-
If you want to make a prayer shawl but you aren't sure how to get started, find a local group or start one of your own. Start with your church or local religious organization. Many churches have women's groups already established, and some even have prayer shawl ministries. Seek out these organizations and attend their meetings. You will be able to learn the art of prayer shawl crafting while making friends with other charitable people at the same time.
If you aren't sure where to look, try to search Yahoo! Groups or post an ad on your local Craigslist. Explain that you are interested in learning more about prayer shawls and creating them for people in your community, and you would like others to join your cause. You can also try to post fliers at your local community center or inquire with a local yarn store to see if any knit groups exist in your area. -
Whether you make your prayer shawls as part of a group or on your own, you need to find recipients. Maybe you already have a relative in mind; once you have made one shawl for that person, you may want to continue with this rewarding ministry. You can make as many or as few shawls as you are able--there is no quota for charity.
Again, you can check with your church or other churches in your area to find ideas. They may have church members who are suffering or hospitalized and would appreciate a thoughtful gift such as a prayer shawl. Or they may already be affiliated with a charity organization or hospital and could pass your shawls along to that group.
You can also check with local area nursing homes. Ask permission to donate or deliver shawls to their residents, particularly those who do not have regular family visits. Or ask your neighborhood hospital for permission to donate shawls to them. They can pass them along to patients in long-term care or patients who visit regularly for treatments.
There may also be women's shelters or homeless shelters in your area. Sometimes the residents in these shelters have very little to call their own, and certainly nothing as thoughtful as a shawl that was made just for them. They would appreciate a gift and a prayer; contact their site coordinators to arrange drop-offs. -
There are several ways to make prayer shawls. If you know how to knit or crochet, that is a popular option. Even if you only have basic skills in this area, you can make a shawl for someone that she will appreciate. A prayer shawl doesn't have to be fancy or complicated; it simply has to be made with positive prayers and good intentions. If you've always wanted to learn a fiber craft such as knitting or crochet, now is the perfect time. Once you have mastered a single stitch or two, you can use those basic stitches to create a rectangular shawl that will suit your recipient just fine. Once you practice your skills, you can experiment with more complicated patterns and shapes.
If you choose the yarn-based option, shop your local craft stores or discount stores for sales. Prayer shawls can be in any yarn weight or color, so purchase whatever you can find at a low cost. This way you can continue your charity projects without breaking the bank.
If knit and crochet are not your preference, you can try sewing a shawl. Again, with basic skills you can create a shawl in a rectangular shape. Simply choose a pretty fabric at your local craft or fabric store and cut it into a rectangle. Then stitch a seam around the edges to create a hem that won't fray or tear when worn. You can even choose two coordinating fabrics and sew them together to make a two-sided, two-color shawl.
Even smaller children can get in on the act by making prayer shawls out of fleece. Choose pretty fleece fabrics and cut into 2-yard increments. Then have the little ones cut fringe along the edges and knot the fringe. This is a basic skill for blanket making that can also be used in the creation of beautiful shawls.
No matter what format you choose, prayer shawls are a personalized way to show someone you care and that you're praying for them.
