the time and effort to make it for them which provides comfort particularly at a stressful time. 




There are even Prayer Shawl Quilts and Pocket Prayer Quilts. It seems the list is endless and also included on the Lion Yarn site is a page for those who have no faith called I don't pray - how can I made a prayer shawl?

 I can't believe I haven't come across these online before considering I do spend a lot very small amount of time on Pinterest. I think the concept is just great and while there is no great value in the item itself apart from the cost of the materials, the comfort really comes from the knowledge that somebody loves you enough to pray for you and wish you strength as you go through some troubled times. I am sure there is not a person on this earth who would reject such a lovely gift.

What do you think? Have you heard of The Prayer Shawl before?






19 comments:

  1. Isn't this a lovely idea Chel? And the verse that goes with it is so special too.

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    1. Yes it is, Diann. I am surprised I hadn't heard of them before.

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  2. well i guess we don't get into shawls much here in australia, i'd never seen them til i started watching tv shows where you'd see the odd shawl but these shows are american of cos, i have collected many patterns for shawls, including prayer shawls, though i wasn't aware we had to actually say a prayer while making them.
    interesting on the "i don't pray..." article about using other thoughts for it, i always have thoughts of love when i knit anyway, it's a good positive thinking skill (crochet & any other yarn skills too)
    pinterest is a great spot for ideas & inspiration, you can also get patterns from there too.
    beautiful shawl in progress there too, will have to pop over to the forum & have a look :))
    thanx for sharing

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    1. Selina, I don't always have thoughts of love when I am knitting especially when I am knitting socks but then again, they are never going to be given away :-)

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  3. This is really good Nanna Chel. DW is jewish so I know all about prayer shawls etc. This concept is a beauty too...a forty square prayer rug for lent - a square per day maybe?

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    1. Yes Phil, Tara made a crochet square a day during lent. Such a lovely thought.

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  4. I have read about this before also and loved the idea! I especially love the added poem so that the recipient knows the care and love put into each piece! :)

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    1. Jes, I have seen a few different verses that can be added to gift cards. They are all lovely.

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  5. Chel i love to wear a shawl in the winter at home. Ive only made one years ago for my MIL and it was given back to me after she passed away so it has special meaning to me, i dont pray so i just call it a shawl but love the idea of using other positive thoughts while making one. Beautiful Shawl in your pics to xoxo

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    1. I can't say I have a shawl, Karen. I did think of making a simple one at one stage.

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  6. Dear Nanna Chel, I have heard of these before but not really known what it meant. I love it! I love shawls! Thank you so much!
    I have made and given away a few rugs as gifts in the last couple of years. I have noticed something..when I have given them the people seem to feel really blessed and touched. Like it is really personal and they feel loved. Then the rugs have been loved too I notice.
    Anyway I really like this and a shawl would be a tender and kind thing for someone... to show love, care, sympathy, comfort...
    And I was just working out what to crochet next. Now I know. With love Annabel.xxx

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    1. Annabel, I can't wait to see what you crochet. I am sure it will be very much appreciated as you do such lovely work.

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  7. Thank you so much for this Nanna Chel, a prayer shawl sounds like a lovely thing to do.

    I love the colours you have used, (I am a blue person). I think this idea is really special and maybe it could be implemented in our local churches. I might see if anyone at our church have heard of prayer shawls. Think I will go through my stash of wool and have a go!

    Sorry for my absence all the time. I am trying to get back into the swing of things, and hopefully will do some more blogging soon. My life after a busy summer is slowly settling down. I have so much catching up to do!

    xTania

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    1. Tania, good to 'see' you once again. You have been very busy. The lovely work isn't actually mine. It is that of one of the young girls on the DTE forum who is making the rug for a charity and crochets a square a day during Lent. Love the colours too.

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  8. I have seen these before, I am reminded that I was going to try one!! So many projects - so little time!! ;)

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  9. I love this. What a wonderful idea.

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  10. A few of us in our parish make 'prayer quilts' for people who need comfort and I was keen to make prayer shawls as I think I could make them quicker than the quilts, but the organizers weren't keen on the idea...I still think it's a great idea!

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  11. How beautiful Chel. Love very much. Mimi xxx

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  12. How beautiful! I have a prayer scarf but not a prayer shawl. Thank you for all the links and info, Nanna Chel. I may look into this over our very short but still warm tropical winter. Xx

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