Offering of Scarves

This is a project our congregation is starting but I've had people from outside the diocese of Missouri (okay, my sister) offer to help out so I am posting it here in case anyone else is reading this and might be interested:

Calling all knitters and crocheters throughout the diocese of Missouri to participate in an offering of scarves to be presented and blessed at Diocesan Convention and wrapped and given to the clients of the Free Hot Lunch Program at Trinity Church in St Louis on the Sunday nearest to Christmas.

This is an opportunity for individuals and shawl ministry groups to share the warmth of Christ's love with others by praying for the person who will receive your scarf.

Scarves should be 7" by 60" and made of washable wool or synthetic fibers. Please subdued colors like navy, dark green, grey, black or tweedy combinations. (The idea is to have them all look pretty similar so that there are no fights or disputes among the recipients.)

Here is a suggested pattern for knitters, based on the prayer shawl ministry basic pattern:

Cast on an odd number of stitches which is a multiple of three. On each row, knit three, purl three until the end of the row. If you prefer, you may do basket weave, a cable, plain garter stitch or whatever will make a warm finished product.

Here is a suggested pattern for crocheters, based on the prayer shawl ministry:

Chain as many as needed for desired length. Chain 1, turn, single crochet in each of the stitches to end. Chain 3 and turn. Double crochet in top of each single crochet. Repeat this row 2 more times. Chain 1 and do 1 row of single crochet to end. Chain 3 and turn. Do 3 rows of double crochet. Repeat pattern to end (1 row single, 3 rows double) End with 1 row of single.

Again, if you prefer another pattern which will make a dense warm finished project, please use that.

This project is inspired by the Prayer Shawl Ministry where you can get additional patterns and suggestions for praying and meditating as you work with your scarf.

Please send your scarves to diocesan convention with your convention deputies on November 21. If possible, please let us know how many you expect your congregation will be able to contribute.

If this drive is an amazing success, we could branch out to other food pantries and/or youth in detention… if not this year then next!

For more information, including advice on how many stitches to cast on and what kind of needle to use, see your local needlework expert or email rector (at) saintmarks-stl.org

To download this document as a Word Document please click here.