Our church is starting a prayer shawl ministry and I am in charge of it. Does anyone have any suggestions on prayer shawls that are super quick and super easy. No one quilts or even sews except me, so it will be quite a challenge. Everyone is willing to help in whatever way they can---cutting, tying, picking out material, etc. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE. Thanks everyone.

It sounds like a big undertaking for one person. I don't have any suggestions, except I'll be saying a prayer for you for patience and endurance. God Bless

LOL, I would start teaching someone to sew. At least the straight line puts and you can do the more difficult parts.

Hats off to you and good luck.

How about knit or crocheted pray shawls?

Contact a local Quilt Guild or two and let them know what you are doing. We usually get a couple of quilts/shawls every month or so from those wonderful ladies. Do an online search for prayer shawl/quilt. We do 45"x60" as a general size. Non-sewers in our group do a Linus Project type fleece blanket in that size. Rail fence, D9p and Jelly roll are 3 easy/quick ones. Non-sewers also just take two lengths of fabric, sew up pillow case style, turn, stitch around edges and hand tie. Fannel is a good backing because it does not slip off beds or laps as easily. Good luck, be patient!! It is a wonderful thing you are doing and such a blessing to others and yourselves.

There are also books available at amazon.com about prayer shawls and ministry that are full of great info and inspiration.

The church I used to go to always had knit or crochet prayer shawls. The quilters would work on quilts to be donated to Lutheran World Relief or to the local women's shelter.

Our church does knit prayer shawls.

I have only crocheted prayer shawls. you might have to search the web for a pattern

The only prayer shawls I have seen are either knit or crocheted. Have been on the receiving end and must say it was greatly appreciated.
Vivian

http://www.ehow.com/how_7201961_make...awl-quilt.html
http://www.e-patternscentral.com/det...l?prod_id=4227
http://www.shawlministry.com/
Here you go, just a few links for you to explore. I would think a shawl made with beautiful fabric and a simple design would be a great way to enter into prayer.
You might find some special designs here http://gospelglass.com/
Let us know how you go with it and show us some of your shawls.

http://quilttherapy.com/?p=1332
Here's another picture of a simple shawl thought you might like it.

I am part of our church Prayer Shawl ministry. At this time, we only crochet ours. Most of the time we chain stitch around 69-73 and then we do three rows of triple crochet (stands for the Father, Son, & Holy Ghost) and then a row of singles (stands for us, the sinner) until we have the desired size.

None of us knit.

If you are asking about quilted prayer shawls, there is a book out, I believe it is by Leisure Arts also. I have seen it at Wal-Mart by the yarn and the knit and crochet books. In reality, a quilted Prayer Shawl is a bed runner only shorter.

My BF made me a "Prayer Blanket" when I found out I had uterine cancer; was in hospital for nearly 2 months with chemo and radiation; each day I placed my PB over my heart when I did my radiation; it gave me comfort and seemed to ease the anxiety. The blanket is a one yard square of light fabric with the edges either folded over or she may bind it. She puts a little pocket on each one with a verse. She has made numerous of these and has each one blessed by her Priest. It probably has the same meaning as the shawl. I keep mine folded and placed by my bed. I sometimes just touch it and feel comforted.

I thought a Prayer Shawl had something to do with someone's praying, but thick headed ME, found out that the prayer shawl was made by a group of folks that PRAYED over the shawl/blanket before presenting it in hopes that the prayers would be conveyed to recipient. For a short time I was part of a group that knitted prayer shawls and witnessed one lady in particular soulfully praying over a shawl we had completed and it was a very moving experience. Too, I've heard through this group that those that received the shawls were greatly comforted by them.

What denominations use prayer shawls? I haven't heard about them before.

I only know of knitted or crochet prayer shawls. I did do a lovely quilt once for my sick sister. I then sent the quilt around to all our friends and asked them so say a prayer while holding it. The quilt was such a joy to her to know that so many people prayed on it and my family said she was always wrapped in it, she said it gave her such comfort. Her son has the quilt now, my nephew.....

I think the Nov 2010 issue of either McCall's Quilting mag or BH&G Quilting mag had a pattern. I have it downstairs, but my back isn't currently allowing me access to it :lol: I don't know as though it was actually called a prayer shawl or not. I also don't think it is limited to any particular denomination. The pattern I reference is wide enough to cover the back of one's neck and go part way down the back, then come over the shoulders and down the chest. The pattern also had pockets. It would also work great to keep shoulders and neck warm in the winter when you sit in your chair or instead of a bed jacket. My plan is to make one for my neice who will start chemo soon , and as we are Catholic, send along a rosary in one pocket. I would think you can pretty much make any block you want and string them together til you get the right length. My second one will be for an elderly aunt who doesn't like the draft on her neck in winter. The pockets could hold her tv remote, kleenex, etc. I'm going to attempt to back it with minkee..or flannel!

I'm Methodist and had never heard to them before until I attended a small Methodist church in MO (when I was recovering from heart attack); now that I'm back in Ga and the Methodist church I now attend haven't never heard of them......so, not sure it is a denominational effort......

I'm not sure it is any particular denomination. I am Baptist and I had never heard of one until my preachers' wife was presented one while sitting with a very sick daughter.

I'm Baptist and I haven't heard about them. They must have some psychological value, but if you don't know about them, then I wonder if perhaps that is lessened. Not their comfort value, just their psychological impact. Just wondering.

Prayer shawls have been around since the days of Abraham. They are meant for your own devotional time and also for prayer of others. We use them every Friday night for our family dinner time. They help to keep mind focused on the Lord. They are not actually "denominational" they are for those who wish to pray or receive prayer. When you make them, be sure to note the colors of the shawls. They are not made from cotton per se, but of a weaved fabric. You can view them at Simchat Torah in Colorado. That is where mine came from when I received it from a friend. I know that my old church in Billings, Montana we had them in the prayer room and some even wore them during service prayer time at New Life Church. If you use the weaved fabric, then you will have little to no sewing. I know that the tassels are a certain length and have meaning. The colors on the robe have certain meaning as well. I may have given to much info here to confuse you more. You can PM me and I can give you more details if you want. I just get pationate about them because they help you so much spiritually.

I have made prayer shawls out of fleece. The fleece is wide enough that I could fold it into a square and then cut it diagonally so that it made a triangle. I then used my June Taylor strip ruler to make fringe. I attach a card with appropriate verses from the Bible or appropriate words of wisdom from other sources. These may not be as "elegant" as you want, but they are warm and the people who have received them have seemed to appreciate them. froggyintexas

Thank you so much. That is a great idea. The ladies in the church could do that. Sounds good.

I've only knitted or crocheted prayer shawls. The fleece ones sound like a great idea for people who don't sew.

Pat

Just a thought here, if you are going to make prayer shawls to show people how much you really care about them, enough to make the shawls and add Bible verses to them and pray for the people receiving them, then do you really want to do the quickest and easiest construction method you can find? Aren't these two ideas at odds with each other? It doesn't sound exactly like "When you care enough to send the best."

Not a denominational thing.
A Prayer Shawl can be made by any religion anywhere.
What counts are the prayers the stitcher prays while stitching it whether it be crocheted, knitted, woven, or sewn.
When I make them, I pray for the Lord's will to be done (we know not everyone will be healed), strenghth, courage, wisdom, contentment, to find joy in the little things, guidance, protection, etc. And if the person is a non-believer, that they may find mercy, grace, peace and love in His mighty hands. Another thing is, we always include a card we made up that explains a prayer shawl, has a prayer, and the person who made it along with the date that it was made. We also have washing instructions on the back. If when they feel the need to pass the shawl onto someone else, to please do so with our churches blessing.
Almost every Sunday we have shawls someone has made and pastor blesses them. He has the children come up first followed by the adults and has the children, one at a time, put the oil on their index finger and place the sign of the cross on the shawl as he says the blessing. It is a great way to teach the kids about giving and being a blessing to others.
Guess I should add that the books denote that the different colors (especially of the yarn used) mean differnt prayers. It is up to you what you want to do.
Personally, I like to get my yarn and hook, sit down and let the Lord guide my hands for the design as He knows who will recieve it and what they need. I don't go with the theory of this color stand for this and that. However, our church likes to stick with thedesign I mentioned in a previous post on here, so when mine are for church ministry I follow their design and for folks I especially want to give to, my design. They all get prayed over and blessed. Yes, even the fleece ones I have made per request of the patient.

Maybe I need to explain about my "Prayer Blanket" given to me by my best friend. I had uterine cancer and went into the hospital for chemo and radiation treatments for 2 months. My BF is a devote Catholic and I am Baptist. We have been friends since grade school. She told me she made the blankets and asked if I wanted one. Told her I would love to have one. She makes the blanket out of a yard of washable fabric into a square with the edges either folded over and sewn or puts a binding on it. She just makes it whatever feels right for her. She has this verse she prints out and places it in a pocket sewn somewhere on the blanket, takes it to her Priest and has it blessed. Then she gives it away. The blanket became very popular with her friends and church. She had a group help her make a lot of them to give to members at a retreat they have each year. I have heard about the shawls and they have the same meaning and comfort I am sure. I just wanted to let you know about the blanket I received and the comfort it gave me when I went to radiation. I would fold it and place it over my heart while trying to relax and calm my anxiety. Whatever it means to the individual is how they feel about it. Appreciate each of your replies and thoughts. This is truly a great board of informed and special ladies.
TXGrandmaof5

IF EVERYTHING WERE A PERFECT WORLD THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I BELONG TO A SMALL CONGREGATION(12 WOMEN) THAT HAS NO CLUE HOW TO MAKE A PRAYER SHAWL. THE IDEA BEHIND THE SHAWL IS NOT PERFECTION, BUT THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ALONE. WHEN SOMEONE IS IN NEED AND YOU GIVE THEM A SYMBOL THAT YOU LOVE THEM AND ARE PRAYING FOR THEM PERFECTION BECOME THE LAST THING ON THEIR MINDS. YOURS IS A GOOD THOUGHT AND I AGREE BUT JUST NOT IN THIS INSTANCE. MAKING THE SHAWLS WITH THESE LADIES WILL DO TWO THINGS. THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR THE PERSON IN NEED AND GOOD FELLOWSHIP AND GROWING LOVE OF ONE ANOTHER.

You misunderstood my post. Previous posts had sounded as if prayer shawls made in any possible manner, the easiest being the most preferable were the best from the viewpoint of the person making the shawl. not the viewpoint of the person receiving the shawl. It still seems to me that if you are caring that much then taking a little longer would perhaps have a different significance for the shawl maker than taking the easiest way out.

I realize that the protestant shawls do not have the color, weave, tassel meanings that the shawls do for those of the Jewish faith. Still, it seems that just doing the easiest thing possible is not consistent with the care and prayer and concern. However, the recipient will never know if you did your best or your easiest. And perhaps the fact that you did anything is the most important thing of all.

Here is a book you can buy for prayer shawl quilts:

http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Shawl-Q...7489327&sr=8-3

Hope this helps

I did not think of this as taking a short cut or providing something that was "second best." I thought of it as giving something that required my financial resources, my time, and my skill as well as my knowledge of Scripture or appropriate literature for those whose spiritual life does not include the Bible. I thought of it as giving something made with love. I, by the way, am a retired United Methodist pastor and know just how much prayer shawls mean to people who are ill or who are standing by friends and family members who are ill.

The original poster said her friends have minimal sewing skills. Should that preclude their giving a prayer shawl they make with love? froggyintexas

I think it time for a "time out" and a prayer.

Ditto. froggyintexas

I stand rebuked.

My shaw was made for me when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer by a drown you in the river Southern Baptist. I am an ecletic pagan. Prayer has no religion, only purpose.