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A friend loaned me Debbie Macomber's "Back on Blossom Street", a cute story (romance really) about a prayer shawl knitting group. It was an easy read. I rate it as being good for beginning Christians. I don't agree with all the theology for sure. However, the basics are there. This book would probably be more suited to liberal Christians.
I also found some basic logic lacking. I don't care who you are, you can't be 5 1/2 months pregnant and not have it noticed when you receive a bear hug from your guy! Things are just a little harder in the tummy... And to be able to hide the fact you're 5 1/2 months pregnant from everyone else seems highly unlikely to me, considering all the changes that happen during pregnancy. It just made the book unbelievable to me. But a good story about prayer shawls none-the-less.
The author does give some knitting instructions for prayer shawls as well, including a pattern for a lace knitted shawl. She also gives a brief history of prayer shawls.
Bear in mind, I never read fiction, so my review could be slightly biased! I'm not fond of fiction and haven't read any in years!
I also found some basic logic lacking. I don't care who you are, you can't be 5 1/2 months pregnant and not have it noticed when you receive a bear hug from your guy! Things are just a little harder in the tummy... And to be able to hide the fact you're 5 1/2 months pregnant from everyone else seems highly unlikely to me, considering all the changes that happen during pregnancy. It just made the book unbelievable to me. But a good story about prayer shawls none-the-less.
The author does give some knitting instructions for prayer shawls as well, including a pattern for a lace knitted shawl. She also gives a brief history of prayer shawls.
Bear in mind, I never read fiction, so my review could be slightly biased! I'm not fond of fiction and haven't read any in years!
I finished this Friday while at church to help prepare a luncheon and clean up afterwards. We had some waiting around to do, so I finished it. A couple of ladies were ooohing and aaahing it. I had one of them model it. They both liked it so much, I think I'll make another one. I've already started.
I have enough yarn to make four of these. They are made of a yarn called Wonderful by Ornaghifilati in Italy - 65% acrylic, 25% new wool, 10% mohair. They are nice and light and warm. Hand wash and dry flat. Knit on 10 mm needles. The pattern is from the book "The Prayer Shawl Ministry", Leisure Arts 4225.
I have enough yarn to make four of these. They are made of a yarn called Wonderful by Ornaghifilati in Italy - 65% acrylic, 25% new wool, 10% mohair. They are nice and light and warm. Hand wash and dry flat. Knit on 10 mm needles. The pattern is from the book "The Prayer Shawl Ministry", Leisure Arts 4225.
The prayer shawl is finished! It's a little narrower than planned, but at 18" it should be fine for a short woman like myself. I knit till I ran out of yarn on the second ball. The pattern is knit 3, purl 3, on size 8 needles. But honestly, you could just do plain knit. The pattern doesn't show up on this nubbly yarn anyway. This is two balls of Georgia, available at Walmart. It made a rectangle 18 x 60" or more. It's longer than my tape measure folks. It sure is a cozy shawl. Cost? Less than $10. Time to make? About 15 hours. I'm a slow knitter.
I was at knitting Monday night and was so pleased to see two more finished shawls, and the ladies embarking on more. I was very relieved. The minister had asked for these and there was considerable resistance in the group to doing them. I just got stubborn and started one anyway. I bought some books secondhand and let the ladies look at them while we were working other projects before Christmas. It was an act of faith to just start knitting and believe others were going to follow. I'm glad I did.
Sometimes this knitting group really challenges me spiritually. It's good though. When I first brooched the subject with a friend at church, about restarting the group with our new minister, I didn't know how it was going to fly or what form it was going to take. My friend took it over quickly and she and the minister nailed down what needed to be done.
Because of the nature of our group, we chose to meet in a senior's apartment. It's been good for all concerned. The older people don't have to find rides on cold winter evenings. We younger ones simply show up at an older lady's apartment and knit. Some other people in the building show up too. It's been a good social time and a learning experience for all of us I think.
I am very reluctant to speak up about things I disagree about with the older ladies...they've been around longer than I have and have a better idea of things I think. However, I must admit to confiding in frustration with a younger lady more often than I ought! Still, I think we all grow when we become involved with community, and that is what this is all about...growing within community. And, hopefully, the proceeds of the knitting will go to worthy people and causes.
Sometimes this knitting group really challenges me spiritually. It's good though. When I first brooched the subject with a friend at church, about restarting the group with our new minister, I didn't know how it was going to fly or what form it was going to take. My friend took it over quickly and she and the minister nailed down what needed to be done.
Because of the nature of our group, we chose to meet in a senior's apartment. It's been good for all concerned. The older people don't have to find rides on cold winter evenings. We younger ones simply show up at an older lady's apartment and knit. Some other people in the building show up too. It's been a good social time and a learning experience for all of us I think.
I am very reluctant to speak up about things I disagree about with the older ladies...they've been around longer than I have and have a better idea of things I think. However, I must admit to confiding in frustration with a younger lady more often than I ought! Still, I think we all grow when we become involved with community, and that is what this is all about...growing within community. And, hopefully, the proceeds of the knitting will go to worthy people and causes.
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