The Prayer Shawl Companion: 38 Knitted Designs to Embrace Inspire & Celebrate Life [Paperback]

Janet Bristow (Author), Victoria A. Cole-Galo (Author), Tom Hopkins (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2008

For many, the ultimate expression of spirituality is charity. And for years, people have been crafting prayer shawls - knitted wraps to comfort those in times of need and to help others celebrate special occasions. Written by the two women at the heart of this groundswell of charity knitting, The Prayer Shawl Companion presents 38 wondrous wraps for all occasions, from baptism to remembrance. The book includes easy, intermediate, and challenging patterns for such inspiring creations as The Calming Shawl, and the Friendship Patchwork Shawl, and many more. Since knitting itself can be a gloriously spiritual activity, Bristow and Cole-Galo also offer advice on creating a peaceful creative environment and include heartwarming stories to and from shawl recipients. Professional knitwear designers like Kaffe Fassett and Nicky Epstein have donated more than 10 patterns.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Janet Bristow and Victoria Cole-Galo are co-founders of the Prayer Shawl Ministry and the accompanying Web site, shawlministry.com. Both women are graduates of the Hartford Seminary's Women's Leadership Institute.

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (September 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600850030
• ISBN-13: 978-1600850035
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth every penny!, September 26, 2008

By 

Joan Giese "avid knitter" (Butler, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Prayer Shawl Companion: 38 Knitted Designs to Embrace Inspire & Celebrate Life (Paperback)

I have been knitting prayer shawls for almost 5 years, and bought this book only because I had met Bristow/Galo and was curious about what they would put into it. I am impressed...they have patterns that I am not familiar with! Great photos, clear patterns, and new prayers! Worth every penny.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touched by these angels, November 3, 2008

By 

Kristen Ritchie (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Prayer Shawl Companion: 38 Knitted Designs to Embrace Inspire & Celebrate Life (Paperback)

I have just received this book in the mail as a gift from my father - and have been overwhelmed with emotion ever since. You see, unbeknownst to me, there is one excerpt in the book written by my mother's best friend in honor of her. Janet Bristow and her group, that included Ginny Owens, bestoyed the gift of a prayer shawl to my mother Cyndee as she went through chemo the first time. This was a gift that truly paid itself forward 1,000-fold. My mother was so inspired, that despite fighting breast cancer, she went on to knit hundreds of blankets for friends, family and strangers alike for the next 9 years. She taught me to knit and to do the same. Inspired friends of my mother's began to do so, some even forming groups. The next thing you know, lives around the world were touched by one simple gift. This book encapsulates both the beauty and the power of these shawls, and inspires even the timid knitter to knit, because the importance of the gift will overshadow the strength of the knot. Thank you to Vicky & Janet for touching so many lives before now, and countless more that will be touched for reading this book, receiving it as a gift, or entering the community of other prayer shawl users & makers.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book for knitters and non-knitters alike!, September 26, 2008

By 

Carol Morano (Central Connnecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Prayer Shawl Companion: 38 Knitted Designs to Embrace Inspire & Celebrate Life (Paperback)

What a superb book this is! It is more than a volume of knitting patterns, even though the patterns are great and most very original. (Also, many of the shawls are breathtakingly beautiful.) It is also a collaboration of heartwarming stories and inspirational prayers. The whole experience of this book is uplifting. Thank you Bristow/Galo for this transformational book.