Prayer Shawl Knitting Instructions

Yarn:
Approximately 550-600 yards of a bulky yarn, more for a lap blanket
For example, 3 skeins of Lion Brand Homespun (6oz., 185 yards each)
4 for a lap blanket
You might combine some interesting yarns, e.g. a mohair and a shiny yarn.
Or any yarn you like (you can adjust your needle size)

Needles:
With a bulky yarn, such as Homespun,
Size 11 U.S. (8mm) for a denser shawl or
Size 13 U.S. (9mm) for a slightly looser look.

Size: approximately 26 inches x 60 inches on size 11
approximately 30 inches x 64 inches on size 13
Or size appropriate for the person or occasion (e.g. lap blanket 45 inches wide, baby blankets, afghans) Cast on the stitches you want!

These numbers work with Homespun:
57 stitches on size 13
63 stitches on size 11
87 stitches for a lap blanket on size 11

The Pattern

There are no shoulds. You may simply knit all the stitches.
One meaningful pattern is:
Knit 3, Purl 3, Knit 3 across every row. Start every row with Knit 3.

To attach your new skein, knit 4-5 stitches holding the old and new yarn together. Then weave in the ends. (You might weave in sooner than later if your yarn tends to fray.) Some variegated yarns, change colors differently from skein to skein. If you don't like the way the colors will come together, you can always cut some off and start at a different point.

Before you start your last skein of yarn, decide if you want fringe. To make the fringe, cut the same # of pieces that you cast on, e.g. 57 or 63. For a 6 inch fringe, you need to cut 12 inch pieces. You may wrap the yarn around a 6 inch piece of stiff cardboard as many times as you want pieces of fringe, and cut only one end. You might tie them with a slipknot and/or put them in a sealed plastic bag so they don't tangle while you finish knitting the shawl.

Finish the shawl, by knitting until you get to the length you want or run out of yarn.

Attach the fringe. Double the yarn and, using a crochet hook, pull the loop through the stitch, insert the ends of the fringe through the loop and pull tight, creating a knot. Or, use more strands and space out the fringe. Some yarns fray--you can knot the ends.

Crochet Instructions

Your shawl will require 4 six ounce skeins of Homespun yarn when crocheted. Various size crochet hooks may be used. We use a "P" hook with the Homespun yarn as it gives a lacy appearance. (However, if you like a denser appearance you can use an "L" or "M" hook. You will have to add stitches to compensate for the smaller size needles.) Chain 54 stitches or enough for desired width of the shawl.

Row 1: Chain 1, turn, single crochet (sc) in each of the stitches until the end. Chain 2 and turn.

Row 2: Double crochet (dc) in top of each single crochet. Chain 2 and turn.

Row 3: Dc into top of each dc. Chain 2 and turn.

Row 4: Dc into top of each dc. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 5: Sc into top of each dc. Chain 2 and turn.

Repeat rows 2-5 until shawl is approximately 57 to 58 inches long (or desired length). Finish with fringe.

Alternate Stitch

Instead of using dc stitch, replace with a half double (hd). Some yarns seem to work better with that stitch. Just follow directions above and insert hd for dc stitch.