This project is inspired by my Grandma. One of my Grandma Reilly’s legacies was her work with the prayer shawl ministry at our local church. One of my most cherished possessions is the prayer shawl she gifted me for confirmation – I use it regularly in meditation, yoga, and my spiritual practice.
Grandma taught me, my sister, and my close cousin all how to knit when we were young. The motions of knitting and purling are now in my bones – so when I inherited a box of patterns from her that led me to a baby prayer shawl pattern, I knew what to do. My first prayer shawl was one I knit for my son, Otto, to gift him during his child blessing ceremony on his first birthday.
In knitting that first shawl, I was reminded of how good it feels to make something with my own hands in a gesture of love. The art of crafting and the art of mindfulness are a natural pair. Crafting offers space to reconnect with creativity and inner calm and can become a meditative practice that deepens presence and peace. As a gift, that presence and peace ripples outward in love.
While I no longer identify with major religious practices, the prayer shawl transcends that by its very nature. You can learn more about the prayer shawl origins here.
One of my favorite things about the prayer shawl ministry is that these shawls are never meant to be sold - they must always be a gift. This really aligns for me and feels like a tangible way toward peace and love.
I encourage you to join me in knitting a shawl for yourself or a loved one. The original prayer shawl instructions can be found here and it is quite simple (especially if you have knitting or crocheting experience).
As someone deeply connected to the process of becoming a mother, both personally and in my work, I would like to share the gift of shawls with other mothers and mothers to-be. The transformation is great and you deserve to be held and supported in love and peace while you hold and care for your little one(s).
To request a shawl gift, please fill out the form below - and I will be in touch.