Love’s Embrace A free prayer shawl pattern

We all need prayer at some point in our lives. We all also need a loving embrace sometimes. Love’s Embrace, a free prayer shawl pattern offers just that. A loving embrace. It’s warm, soft, and gentle texture is like that warm, soft loving embrace in that time of need.

Inspiration for the Love’s Embrace

Inspiration struck for this pattern while using the crystal waves stitch used in my Seashore by Moonlight baby afghan. I fell in love with the stitch and knew it would make up great as a prayer shawl. Easy enough for an advanced beginner to try, this pattern is quick enough to make for any prayer shawl gift.

Meaning of the Color Purple

Beautiful shades of the color purple in the Love’s Embrace, a free prayer shawl pattern help give the inviting feel to the shawl. Purple combines the calming stability of blue and the fierce energy of red. Often times purple is associated with royalty, but it is has a variety of effects on the mind and body. Those effects include uplifting spirits and calming the mind and nerves, therefore making it a great color to uplift those through a prayer shawl.

I found Mandala Ombre by Lion Brand in the color Chi at my local Walmart. However, it can also be purchased online here. This shawl took approximately 5-6 cakes. I did have some left over, but because of its size and the stitch, it took more than I was originally thinking. However, it was all worth it. It turned out beautifully! I can’t wait to gift this one to someone.

The stitch; Crystal waves stitch

The crystal wave stitch is the stitch that gives this shawl its beautiful texture! This stitch is beginner friendly and is easy enough for an advanced beginner. If you are confident with the single crochet and double crochet stitches, then you can learn this stitch. However, the single crochet stitch is worked around the post of a double crochet in the previous row, known as a front post single crochet. Hence, this technique creates a raised look to the fabric, creating a beautiful texture.

Love’s Embrace prayer shawl

The Love’s Embrace, a Free Prayer Shawl Pattern, is a rectangular shawl. It’s finished size is approximately 20″ x 72″, which makes it a good size to wrap around one’s shoulders. It used approximately 5-6 cakes, although I did have some left over. I worked down the length of the shawl, so I started with 260 chains. You could most definitely work this pattern the width of the shawl, it all depends on the look you want. Just use fewer chains in multiples of 4 to begin the project.

Finishing off the ends

I also chose to not put a finishing row of single crochets and chain stitches on the last row. I wanted to have the ridged look on the one edge. But if you prefer, you certainly could finish it so all edges were straight and even. You can create that type of finished edge by adding a final row. Simply single crochet at the top of the chain three of the previous row and then chaining two in between. This will create a smooth straight edge that looks similar to the foundation chain row.

I used a hook size I or 9, which was recommended for the yarn. I think it was the perfect size for this project. The fabric was dense, but still had a beautiful drape to it. Having a good drape is very important when creating a shawl. You want it to drape nicely over someone’s shoulders.

If you are looking for an ad free version of this pattern. You can find it here. Be sure to check out my other patterns while visiting my shop.

Love’s Embrace, a free prayer shawl pattern

MATERIALS:

• 5-6 cakes of Lion Brand Mandala Ombre in the color Chi
• Hook size: I or 9
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle
• Finished size: 20″ x 72″
• Gauge: 4 stitches and 9 rows equals 4″

PATTERN NOTES

• The pattern is worked in rows the lengthwise of the shawl.
• Chain 3 at the beginning of each row counts as a double crochet throughout.

STITCHES:

• chain- ch
• turning chain- tch
• front post single crochet- fpsc
• double crochet– dc

SPECIAL STITCHES:

Crystal waves stitch: Front Post Single Crochet (fpsc) around the indicated stitch, ch 3, 3 double crochets around the ch-3 of the previous row.

Be sure to check out my video tutorial on the crystal waves stitch.

PATTERN: LOVE’S EMBRACE, A FREE PRAYER SHAWL PATTERN

Foundation chain: chain 260 or any multiple of 4

ROW 1: 2 dc in the 4th ch from hook, * Skip 3 ch, work (sc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the next ch, *repeat from * to * to last 4 ch. Sk next 3 ch, sc in the last ch. Turn.

ROW 2: Ch 3, dc in the base of the ch-3. Sk 2 dc, *fpsc around the next dc, wok ch 3, 3 dc in the next dh-3 space, sk next sc and 2 dc. * Repeat from * to * to last sc. 2 dc and 3 tch, skip sc and 2 dc. work sc between the last dc and 3tch. Turn.

Repeat row 2 for the pattern

A FINAL NOTE

Once again, I hope that you have enjoyed this Love’s Embrace, A Free Prayer Shawl Pattern. Please be sure to share your versions of this pattern with me. Thanks for stopping by DulceBella Designs! Until next time, sit, relax, and stay a while and always glorify God by creating beautiful crochet art!