"CHAN'neling Doris

The crochet dilemma for this week:

Our church in Southington, CT is in need of prayer shawls...preferrably made with Homespun. OK...I've knitted a few; BUT I want something quick, mindless, cheap, practical AND appealing. Could I be asking for too much...
I don't want anything too long, clumsy OR too holey. It has to be warm BUT not too bulky because chances are most of these will be going to the elderly. Could it be made with only 2 skeins of yarn to keep the cost down? You bet!

I can be sooo anal! It has to fit the bill and still look somewhat fashionable...In the end, it must past the "Karen Test".

Enough rambling already...To make a long story short, I decided to alter THE ALL SHAWL to my satisfaction for a prayer shawl. I was going to call it THE UNHOLEY PRAYER SHAWL (think I need to rethink that one)...lol! No disrespect intended...just pun!

If you'd like to try my version of the All-Prayer Shawl here it is:

*****Special Stitch: 5 Dc Shell - 5 dc's w/ a ch 1 between each dc*****

Using an L Hook & 2 skeins of L.B. Homespun yarn, follow Doris' fantastic All Shawl Pattern through Row 19. The pattern is free online. You will have 18 dc's in between each section.

ROW 20: Turn, ch 3 & work even, skipping 1st sp & last sp, ending w/ a dc in turning ch.

ROW 21: Turn, ch 3, dc in first sp and each sp across, ending with a dc in turning ch. You will end up with an increase at each end.
At the end of ROW 21 you should have 141 spaces.

EDGING: Turn, sl st into 1st sp, ch 1 & sc in same space, *sk next sp, 5 dc shell in next sp, sk next sp, sc in next sp. Repeat from * across ending w/ a sc in last sp. Finish off & weave in ends.

I'll be making more of these & they need to be done in a hurry...We are having our prayer circle on Tuesday & I'm hoping to make at least 2 more by then. These are so quick & easy to make that it shouldn't be a problem.

I really like the way this looks in general & it is a great way to give someone you care about a warm "hug". If you make one, I'd really like to see the pictures.

Happy Crocheting!
Karen