Lion Brand Yarn TRON

10 Truths: Knitting and Crocheting Prayer Shawls

Home/Tips & How To10 Truths: Knitting and Crocheting Prayer Shawls

10 Truths: Knitting and Crocheting Prayer Shawls

- Guest
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

10 Tips for Making Prayer Shawls

“A shawl is like a warm hug.”

Giving a prayer shawl to a friend or family member going through a difficult time is an appropriate gesture when there isn’t anything you can do to make their situation better. A handmade knit or crochet gift can offer comfort beyond words and the process can often have the power to heal one’s self too.

Over the years we’ve collected wisdom and insights from our favorite writers on making and giving prayer shawls (sometimes also known as comfort or healing shawls). These four articles below capture the essence of the prayer shawl and offer ten great tips – from patterns to process to the philosophy behind them – this collection is a great starting point for anyone who’d like to learn more about making prayer shawls:

Also see

Homespun® is on sale now – save 20% at lionbrand.com and Lion Brand retail locations in February.

How have prayer shawls helped you? Share in the comments below!

Share this post

23 Comments

  • I am about to start some prayer shawls and shopped the Homespun sale to buy 4 different colors. I prefer a shawl or wrap rather than a winter coat.

  • When my mom was sick I started a prayer shawl for her. She passed away before I finished it, but I did finish it. Now whenever I am missing her I wrap up in that shawl and it is like a big hug from my mom.

    • Awe, I love your story. I also have things that make me feel closer to my Mom. I am glad you finished it and it helps you to wrap up in it. Miss my Mom too. Hugs to you.

    • Thanks for sharing your story. My Mom passed away 4 years ago and I still miss her LOTS!! I have some of her old crochet patterns that I make things from for gifts when I miss her the most. I let my family members know that it was Mom’s pattern and they appreciate the item even more. There is NOTHING worse than loosing a Mom. When I miss her the most I thing of one of her usual sayings when she was irritated with one on her kids. She’d say “I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it if you don’t behave.” We all know that she’d never do anything to hurt us but we’d shape up. God Bless you.

    • I just did the same thing. I do make prayer shawls for church, but the one I started for my mother I finished (for me) in memory of her.

    • I crocheted 2 capelets for my mom in the last year of her life, one was purple for the fall and winter and the other was a sparkly white, which I gave to her on Mother’s Day last year. She enjoyed wearing them when we took her outside. I have a picture of her in both of them, but I especially like the picture from Mother’s Day because she looked so happy and my 2 sons are in the picture. When she died in September they were very gently used, so I washed them and gave them to a sister in my parish that visits the elderly. I know that Mom would have wanted me to do that.

  • I also make lap blankets from Homespun. I punch a hole in the label, thread a piece of yarn thru it and attach it to the blanket? Why? Because the label shows that the blanket can be machine washed and machine dried. So important for folks in group homes!

  • Just where are the 10 truth that the post’s title announced, please?? Really wanted to know as new to the concept of prayer shawls, but disappointed when articles don’t deliver what they promise and only feed you with yet more ‘related articles’ lists. Any help??

    • Hi Minky, thanks for the comment. A good place for you to start would be here, “What To Do When Someone You Know Needs Comfort” http://lby.co/1m7Xm9R and also, “Prayer Shawls: How They Help You While Helping Others” http://lby.co/KgSH31

      Let us know if we can offer further guidance and please do update us on your progress!

  • If you want more info about the prayer shawl ministry, check their website – http://www.shawlministry.com – there are free patterns, prayers to include with your shawls, and LOTS of other great information! Keep in mind – you should never have to pay for a prayer shawl pattern – the ministry was explicitly set up to be free!

    • Thanks for sharing that bertamom. All of Lion Brand’s patterns are free too, you can find a collection of our prayer shawl patterns here: http://lby.co/1EaRgth

  • This article says nothing!!!

    • Hi dragonswing – how can I help you find what you’re looking for? There are links to four articles that cover patterns, yarns, how to get started and more. I’d be happy to direct you to something more specific. Be well!

  • I can’t join because they won’t accept my email address and password. How I hate all of this officious garbage. 🙁

    • Hi Diane, are you trying to join lionbrand.com? I’m happy to help you get to where you’d like to go.

  • So if I follow all four of the posted links I will find the ten truths or ten tips or whatever it is that this is supposed to be about?

    • Yes, that’s right. There are links to four main articles which cover patterns, yarns, how to get started and more. Are you looking for anything specific I can direct you to?

      • Nope. I think we’ve made our point.

  • One of our favorite pastors showed us her prayer shawl and explained the fringes on the ends. Ten fringes for the Ten Commandments and Twelve fringes for the twelve disciples. Now my husband wants a summer prayer shawl for his meditation and reading.

  • I have made two prayer shawls recently for two ladies who suddenly lost their husbands, both ladies found comfort without words.

  • Just. Joined a prayer shawl group. Looking for easy patterns

  • I lnow that this an older post, but…… none of the links come up. Why is it a Pintrest post if it is no longer available?

    • Leave A Comment

    You must be <a href="https://blog.lionbrand.com/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.lionbrand.com%2F10-truths-knitting-and-crocheting-prayer-shawls%2F">logged in</a> to post a comment.