I asked on the Crochet Liberation Front on Ravelry and was directed to eHow. That article actually didn’t help me, because it was about converting crochet patterns to knit instead of knit to crochet. But it did lead me to search on eHow for “convert knit patterns to crochet.”

That particular search string eventually led me to this article on converting knit patterns to crochet.

Jackpot!

Now, I know it won’t be easy. But I know it’s doable. I won’t have to give the book of knit patterns away.

I’m working on a note and a prayer to include in the basket with the shawl when I give it to her.

I signed up for a prayer shawl swap on Ravelry. Before I start that shawl, though, I have another one to do. This one will be for my cousin. I got the yarn for it at Hobby Lobby yesterday and I’ve already started it.

And I know you’re wondering… No, it’s not impossible to have a prayer shawl swap. You know who your partner is and you pray for them as you make the shawl.

Then after the swap, there are another couple people I want to make shawls for. With those, there isn’t the urgency there is with the one for my aunt and now the one for my cousin.

The picture to the right was taken earlier today. At the time, I had seven rows done. It’s not very wide, but it’s supposed to be very long. I’ve been concerned that it wasn’t wide enough. After I finished the eighth row, I checked my guage again.

According to the pattern, 11 stitches equals 4 1/2 inches and eight rows also equals 4 1/2 inches. Both checked out, so it’s going the way it’s supposed to. The pattern alternates rows of single crochet and double crochet with spaces. It works up rather quickly. I pray for the person it’s being made for as I go.

I love the color. I think she will love the color. I wish I had chsen a softer yarn. Be that as it may, it is getting done.

If anyone else is interested in making a prayer shawl, I recommend two sources. The first is the book The Prayer Shawl Ministry: Reaching Out to Those in Need. The other is the Prayer Shawl group on Ravelry.

In the book, the pattern I’m using is the Crochet Rectangular Stole. It’s a short pattern, relying on repetition for the length, and beginner-friendly.

I will share a picture of the finished project when I am done.

I debated between several different projects: “funky” gloves, another hat, a scarf, a baby blanket for charity…..

Last night, I went to Wal-Mart where I bought several varietyies of yarn. I also bought The Prayer Shawl Ministry put out by Lion Brand Yarn. I had thought that I would do that “someday.”

Last night, I kept thinking about it. I have been feeling very strongly led to make a prayer shawl. Why?

Two weeks ago, one of my cousins committed suicide. Many of us blame ourselves for not seeing the signs, for not reaching out to him more, for whatever reason. I am going to make a prayer shawl for his mother. SHe can use it as a wrap, as a throw, as a prayer shawl, or not at all, however she prefers.

It doesn’t matter what she does with it. What matters is that I make it.

I ripped it out no less than five times. I spent a couple hours being confused and thinking I’d never get it done. I kept getting lost. Then I made it to round five.

Somewhere in the middle of round five, something clicked and I got it. It went so quickly after that. I can actually see myself doing another hat after that.

Here’s the hat. It’s half-double crochet.

My first stop was the jewelry-making section where I got a few things I needed. Then I made a bee-line for yarn.

I got a package of 3 yarn daisies. Let me tell you, those things are not as easy to use at it looks like it would be. But that’s for a whole ‘nother post. I also got another set of yarn needles, soft stitch counters (yes, I know those are for knitting, but I cut a slit in them and will use them for crochet), pom-pom makers (a package of 2), a magnetic pattern holder/marker, and a lot of yarn.

Some of the yarn — okay, most of it — was on clearance, but I also splurged and got a couple skeins of I Love This Wool and I Love This Cotton.

I got some peach fuzz (which I have no doubt will probably be hard to work with) and I got some that looks like it has ribbons woven into it.  On one hand, I feel like I got too much. But on the other hand, I feel like I didn’t get enough since my friend (cousin) wants to buy some of it from me.

I think she & I might have to go on a yarn-buying excursion this week.

I get easily lost with flat crochet at times, so this was especially confusing for me. At one point, I got lost and had no idea where I was in the stitch count estimate or on the pattern. One of the others in the class suggested I count my stitches to see where I was.

Here’s a little secret: I’m legally blind. It’s very hard for me to count stitches. Especially on a solid color yarn. If I were using a varigated yarn, it might be different.

Key word: might.

So instead of counting stitches, I ripped it all out and started over.

My hat will be a yummy raspberry color. I think that’s actually the name of the yarn color: raspberry. I don’t have any pics of progress yet. You kind of have to have progress before you can show anything.

I have no doubt I will rip it out many times over, but I’m getting the hange of it…I think.

Well….

I decided I didn’t want to go through all that changing just yet, so I’m sticking with double crochet.

When my mom saw it, she said, “Wow! How do all the blues get together like that?” when it started to build up.

That’s actually an easy answer. I wanted to be able to crochet wire for some bracelets and (maybe) necklaces.

I have to start with yarn, though, before I can even think about trying wire. My first project was a single-crochet dishcloth. It’s not finished yet. My second project was a double-crochet dishcloth. It’s…as finished as I can get it at the moment. Why?

I’m out of yellow yarn.

I don’t know if it’s lopsided because I stretched it more as I worked on it or if I accidentally increased a few times. Either way, for a first completed project, I’m pretty pleased with it.

Then again, it could be that I’m easily impressed.