A trip to JoAnn's

I received an e-mailed coupon for JoAnn's to use over Labor Day weekend.  It was for 10% off your entire purchase including sales items.  Lion Brand Homespun yarn was on sale so I figured this was a great opportunity to pick of some yarn for prayer shawls.  If you are as addicted to yarn as I am you will find JoAnn's in Manchester, Connecticut to be a masterpiece of a yarn collection.  When I got to the yarn department I found that most yarns were on sale for buy one, get one 50% off.  It sure was hard to limit my purchase and stay on budget.

As I was pondering over my yarn selections I overheard a couple of women wondering if a skein of Homespun was enough for a scarf.  I let them know that in fact it was.  It actually is enough to make a real nice sized scarf.  They then stated that they were really looking for yarn to make a shawl.  I lit up at the opportunity to help them out with this.  It turns out that one of the women has not knitted in 20 years but was asked to make a shawl by her church.  I wish I had more time to share shawl stories with her but here is the story I told her about....

This past winter my Uncle Gordon was quite ill.  His illness had been a long term situation.  Every time he recovered a bit he would have another set back.  He was sent to a rehabilitation facility where he took a turn for the worse.  It was quickly made clear after he was taken to the hospital that his time had come.  My Uncle Gordon would not have wanted many to see him in these final hours.  He was in his hospital room with his wife, sister and brother.  I went to the hospital to assist in bringing some medications to my aunt.  As I entered the dark and ugly room I saw the shawl that lay across Uncle Gordon's bed.   It was a beautiful deep blue.  The appearance of the shawl in such a sterile environment was in itself beautiful.  However the warmth of the caring that went into that piece truly brought brightness to the room. 

Uncle Gordon quickly passed.  The shawl is now at his home that he shared with his wife.  The first couple of times that I saw the shawl in the home it was as if I was looking at him.  It was a comforting presence and a reminder that in some ways he will always be here...

The prayer shawls go to many people for many reasons.  They are given to someone recovering from surgery, a person that has lost a job and is struggling to get by, someone that has experienced a loss of a loved one, someone that is struggling to survive and more.  These shawls can bring comfort to a recipient when they feel all alone or sad.  They can wrap themselves in the shawl and feel the prayers, love and care that have gone into the creation of the shawl.

If you are interested in making a shawl there are many great patterns available.  The most popular yarn used for making them is Lion Brand Homespun.  It takes 3 skeins to make a standard prayer shawl.  Lion Brand has also published 2 pattern books on  shawls.  I have yet to purchase them but I likely will very soon.  The shawls can be knit or crocheted.  They are both long and wide so that they can be wrapped right around the person.

If you are interested in helping with making shawls but do not know how, I will gladly help you learn some basic stitches.  You can also assist by donating yarn to make them with or money to purchase the yarn.

If you know of anyone that is in need of a shawl please let us know.  If the person is not located in the Connecticut area a shawl can be shipped out to them with a card. 

Please send me an e-mail with any requests or questions.  leclaire91402@yahoo.com or pinemeadowcrafts@yahoo.com  Please just write "Prayer Shawl" in the subject line so I do not confuse your message as spam.