Customer Reviews

Fabric of Faith: A Guide to the Prayer Quilt Ministry

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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.

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.

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."

It is so important to know that we are not alone when we are in crisis. Kimberly Winston has captured the vision and the goal of the Prayers & Squares ministry. The idea that there is a tangible form of prayer with a quilt as the vehicle has touched a nerve across the nation. We are connected to the quilt recipient and to God by the knots we tie and the prayers we say as a community of faith. Kimberly powerfully describes both how it is done and how lives are changed when that person is covered in prayer.

This book is very well written -- has wonderful pictures -- and is full of information for anyone interested in starting a prayer quilt ministry. I loved the stories of individual quilts and their recipients! A good read, even if you aren't interested in making prayer quilts.

This is a book that can heal your soul with the special stories of the Prayers & Squares Prayer Quilt Ministry. This ministry has touched so many lives and Kimberly talks of her faith journey as she researched this worldwide outreach of prayers and comfort.

As each stitch is worked in the creation of a quilt for one in need, prayers are lifted up to the Lord. This guide has many wonderful examples of the Lord's grace as we use our hands and time to care for others.

A very good book to read and to use as a guide in comforting others.

This book was just what I was looking for! It is an excellent insight to the prayer quilt ministry

Very disappointed in the contents of this book. I expected more information and patterns.