Another Comfort Shawl...

Here is a photo of another Comfort shawl I made. It had been sitting on my sewing table for two or three weeks. I just couldn't seem to get it in a box and mailed to my sister's church.

It turns out that was for the best. I have a good friend whose mother has Pancreatic Cancer so the shawl went to my friend.

I included a poem, too, since this was from me to someone I know. I found the poem here. Scroll down until you find "Prayer For Comfort" by Cathleen O'Meara Murth, DW.

I translated it into words that are better suited to our religion, but the message is clearly the same, one of comfort, hope, and strength to walk down a dark path knowing that there is Someone who will help bear the burden.

She loved it. And it was more meaningful when she learned that I hand knit it, instead of machine knitting it. I was concerned about the color, but it was the only shaw I had finished. When I got to her home, she was very happy with the color since it matched the couches in their front room. Every day I learn how much our Heavenly Father has things planned out in advance, how he knows each one of us individually, and how much he loves and cares for each one of us. I see it in the little things, tender mercies every day.

I wish I had two done, one for her and one for her mother. I'm working on another, but I'm not sure if I will get it done before my friend's mother passes away. I hope I can get it done. I think that when she is gone it will bring comfort to her husband.

Prayer Shawl Number 3

Here is the last Prayer Shawl I have made in memory of my mother who passed away in July. It will be sent to my sister's church.

Someone was wondering why I was sending the Prayer Shawls to other churches. The reason is that the Savior did something for me that I cannot do for myself--he saved me. I am doing something for my sisters and my mother that they cannot do--I am knitting Prayer Shawls.

The table is new this year, so is the umbrella. One of the reasons I got them earlier this spring was because my Mom was going to come this fall and spend two weeks with us and she sat outside often. She would have arrived last Wednesday and would have been here for another week. So, these two weeks are especially hard because I think about all the things we would have been doing while she was here.

Have a blessed day. Try to do something for someone else that they cannot do for themselves.

Prayer Shawl Number 2

I was able to finish the second Prayer Shawl while I was in Massachusetts. My Mom loved lavender, the flower, the smell, and the color. I left this one with my Aunt. She often gives Prayer Shawls to those in need. The church she used to belong to had a Prayer Shawl Ministry. She is so far away from that church that she is currently looking for another one closer to where she lives. I told her that she could either keep the Shawl herself if she wanted to, or she could donate it to the Prayer Shawl Ministry at her new church.

Lavender Prayer Shawl

On this Prayer Shawl I slipped the first stitch of each row as if to purl. The last stitch of the row I knit through the back loop. Now that I have my camera back, I'll try to take some photos of how to do that and post it. I love the way the edge turns out this way. It is so straight and even!

Me and my Aunt. She is wonderful!

Comfort Shawl

I finished the first of three Comfort Shawls in memory of my mother. This one is white because she used to wear a white, gauzy, flowing outfit and dance through the room. She was kinda kooky, but lovable.

A Comfort Shawl is very simple to make. I used the pattern that says to knit 3, purl 3 for this shawl. But I have also made shawls that are knit every row, making the shawl in garter stitch.

They are also called: Prayer Shawls, Peace Shawls, or Mantles. Here is a link to Prayer Shawl Ministry. This white Comfort Shawl will be donated to the First Congregational Church in Watertown, CT. Many churches have a Prayer Shawl Ministry. Check to see if yours does, it is a wonderful way to donate time to someone in need. If you google 'prayer shawl pattern' you will find a number of sites that have free patterns and ideas for these lovely gifts of comfort.

I decided to make three in memory of my mother for a number of reasons. My sister's church gave her and my nephew each a shawl when my nephew was diagnosed with Crohn's disease earlier this year, the first shawl will go there. My other sister said that her church handed shawls out to those in need, too, the second will go there (it is a lovely lavender color--my mom loved lavender.) The third shawl will go to my Aunt who was the one who taught me about Prayer Shawls a number of years ago. She will pass it on to someone in need. That one will probably be green, because I love green.

Although the church I belong to does not have a Shawl Ministry, it does many other good things in our community and throughout the world. Since I know that shawls comfort and help those in need, and I know that God loves everyone no matter what church they belong to, I am happy to knit shawls for others and hopefully bring joy to someone who is in need.

Here is another photo of the shawl laid across the bottom of my bed. Stinky (the cat) decided she liked it, too. Guess I'll have to wash it before I send it off just in case the recipient is allergic to cats! You can see that the shawl is just a large rectangle
--easy, peasy!