Prayer Shawl 3 (E)

Prayer shawl #3. I was so reluctant to make any of these because I wasn't very confident in my skills, but here I am on #3 because they're fun and easy to make. The crochet shawls all lean towards the female side with a more open, lacey appearance. This one (click the image for a larger view with better contrast) is the second one I did without a pattern.

I used:
 - 1 skein of Bernat Blanket yarn (black/white)
 - Size "Q" large crochet hook

It took me about three hours to crochet the shawl and make the chained ties for the front (see picture below for clearer view). Cost was just under $5, thanks to the skein of yarn being on sale and I had a coupon, too. Always love a good deal.

Directions:

• Chain 82

• ROW 1: Single crochet in each stitch, chain two and turn work

• ROW 2: Two half double crochet (HDC) in the first stitch, one HDC in each stitch for the rest of the row until the last, two HDC in the last stitch, chain two and turn work

• ROW 3: Repeat Row 2 

• ROW 4: Two HDC in first stitch, *chain one and skip a stitch, HDC in the next stitch, repeat from the * until you get to the last stitch, two HDC in the last stitch, chain two and turn work.

• ROW 5: Repeat Row 4

• ROWS 6, 7 and 8: Repeat Row 2

• ROWS 9 and 10: Repat Row 4

• ROWS 11, 12, 13, and 14: Repeat Row 2

• ROWS 15 and 16: Repeat Row 4

• ROWS 17 and 18: Repeat Row 2

• ROW 19: Repeat Row 1

• Tie off and weave in tails.

• To make ties, make a chain of 35 leaving a 6 inch tail at the beginning and end. Make two separate chains.

• On one end of each chain, make three individual knots, one on top of the other to create a "bookend" type knot at the end of the chain.

• Try on the shawl. Make sure the front "V" point edges at the bottom of each side come together. Using a pin or piece of yarn, mark the area where the two sides of the shawl come together at a low "V" neckline. This is where you will want to add the tie (use your discretion as to the placement of the ties).

• Take the shawl off and tie the loose tail end (opposite the end you knotted) of the chain tie you made around the opening between the stitches, one tie on each side of the shawl where you marked it. Make a strong double knot as close to the start of the chain as possible. Then weave in the remaining tail as you would at the end of the crochet project.

THIS PRAYER SHAWL IS PART OF THE SANTA FOR SENIORS PROJECT.