Shawl Knitting Ministry
This present ministry began with a group of women who participated in the first Women’s Leadership Institute at Hartford Seminary. Vicki Galo began knotting shawls for women who were undergoing treatment for breast cancer and other illnesses. Janet Bristow also started knitting and in addition made shawls for new mothers. Others of the group learned and began making shawls for friends, family and others. Some were made for women who were marking birthdays, anniversaries, being commissioned or just to commemorate the gift of love or friendship or belonging or caring. I have been creating Wisdom Mantles for marking significant passages in women’s lives when they claim their unique gift of Wisdom. These wonderful gifts of love can be found all over Connecticut and have been sent across the country.
Here’s how…
Supplies:
Begin with Lion Brand Homespun – we love the texture, the color the feel of this particular yarn. You will need about 3 skeins of the yarn, which can be found in most fabric/craft shops as well as at Wal-Mart, K-mart and Ames. The later often have great sales. The choice of color keeps growing too. There are solids, variegated and yarns that form a stripe-like pattern.
We use size 11 or 13 needles and occasionally 15. These needles provide for a loose weave. (And make the project go fast!!)
Shawl Directions:
BEGIN by casting on 54, 57, 60 or 63 stitches, or some multiple of three.
PATTERN – knit three – purl three to the end of the row. Turn and knit the purl and purl the knit (if you have 57 or 63 stitches it works out that you’ll begin every row with knit). A weave like pattern will develop. Remember, there is no one right way of creating these gifts of love and caring.
Fringe Directions:
Before you begin your third skein, set aside the yarn you will need for making the fringe for both ends of the shawl. The length depends on how long you want the fringe – (between 3 to 8 or 9 inches). Count out twice as many lengths of yarn as stitches that were case on. EXAMPLES… if you cast on 54 stitches and you want your fringe to be 6 inches long, then measure out 1,296” of yarn. 54 (stitches) x 12” (fringe length doubled) x 2 (each end). Each 12” strand of yard will be folded in ½ and applied to the shawl, thereby creating a 6” fringe length.
Then knit until you finish up the 3rd skein of yarn or until you reach the desired length. Some women prefer to use four skeins and lots of fringe.
On the attached sheets are some suggested prayers for beginning and ending the shawls and are included with the shawls when they are given away. Many women join with others in blessing the completed shawl before sending it off or presenting it.
All are invited to make this project their own and to share it with other women and groups.