Prayer Shawl Swap USA ONLY

I was just thinking about making a swap like this. Since the money matters have been sorted out. :o) I make prayer shawls ALL the time…I have always had great feedback from the people getting them too.

Thanks Autumn Moon for hosting this swap.

Oh AM! Thank you so much for making this swap. I just finished reading their book about how they started doing the prayer shawl ministry and I was going to make a swap today for it. But when I signed in your swap was the first one I saw! Thank you so much for doing this one.

Oh I love the idea of this! I only wish I was a little further along in my learning to knit (or crochet for that matter). But I'll keep an eye out for round 2 if you do one, maybe by then I'll be a little more advanced (I'm still learning basic stitches, I can cast on, but I can't finish yet, learning learning learning).

But beautiful concept this is though.

I think this is a wonderful idea and I will definitely set up an international version. I'd never heard of it before. Thank you for sharing. :)

Also, you might want to add "knitting" and "crocheting" to the swap categories as a lot of people frequently check those. :)

I just want to double-check this. The website states: "(*The shawls can also be crocheted, quilted, woven or machine knitted as well!)" Is this true for your swap as well? A quilted shawl would be acceptable?

Thanks folks, looks like more than one of us was thinking about this.

Winchimes, yes, I love wool of the andes, it is very nice and knitpicks is doing a great job of making affordable wool yarn available to everyone.

MAM, PLEASE DON'T WORRY, YOU JUST NEED THE MOST BASIC OF STITCHES TO DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And remember, it is a prayer shawl, not a fashion statement, so if you can get some help learning to finish, and want to join, you will do fine.

Vivica9 and Invisible, looks like you two have round two and three covered! The question is, who whill host which?

Cooan, you go for it!

Purplemorgan-- quilted or loomed is fine with me, and I imagine it would be fine with your partner too.

I have heard so much about prayer shawls recently but haven't ever made one but I have been wanting to, just waiting for the right person to come along to make it for. I'm so glad that you created this swap.

I'm good for anything my partner wants to do... all colors welcome, yarn or quilted is good too.

Here's WHY I joined this one. Like many people times are hard for me and my new hubby. He's got his own 24 hr towing business but only makes enough to pay the bills for the shop. He's just joined several highway type rotations so he's gone with the call of a cell phone at any given time of night. I can't sleep if I know that he's gone. So I stay up. I think that wrapping myself in a shawl made with loving thoughts might make the long lonely nights go easier.

Enough sap, time for cookies. winks to Cooan

DixieWitch, Sure, you can post your color preferences now. It is hard to say if black will be the right color for your partner or not. The thing with prayer w\shawls is that you can almost always give one away, so if you don't mind MAYBE having to make a second one, I say go ahead and getstrated, with the possiblity in mind that you might have to make a second one. I think someone wants to do a round two failry soon after this swap is over, so that is something to think about as well.

Here is what they say about the meaning of the color black on the prayer shawl website:

"BLACK – Self confidence, strength, protection, absorbs negativity, mature wisdom"

Sounds kind of cool to me.

AM

I'm so grateful for the timing on this swap - saw the international one first, but the dates on this one are much better for me. I'm planning a workshop at my church in the fall on 'Knitting as a Spiritual Practice' (though we'll probably expand it to include any type of needlework). Learning about the prayer shawl experience through this group will, I'm sure, be very helpful to me in that endeavor. I've been intrigued by the idea for a long time now, so guess it's time to take some action. Thanks for offering this swap!

P.S. Windchimes, based on your comment, I think that violet sounds like a wonderful color for you - the meanings attributed to the color on the prayer shawl site are really interesting, aren't they? I hope you'll find at least some of the comfort you're looking for in this project.

DIXIEWITCH...i AM PM'ING YOU. I am glad to have you all here.

It's really odd that I came across this swap now. I was in a crafts store the other night buying some more supplies for a quilt I began years ago (and put aside) and came across a book on Prayer Shawls. I bought the book, not knowing the first thing about crocheting or knitting but really, really wanting to learn. I've read through the book and have a co-worker helping me deceifer the instructions, but like I said, I have not croched a thing ever!

Do you think I can learn before August 5th, or am I better off waiting for round 2?

I wanted to make one for my boyfriend's mother who is battling lung cancer right now - so I certainly have the motivation to learn quickly right now. What do you think?

Hi Indyguapo,

It's hard to say if you will be ready or not. Perhaps you could have a few lessons, then decide. Vivica9 is hosting the next swap, and I am sure she would be glad to have you if you decide to wait. Do what isbest for you, and what will give you more enjoyment and less stress. we welcome you.

Yeah, I've given it a lot of thought today and I think your advice is the right way to go. I will learn as quickly as I can, learn on the shawl for my boyfriend's mother, and see if I can be ready for the next round.

Thanks for doing this swap. I really look forward to joining in the future! :)

I was emailing Autumn Moon about a swap I just started, when I saw this one. I've made a couple of prayer shawls, and they are very cool-both the process and the product.

I love black, teal, rose, and bright colors.

I have tons of shawl patterns and urls, if anyone needs any. They are both easy and more advanced. I knit and crochet a lot.

cr

cr, it would be great to see your shawl pattern links - especially if they cover a range of difficulty. I can knit my way around most any pattern, but pretty much a beginning crocheter. Sticking to the very basic 3-stitch seed pattern described on the prayer shawl site would work, but it might be fun to branch out from there - thanks for offering to share. I'm also planning to order some Wool of the Andes this week (the price is certainly right :^) so thanks also to whoever left that link. Love the learning curve here!

Folks, this is my first swap of this type and I, too, can't wait to get started. I am rushing to finish a sweater so I'll be ready to do the shawl. Waiting to see who my assigned person will be is like waiting for Christmas--agonizingly slow!!! Please tell me where the prayer-shawl site is so I can check out the patterns. I've chosen my pattern, but I want to be sure it fits in with the rest of the prayer shawl patterns.

Yarnpatch

http://www.shawlministry.com/

my mother in law is in the ministry, lol

Can I have pink? Oh, please! Pretty please?!?!

I am thinking about getting plain yarn, and dyeing it with my partner's fave colors. I am not 100% sure yet, but this idea intrugues me. I saw this thing about coolaid dyeing and it got me to thinking.............

I have a link to tons of shawls. I'm off of work tomorrow and the next 2 days, I'll find it and post it then.

Here's one:

http://home.inreach.com/marthac/shawl.html

One more:

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/shawls_stoles.php

Upon reflection, there will be no yahoo group.

So AM, are you thinking that all the check-in comments will be posted here? If so, that's fine by me, I'm just curious. Cerwinrhiannon, thanks so much for the links - there are a lot of ideas on both those sites!

Yes, Monkijan, I have reason to belive, now, that it may be better to just post them here. And of course we can communicate via email as well.

I've made prayer shawls for people and they are always so well received. I'm excited to have something someone else has crafted. I really enjoy all colors and am very textural (is that a word). Something super soft would be wonderful, preferably in green or peaceful green or even white. Thanks.

I thought I would leave my preferences and then my partner can do with them as she thinks best. :)

I prefer wool - ie the Wool of the Andes at KnitPicks.com that is so inexpensive - I also like natural blends - wool/alpaca/silk type stuff.

I can handle acrylic yarn as long as it is NOT Red Heart - RH, for some reasons in clothing, makes me itch (ok for afghans though if not on my skin).

For acrylics, Caron Simply Soft is the one I best tolerate - it doesn't make me itch at all!

For colors? In a perfect world I would like a combination of pink and green (like pink sapphire and peridot) Those are the birthstones of my late husband and myself so there is the obvious meaning. But I love pinks, blues, green, lavenders (lighter pastel type shades). I am not into the bright colors - they overpower me and I can't have black because I have cats - hair removal is a nightmare!! I also like medium grey or a silvery grey - I think it is elegant. I decided against the violet - it is just too strong or bold or bright (something about it isn't right) for me.

So there is my information - I hope it gives enough to work with. I am sure whatever anyone chooses will be perfect.

The prayers with mine, the comfort or whatever I am hoping to find knitted or crocheted into the stitches would have to do with grief and mourning and believing that my husband and I will be reunited one day.

Adelle

My preferences...

Washable wool or soft yarn such as Caron's Simply soft are my favorites. RH is fine, too, if that's what you prefer to use. I love deep jeweltone colors - claret, blues, greens - and am especially fond of variegated yarns with those colors. I'm not crazy about Homespun or similar yarns, and prefer dark colors over pastels.

I've always wanted a prayer shawl. Have made a few, but never received one. I'd love it just for the purpose of wrapping around myself for warmth and comfort, and for the prayers that will have gone into its making. Also, I lost a newborn grandson last month, so receiving one at this time in my life will be especially appreciated.

I know I will cherish whatever is made for me. :)

For me, I just love the color pink. There is no particular reason why I want that color, it's just my favorite. Light pink is my favorite in the shades of pink. There is petal pink, pastel pink, so on and so on.

The reason for me is support. I have health issues and it interferes with my chosen profession in life (nothing serious, just a hip/knee problem, but it still makes ballet tough). So, I guess that pink is uplifting and supportive. It also matches my personality well :-D

I hope that helps. Oh, and Caron Simply Soft or something that IS NOT Red Heart! I hate that! Look at knitpicks.com. Wool of the Andes is my favorite as well. I like ribbon yarn too!

I will love anything and everything that my partner sends! :-)

hi ALL, i have contacted my sender and sendee, and gotten preferences and intentions. please post here as you are working to let us know how everything is going, AM

I got my yarn in last week. I ordered it for me but then when I found out who I would be making it for I just knew that it would be such a good match for her that I had to use it. I've got about 5 inches done so far. Not too much time to work on it this past week. I'm looking forward to next week when I can really spend some time on it.

I'm excited about starting mine. I emailed and messaged my partner but haven't heard back yet about her preferences/intentions. Hopefully everything is ok and I hear from her soon.

I am now about 1/3 of the way finished. I ended up using lion wool and wool blend. It is very soft and nice. I am loving it so far, and I hope my partner does too!

I am about 25% done but it is a pattern that grows fast and I'll get to 50% VERY fast. I love this yarn and pattern and I sureh hope my partner will feel the same way. It just looks like the word, "cuddle" all over it (so to speak). I am so excited to see photographs!

I still haven't got a message back from my partner... I guess I can just pray for her in life in general... I really want to get started.

I haven't either.

I have my shawl done, and will be mailing it out to Natalie tomorrow.

started my partners shawl based on her profile and reading her blogs. wanted to make sure I would have time free of distraction to focus my thoughts on her. things are sure to get crazy in the next few weeks with all this wedding planning! :)

Wow, wow, wow --- I received TWO amazing shawls!!! Thank you Natalie!! I'll be mailing my by Friday! (Sorry for the wait, Laurie.)

I'm still waiting for my shawl.