11 Free Prayer Shawl Knitting Patterns
Learn about Prayer Shawls
When my mother was in her final days battling breast cancer, she often struggled with body temperature changes. One minute she was warm, the next she was freezing.
A gift she received during that time was a prayer shawl given to her by a close friend.
That shawl was always neatly folded over the back of her favorite chair UNLESS she was chilly or napping. It fit comfortably around her shoulders and kept her hands free while she did puzzles, read, or played games on her iPhone.
It was also just the right size for napping in the chair. The shawl covered my mom’s body and legs without being bulky or being too large to control.
She loved that prayer shawl! Every time she used it, she thought of the person who made it for her, told me how much she loved it and the kind person who created it, and enjoyed the colors and fiber in it.
The shawl brought her so much comfort; I am so grateful to the woman who made it for her.
Why not consider making a prayer shawl for someone you care about!
In this post, we’ll cover everything you always wanted to know about making and giving prayer shawls along with 11 free patterns you’re going to love creating!
What is a prayer shawl?
Here’s what Erica Jackofsky at Lion Brand has to say about these shawls.
“Prayer shawls can be knitted, crocheted, woven, or worked by any other means desired. They may be adorned with beads, bobbles, shells, fringe, etc., or left plain and understated. They can be shocking pink or muted tan and anything in between. In the instance of these shawls, the product is a physical representation of the process. That process is a journey through thought and intent.”
What do you do with a prayer shawl?
Prayer shawls are to be knitted or crocheted for someone who could use a good hug.
The idea is that while you are working on the prayer shawl, you have the intended person in your thoughts and prayers.
SaintMaryParish.org has prayers and poems for every part of the prayer shawl process. There are prayers for when you begin the shawl and for when you present the shawl.
Once the shawl is finished and presented to the receiver, it’s as if they are receiving a hug from you whenever they use it. That warm embrace provides so much to someone elderly, with health issues, expecting a baby, or struggling with life changes (such as the death of a loved one).
How do you make a prayer shawl?
Well, you’ve come to the right place for prayer shawl knitting. Here are 11 unique and interesting prayer shawl knitting projects for you.
Each one has a unique shape, stitch pattern, or texture to keep your hands busy.
11 Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Patterns
#1. Simple Shawl Free Knitting Pattern
I designed this simple shawl using my most favourite aspects of the many small shawls I have made over the years - garter stitch, eyelets and picots.
Uses fingering weight yarn
Designed by Jane Hunter
Get Simple Shawl Free Knitting Pattern on Ravelry
Get KnitPicks Stroll Tonal Yarn for this project
#2. Family Dinner Night Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern
Uses worsted weight yarn held doubled or chunky weight yarn single strand
Designed by Alice’s Embrace
Get Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Yarn for this project
#3. Faith Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern
Uses worsted weight yarn held doubled
Designed by Alice’s Embrace
Get Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Yarn for this project
#4. Lacy Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern
This pattern is one that I created for a prayer shawl. It includes both written and charted directions, and provides an option for a very simple crochet edging.
Uses aran weight yarn
Designed by Renee Rico
Get Lacy Shawl Free Knitting Pattern on Ravelry
Get Malabrigo Worsted Yarn for this project
#5. Fluted Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern
Uses aran weight yarn
Designed by Elaine Phillips
Get Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool Yarn for this project
#6. Dragon Scale Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern
Uses aran weight yarn held doubled
Designed by Louis Chicquette
Get Dragon Scale Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern on Ravelry
Get Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Yarn for this project
#7. Cashews Prayer Shawl FREE Knitting Pattern
Uses worsted weight yarn
Designed by Alice’s Embrace
Get Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Yarn for this project
#8. Whelk Stitch Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern
Uses super bulky weight yarn
Designed by Louis Chicquette
Get Whelk Stitch Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern on Ravelry
Get Lion Brand Mandala Thick & Quick Yarn for this project
#9. Trinity Stitch Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern
Uses sport or DK weight yarn
Designed by Esther Smith Bozak
Get Lion Brand Flikka Yarn for this project
#10. Chakra Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern
The colors denote the chakras. The ribbing in the colorwork is a 7x1 rib. 7 being a significant number for many different faiths. The white border is representative of God’s light, present in all of us. The pattern of the white border is a Trinity stitch. Worked in threes, the Trinity stitch creates a bobbled appearance. But worked on larger needles it creates a lace and bobbled look.
Uses worsted weight yarn
Designed by Sarah Drabant
Get Lily Sugar’n Cream Yarn
#11. Slip Stitch Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern
Uses aran weight yarn
Designed by Louis Chicquette
Get Slip Stitch Prayer Shawl Free Knitting Pattern on Ravelry
Get Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Yarn for this project
