Recently I went to Dominican Republic on a missions trip with the group called MMI (Medical Ministry International.) While there, we handed out prayer squares to the people that would come through the clinic. As I looked closely at them I realized this was something small and easy that I could do even though I will not be able to go on a trip next summer. I asked some of the ladies in charge of the clinic if this was a need and they said that if they have them they would definitely use them, they just don't always have them to hand out. The idea behind a prayer square is that as you are making the square, you are praying for the person or family that will be receiving the square. A prayer square can be crocheted, knitted or even fabric sewn together and is about 4x4 inches big. This is something that I will continue doing and would invite you to join.I looked it up on Pinterest and found different patterns and such. Anyhow here are a few that I have completed.
Left:
chain a row of approximately 4 inches long.
Row 1: skip the first two chains from the hook and do a half double crochet (yarn over, insert into stitch, yarn over again and pull through all three loops). Continue to do this until the end of the row. chain 2, turn
Row 2-13: half double crochet in each of the previous half doubles until the end of the rows, chain 2 and turn.
Right: I made a cross into the square even though it may be a little difficult to see.
Instructions:
Chain 12
Row 1: sc in second ch from hk and in each ch across. ch 1, turn (11sc)
Row 2: sc in each of next 3 sc, puff st in next sc, sc in each of next 3 sc, ch 1, turn
Row 3: sc across, ch 1, turn
Row 4-9: repeat rows 2 &3
Row 10: *sc in 1st sc, puff st in next sc, sc in next sc*, repeat to end
Row 11: sc across, ch 1, turn
Row 12-14: repeat rows 2 & 3
Row 15: sc in each sc across.
Then create a border: I did 3 sc in the corner and turned and sc all the way around to where I finished off, making sure I did 3 sc in each corner.
Puff Stitch = PS: YO, insert hook in next stitch, yo, pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (3 loops on hook), YO, insert hook in SAME stitch, yo, pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (5 loops on hook), YO, insert hook once again into the SAME stitch, yo, pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (7 loops on hook).
The pattern came from the site: http://myhobbyshopblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/pattern-prayer-squares.html I would encourage you to check it out!
Left:
Chain 14
Row 1: sc in second loop from hook and sc in each across, ch 1, turn
Row 2-15: sc in first sc, sc in each across, ch 1, turn
Border: sc 3 in first corner, sc across all edges making sure to sc 3 in each corner. Join at the end with slip st. and tie off.
Below: Same as above with a different type of yarn and no border added.Make this fun to do, get a group of people together and pray as a group. This is also a great way to try new patterns and benefit someone in the process. Also if you would be interested in joining me, by making prayer squares for the MMI organization to hand out to the many people that come into their clinics, then let me know. It doesn't have to be crocheted, it can be knitted, or even fabric sewn together.
