Fabric of Faith: A Guide to the Prayer Quilt Ministry [Hardcover]

Kimberly Winston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2006

For countless generations, patchwork quilts have been a visible act of love. Pieced together from bits and pieces of material, they represent the handiwork and devotion of the quilter - and a deep and comforting connection with the person they're presented to. In the Prayers and Squares Ministry, though, the quilt has become something more - a visible act of prayer. It's made not just with artistry but with purpose; not just with fabric but with prayer. From the time the fabric is purchased to the time the finished quilt is given away, a prayer quilt is prayed over by scores of people, from the person who cuts the fabric to the person who inserts the ties. And - most importantly - when the quilt is completed, it's placed before a congregation and every member is invited to bind a tie and say a prayer for the person it will ultimately comfort.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kimberly Winston is the recipient of the 2005 American Academy of Religion awards for Best In-Depth Reporting on Religion. She has written extensively on knitting as a spiritual practice. She is the author of Faith Beyond Faith Healing: Finding Hope after Shattered Dreams. She lives in California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 118 pages
• Publisher: Morehouse Publishing; 1 edition (June 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819221937
• ISBN-13: 978-0819221933
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #332,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its subtitle should be "THE Guide to the Prayer Quilt Ministry", July 21, 2006

By 

LBR Lucas (San Diego, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fabric of Faith: A Guide to the Prayer Quilt Ministry (Hardcover)

At a recent appearance, Kimberly Winston joked that she took on writing this book because she is not in any position to turn down work. A religion reporter for her newspaper, she had grown a tad jaded about faith, especially her own. As she worked on this project, however, she found her edginess waning and her comfort with being a spiritual person returning. One might surmise some prayers were answered.
Founded here in San Diego County in 1992, the Prayer Quilt Ministry (Prayers & Squares) aims to promote prayer, and happens to use quilts as the vehicle. Prayers & Squares is non-denominational and non-judgmental. It recognizes that scary things happen to people, regardless of their religious affiliation. Prayer is something all of us can do to help each other through the rough spots.
As of this writing, there are 479 chapters of Prayers & Squares throughout the world. The ministry is growing, and you may be interested in starting a chapter in your community.
In this lovely and compelling book, Winston discusses the history of Prayers & Squares, the few rules for joining, some stories about quilters and quilt-recipients, and even instructions on making a simple quilt. But it isn't just a how-to book. Winston captures the spirit of the ministry perfectly by connecting it with the virtues of various traditions, non-Christian and Christian. Along the way she talks about her own experiences without ever hogging the spotlight. My favorite aspect of the book is the collection of quotations that appear in sidebars on many pages.
This is a terrific book for people who are curious about the ministry, are looking for ways to expand their own spiritual lives, are interested in quilts or other crafts, are looking for ways to create communities, or are exploring ways of deepening their lives through prayer.
Winston beautifully conveys the warmth and loving kindness of the Prayer Quilt Ministry.
I could not recommend this book more highly.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prayers and Squares, July 1, 2006

By 

Virginia Allain "(retired librarian)" (Poinciana, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Fabric of Faith: A Guide to the Prayer Quilt Ministry (Hardcover)

I was pleased to find out about this book from an Orlando Sentinel review. The book shows how women (and some men) use their crafting efforts to benefit others. They take their quilting, knitting, beading and combine them with prayer or in some way make them an expression of their faith.
Giving the quilts as gifts to seriously ill people along with the prayers for their healing.
There's even a website and a nationwide movement called Prayers and Squares. It is an interfaith outreach ministry that combines the gift of prayer with the gift of a hand-tied quilt. This gives structure to an activity that some quilting groups and church groups have been doing for years. My sister's church sewing circle are making a quilt for my brother who's recovering from a stroke.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A how-to guide to the physical and spiritual process of creating a prayer quilt, December 8, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fabric of Faith: A Guide to the Prayer Quilt Ministry (Hardcover)

Written by Kimberly Winston, recipient of the 2005 American Academy of Religion Award for Best In-Depth Reporting on Religion, Fabric of Faith: A Guide to the Prayer Quilt Ministry is a how-to guide to the physical and spiritual process of creating a prayer quilt. Chapters discuss a history of the prayer quilt, the basic methodology and finishing techniques for making a prayer quilt, the power of quilting contemplatively or quilting from the heart, spiritual expression through quiltmaking, and much more. Fabric of Faith tends to focus on the devotional side of quilting rather than "how-to" nuts-and-bolts instructions, and is geared more toward mildly experienced to intermediate and expert quiltmakers seeking to express their faith than novice quilters. Sidebars on most pages with insightful quotes from great religious leaders and an inset section of color plates enhance this superb introduction to expressing one's faith through needlecraft. A sample prayer provided for the dedication or rededication of quilts is, "Your promise, O God, Giver of all Life / That wherever we go / You will be with us. May we never forget your comforting care / And may our growing faith be a sign to [recipient's name] / That you will never stop loving us."