"Prayer" Shawls

Late last year, I was asked to set up a “Prayer” Shawl group at church.   Words like “prayer” can make some UUs twitchy, so I went with the Comfort Shawl Group.   That worked for a couple of months, until it became clear that our Caring Committee was going to want the occasional blanket and maybe a couple of scarves.    Also, I seemed to have almost as many quilters in the group as I had knitters and crocheters.   Time for a new name, we are now the Comfort Crafts Group (Much more inclusive, don’t you think?).

Now that the name thing is settled, it is time to start actually giving shawls, etc. to those in our congregation in need of a communal hug.   I am happy to say, that I have four shawls ready to give (two by me and two by a goddess known as Karen).    Admittedly, it would be easier to hand these babies out if I would just get over this respiratory thing and get to church but still it is a load off of my mind knowing that they are good to go when I am.

Yesterday, I tagged each one, wrapped them in tissue paper and put them in gift bags.   Hubby had a great idea.   He suggested that rather than gift bags, I put each one in a pretty reusable bag from our local grocery store, less expensive than gift bags and the idea fits nicely with UU culture.   I am totally doing that next time.

I told myself I wouldn't, but then I did....

I told myself I would not knit/crochet the requested throw for our caring committee.    Before I got involved in this Comfort Shawl group, I kept one prayer/comfort shawl on the needles at a time.   I only worked on it at church, and the movies.   Once finished, washed, blocked, and donated, I would start another to continue the process.   Lately, however, I feel like the knitting for this group is taking up a lot more of my time than I have to give.

I have a pattern waiting for edits, one finished and waiting photos, and another one swirling around in my brain.   If I am going to make a business of my designs than I have to behave as though it is a business (At least, that is what I tell myself).   With that in mind, when asked if we could produce a throw, I said that I would ask around (I did not immediately say "Sure, I will get right on that").   I did find a volunteer.  Another blogger's color sense provided a stripe sequence.  A combination of shopping and stash diving produced the yarn (read more about all of that here).   I even put it all in a pretty basket.  That is about when I found out that I had misunderstood my volunteer.   She would rather sew the blanket.   Then, her life went crazy (as does happen), and I have not had the heart to remind her that she owes me a blanket.  Poop!

You can probably guess what happened next.   Last night, while watching Downton Abby (Did you see it?  Holy Moly!  Who saw that coming?), I started a giant granny square blanket.    Hopefully, it will go fast.

A Little of This and a Little of That....

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to arrange for a throw to be made for someone who recently suffered a loss.  Lucky for me the second person I asked was up for the task.   All I had to do was come up with the yarn and a pattern.    Now this lovely person (who could very well be reading this post) does not knit but she is a recent convert to crochet.    I wanted to come up with something that would be pretty, textually comforting, and economical.    Requirements and ideas have been marinating in my brain for a couple of weeks with no one idea screaming "I AM THE ONE", until I discovered a new, to me, blog called Annie's Place.  Sharron (Annie is her Gran)  is a UK crocheter with a real eye for color.   She takes the simplest things and makes them look new and lovely.  

Inspired by the back of her Rainbow Traditional Granny Square Cushion Cover and her generously shared Granny Stripe Colour Sequence, but hampered by budget constraints, I went to Michael's, Joann's and AC Moore  (Find out why we do not shop at Hobby Lobby here) to round up 17 colors of Lilly's Sugar and Cream.   My goal was to match, as closely as possible,  the colors that Sharron used for her Granny Stripe Blanket.   I think I did a pretty good job.  


The hook and yarn are nicely nestled in a pretty basket just awaiting delivery.   All my generous crocheting friend has to do is knit two rows with each color while following  Sharron's Granny Stripe color sequence and we should be good to go.   Dear heavens, I hope the mutual friend that taught her to crochet, taught her to make granny squares.