Gift of a prayer shawl .....

The gift of giving and receiving.

I recently received the following email from a dear friend.

A special family member of hers has been undergoing treatment and our friend accompanies her on her trips by train to the city for treatment. Our friend had made a lovely shawl -- and, well, the note says it all.

..............We had a lot of time to talk AND she brought the blue prayer shawl I made for her - she gets so cold on the train and in cold air conditioning - she had it wrapped around her arms.  Made me feel special - as well it should the two of you for getting me started on it.  With the meaning behind it and the prayers I said for her while making it - just know the good man upstairs feels that way too..........

Thank you, N, for allowing me to share this note with the Prayer Shawl groups. I think it is good to share notes like yours -- often the maker of a shawl has no idea (and that is OK) who the shawl went to or why -- it would be hard to keep track, but when we do know, and we see how important the shawls are to the receivers and the makers,
it is good to share these thoughts.

Almost finished.......

Another prayer shawl almost finished. 

Pattern for a Sweet and Simple Shawl

Bizzy Crochet: Sweet and Simple Shawl: "Sweet and Simple Shawl by Elizabeth Mareno 2008 Skill: Beginner Finished Size: 24'W x 60'L (sample size-this pattern is designed to accomod..."

The yarn recommended for this shawl is sport weight (#3) Patons Astra Yarn. A soft 100% acrylic DK/sportweight yarn. 

Two More Lovely Shawls

Received a note and photo from Paola (from Sherman Hospital)

Her mother in law has created 2 more lovely shawls.

Notice the fantastic scalloped edging on one of them.

Thank you so much for the joy and comfort you have brought 

with the many lovely shawls you have created.

(Photo courtesy of Paola)

Third Meeting at St. Thomas More

(If you click on any of the photos, you should get an enlarged version of the photo)

Some of the hands of the lovely ladies who created these 

comforting shawls.

Thank you one and all -- what beautiful work you do, 

what loving hearts you have.

This morning was the third meeting of the Prayer Shawl Group at St. Thomas More.  There were twelve present.  A good gathering for summer vacation months.  I am amazed at the work these wonderful ladies have done.  I have posted photos of some of the beautiful shawls that have been completed.  Thank you one and all.


My apologies to Sharon Hall who left before photos were taken -- next time Sharon :-)


It was also good to hear that one of our group is working with friends from the Del Webb Subdivision to start a group there that will support Sherman Hospital.


You are all welcome to join us at 9:00 AM on the first Thursday of each month at St. Thomas More Church, Elgin, IL.

Lattice Work Pattern Shawl

This shawl is made with regular worsted weight (4 ply) yarn.  Only about 1/2 the cost of making one with the lovely Lion Brand Homespun yarn --- this was made with Caron "by the pound"  yarn (see photo below) and used up the whole one pound of yarn for a cost of about $7.00 total.  I will try a few other yarns and patterns to try to keep the cost down.

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Here Is Number 3 From Amy

Received a photo of Amy's THIRD finished shawl.

Another lovely shawl, Amy.  What a beautiful gift you are giving.

Finished one more

Finished up one more shawl -- will get a photo tomorrow --

Anyone else have photos of finished shawls?

Thursday AM -- Here's photo of newest shawl along with 3 skeins of Homespun "Ocean" yarn donated by a lovely lady from St. Thomas More.

STM Prayer Shawl Group

This morning was the first meeting of the Prayer Shawl Group at 
St. Thomas More Church.

Eleven or twelve gathered for the first time.  

I had intended to take a few photos, but we all got right down to business.

First, as a group, we recited the following prayer:

We praise you Lord for giving us these hands to create this shawl.

May it comfort the sick, the weary, and the many friends and neighbors

who need a loved one to be by their side.

May they find comfort in the work we do and in the prayers

and love we send.

Amen

Then it was time to get to work -- we all admired each others choice of yarn color --

and the knitters began knitting and the crocheters began to crochet.  
At the end of two hours 

we had all made great progress and spent two hours of friendship together.

We will continue to meet on the first Thursdays of the month at 9:00 am.

Next meeting, Thursday, June 2, 2011 

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FOUR more shawls completed

We have been gone for the last almost week so I haven't had the opportunity to add the photos I have 

received of the following finished Prayer Shawls

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Below is a photo from Paola of two more lovely prayer shawls 

An below is a photo of another fantastic shawl made by Amy.

You all are wonderful, and these shawls are appreciated so very much by patients and family.

Wednesday night while at a meeting in Iowa,  I was sitting in the hospitality room and decided I could crochet on a shawl while talking.

The ladies saw I was cutting the fringe for the red shawl and then tying knots in each piece - my friend, Marge, asked if she could help -- soon the rest wanted to help too - and as we finished the red one I began on another (the lovely parfait yarn you sent, Lynn). 

It was learned that one of our members wasn't there because she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and so it was decided that this lovely pink parfait shawl when finished, will go to her --- we cut all the fringe strips and everyone, men included knotted at least one strip so that  everyone at the meeting added their love, thoughts and prayers to the shawl for  her.  It was so fantastic to see how the men all wanted to be sure and be a part too.   

Pictured above my friend, Marge, helping with the red fringe.  That shawl is finished now and will find it's way to Neris. (The yarn for this red shawl was donated by our own Barb) The second photo shows some of the ladies working on cutting and knotting the fringe pieces. 

These are truly international acts of love -- Paola's mother-on-law

and the group in Iowa consisted of two ladies from Canada(international) and the states of Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Colorado, Vermont, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Wisconsin,  -- and those are 

just the states I can remember.

Keep up the great work -- you all

 are so very special.

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Remember, if you want to join the group this coming Thursday morning (9 AM) at St. Thomas More Church you are more than welcome to join.  (See previous post)

Any questions, you may email me at:  prayershawl2011@gmail.com