Prayer Shawl Crochet Instructions
By Jeanette Mercugliano
www.shawlministry.com
In Memory of Jeannette Mercugliano
Co-Established the Prayer Shawl Ministry - Epiphany Cathedral - Venice, FL
Born February 3, 1946 ~ Passed away October 12, 2005
This is for a medium sized person, increase width by adding extra chain stitches
and length by adding extra rows in the middle of the shawl.
Requires 3 skeins of 'Bulky' yarn for the body and part of a 4th skein for the
tassels
Use a U. S. size
"L" or larger crochet hook.
Note: For added interest and texture, I crochet in the back loop of all my
DC's (ripple stitch)
Chain 62
Chain 2 and turn (this creates the first double crochet),
Double crochet in third chain stitch
Double crochet in all remaining chain stitches
(you should have a total of 63 DC's in first row)
Chain 2 and turn,
DC in Second DC of row 1
Repeat until you have six rows
Chain 3 and turn
Row 7: DC in third DC of row 6, chain1, skip one DC, DC in next DC -
repeat for rest of row (you have skipped every other DC of row 6
creating 31 openings or windows)
Chain 2 and turn
Row 8: DC in open stitch of row 7, DC in next DC, repeat to end of row
(there should be 63 DC's in this row)
Row 9, 10, 11 repeat same as row 7 and 8 until you have 3 open lattice rows,
each separated by a solid row of 63 DC stitches.
Rows 12 through 49 are solid rows of DC's (63 DC in each row)
(if you are going to add rows for extra length, this is where to do this)
Chain 3 turn
Rows 50 through 54 DC in third DC of row 49, chain 1, skip one DC,
DC in next DC - repeat for rest of row (you have skipped every other
DC of row 49 creating the same open lattice work as on the other end of the
shawl)
Chain 2 and turn
Row 55 DC in open stitch of row 54, DC in next DC, repeat to end of row
(there should be 63 DC's in this row.)
Chain 2 and turn
Rows 56-60 DC in each DC of preceding row (63 DC's in all rows)
Tie off and add fringe - 6-9 strands per tassel.
An Additional Tip for this shawl:
When I say chain 3 and turn, those are the rows (3 on each end
of the shawl) that create the open "lattice" effect. Try to visualize this--the
shawl is a series of sideways rows, the first three rows are created from the
simple double crochet in each stitch. Now we get to the forth row where instead
of chain 2 and turn, you will 3 and turn and SKIP ONE double crochet and dc in
the third stitch, repeat across entire row, thus creating an open hole. If the
Xs represent stitches below you see three "solid" rows of stitches, followed by
an open row followed by a closed row. Do this solid row followed by an open row
three times and continue on with all solid rows until you come to the other end
of the shawl. You can determine how long you want the shawl and continue to
crochet until you reach a good length for you. Then repeat what you did on the
other end of the shawl--one open stitch row followed by one closed stitch row
until you have 3 open rows separated by a closed row, if you repeat the design
of the beginning end, you will end the shawl with three solid rows.
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Note: I now begin by crocheting three solid rows as in my first instructions, but I then alternate one open row with one solid row, ending with an open row followed by three solid rows of stitches, the same as the other end. I find that this pattern gives the shawl a more light and airy feeling; it also moves along much more quickly. This has proved quite important to me; in many situations, God adds a time line and this helps to be able to complete the shawl on HIS schedule.