Sheila's Shawls

Moving site locations

2007-09-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

Due to the increased amount of work and the fact that Sheila's Shawls is operating under the parent group of Silent Witness, this blog will move and transfer information as of 9/17/07 to
http://silentwitness.wordpress.com/. All the information that you wanted and more will be there. Thank you for your interest in comforting those touched by domestic violence.
Blessings,
Renee

quizzes, missing posts and other ramblings

2007-01-16T11:25:00.000-08:00

Well, I did post in December but they disappeared. I will not try to make them come back and there were no pictures, so you didn't miss much. I have been knitting up a storm. No snow for Minnesota though. Shawls though. I have 3 requests for a total of seven shawls. 5 of them are done and soon as I finish the 6th the second mailing will go out. The requests are endless. I also needed an emergency shawl for a young woman at church who miscarried for her third time. This was much more difficult because she was 4-6 months along and had to deliver the dead fetus. I felt so bad. I have a prayer shawl for her but I have only seen her once since, I heard about it. I did not have the shawl with me at that time. That will get taken care of.

I have been happily reading the Yada Yada Prayer group books. I am on the fifth book right now. They are very good and very real. I don't wish my life to be like hers, but I wish for some prayer group more like that. Maybe that is why it is fiction?

Here is the results from my green quiz. Green is my favorite color. It has been ever since I was little.

You Are Emerald Green

Deep and mysterious, it often seems like no one truly gets you.
Inside, you are very emotional and moody - though you don't let it show.
People usually have a strong reaction to you... profound love or deep hate.
But you can even get those who hate you to come around. There's something naturally harmonious about you.

What Color Green Are You?

Here is the results to my purple quiz. You should check it out.
Dark Purple
To others, you seem a bit dark, mysterious, and moody.
In truth, you are just a very unique person who doesn't care what others think.
And you really enjoy your offbeat interests and friends.
You've decided that life is about living for yourself - simple as that.

What Color Purple Are You?

I donated several shawls and scarves this holiday season to the local domestic violence shelter. Every little bit helps.
Blessings,

So many things, Need a time blessing

2006-11-27T11:59:00.000-08:00

Well, things are busy as ever. My dd was home from college for the holidays. It was her first trip home. She really only wants to be here to get free laundry and see any other friends that are home from college. She has a service project she wants to do in Chicago. So I have knit up 25 hats for her to take with her and share. I have also worked on the Caps for the Capital Campaign sponsored by Warm Up America. Our school, Totino-Grace High School, is participating and has a goal of 100 hats by Christmas break. We are close. We have 91 so far and 4 weeks to complete an additional 9 hats. We should be fine. At the school Thanksgiving Mass we had 50 caps, and 33 scarves blessed by the Bishop. The scarves and a shawl were sent off right away to Olympia, Washington. I have to fix my sweaters for my niece and nephews. Then block them and a shawl. Then work on a few more hats. I currently have a shawl and a pair of leg warmers on the needles.
My secret pal sent me a gift certificate for some yarn off the internet. So I ordered some lovely dk peace fleece. This will be going into the shawl that I am making. This is all so very exciting.
Not much else is new. Projects continue and I feel like I am always behind. Wish I could get enough done so I felt like the knitting room was organized rather than a cluttered mess.
Have a wonderful week!
Blessings

Time Flies

2006-11-08T05:26:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. It's already November and I haven't posted. I have received 2 beautiful shawls in the mail. I will only be able to show you one, as I had to send a box of shawls and scarves off asap to NJ. I went up to St. Cloud last Friday, and learned more about knitting hats adults and premies and making a rectangle shawl. I will go up at Christmas and see what it is like to do diffent pattern stitches on the machine. Right now, I need to manage squares and retangles. I have been exstremely busy with something every night after school. I bring my knitting with me though so at least when I feel rushed, I can relax once I get there. I made a second shawl on the machine but you can't see it because it too went off to NJ. The weather is exceptionally warm and dry in Minnesota this fall. So much so that the land up north the wells are running dry and they do not have enough water for daily living. We need a good soaking rain, before the snow. I know these are random ramblings so I better stop now and fill you in when I am more together. Until then.
Renee

Finally photos

2006-10-29T04:45:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally got the camera and took pictures of the following projects that are done and on their way out of my house. Yeah!
First, I want to show you the first item I ever machine knit. Hopefully it won't be the only.
Then for the auction I made a
cheerleading outfit for an 18 inch
doll in the Totino-Grace School
colors.
The image on the left is one of two triangle chenille fun fur shawls I made for Sheila's Shawls. The one on the right is the other one.

The last picture is a photo of the leg warmers that I made for my niece for Christmas. I have two sweaters in progress for Christmas presents and always one or two shawls in progress as well as some baby hats for the premies for the Caps to the Capital Campaign. This is a project we are doing at school.
School is busy, open house and conferences. So no knitting time during these activities. I have not found a way to convince anyone that knitting is a better use of time than sitting and reading and waiting.

Many Blessings,

2006-10-24T06:16:00.000-07:00

I will post pictures later. I do not have a camera near by. I received my beautiful scarf and goodies from an absolutely wonderful International Scarf exchange pal. She was great. The scarf in my favorite yarn, and my favorite color. It is beautiful. She is from Australia so I receive a postcard to add to the collection in my classroom. Two skeins of hand spun yarn, again in greens. Can you now guess my favorite color. Also chocolates and some wonderful hand made stitch markers. I love accessories!! Since I have knit for such along time, in my life, 35 years, I like accessories to keep things interesting.

I finished a pair of leg warmers for my niece. She is an ice skater, so they will either be for her birthday or Christmas depending on if I get her sweater done. I am planning on making two other sweaters for Christmas, as well, for my nephews. We will see how speedily they go, but I have at least one project to finish for school first. I have finished several shawl that when I get the camera I will show you. Last Thursday, I learned to use a knitting machine. That was fun. I made a shawl in about 4 hours. It turned out really nice. Now if I can do that on my own. I tried and have failed at several parts of it. But all of the failing is simply learning. I stop and try again another day, or hour and see what happens. Maybe I should try something smaller than shawls first. I should try some baby hats or slippers. I keep you posted on how it goes. I like my hand knitting much better. But being as old as dirt. I can hardly remember learning to hand knit, other than my first sweater was meant for me and it would have fit a football player. So even then I had failures and continued on.

School has been extremely busy with open house and conferences and many other things. So it has been difficult to post and keep you up to date on the shawl process. I do have a request for a shawl that was designed for the extravaganza. I need to duplicate it the best I can. I have no problem doing it. It will just take time and I will have to do it after Christmas.

Blessings,
for now,
Renee

Knit out 2006 and the Shawl Ministry Workshop

2006-10-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

I attended Knit Out 2006 at Brookdale yesterday. It was very fun. The Glitter Knittner was there and represented the yarn stores. There was much information about the Knitting guild. The Govenor of Minnesota declared this Knitting Week in Minnesota. Woo Hoo! Not many people attended as there was many other activities going on in the Twin Cities.

Many People attended the Shop Hop that included hopping to Sheepy Yarn, Amazing Threads, Needlework Unlimited, Three Kittens, Zandy's and Coldwater Collaborative. This sounds like a very fun activity, but when you are on a yarn diet, like I am, not a good way to spend my time.

I then went to Augustana Lutheran Church in West St. Paul for a Prayer Shawl Ministry Workshop. Both Vicky Galo and Janet Bristow presented the start of their Shawl Ministry program and created activities and answered questions. It was a wonderful experience. We had guided meditation and talked about how to start and continue a shawl ministry. It was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in shawl ministry.

Twin Cities yarn/ knitting excitement

2006-10-07T17:44:00.000-07:00

Many things are happening in the Twin Cities this weekend. First the Shop hop is Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Visit the 6 participating shops in the hop and get clues to a question in each store. Answer the question correct and get a stamp on your treasure map. Get all six stamps and be entered into a drawing for $3,000.00. I did not have enough time in the weekend to get to the shop hop.

Instead Friday, I went to St. Paul, to the Women's Consortium and picked up 8 shawls and 33 scarves made from the Vision impaired knitters and crocheters at Vision Loss Resources. I think they are absolutely wonderful. I had a request for 5 shawls and sent several out on Friday when I got home.

Saturday was the day to organize the knitting room and Sunday is Twin Cities Knit Out 2006. It is being held at Brookdale Center in Brooklyn Park. I will be there helping set up the items at 10:00 AM for the Yarn Garage and then at 12:30 I need to rush to West St. Paul. Augusta Lutheran Church is having a shawl ministry presentation. The women from Knitting into the Mystery will be there. I am excited. I almost have Pappa's sweater done. He tried it one, the neckline needs adjustment. Then I will block it and he should be able to wear it before the snow falls next weekend. I am working on a chenille and fun fur shawl for Kansas, I still have the little lace one going. I do have a date to return to Rocking Horse Farms to learn how to make shawls on a knitting machine. I don't think I am a convert, but everything has it's place. It remains to be seen if I will like it or not. Not much else and the knitting room is still a disaster with stuff, crawling out of the room and into the hall. I best go take care of it.
Blessings,
Remember we never walk alone.

Oh! So many things

2006-10-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

Shawls: a Blessing:
I have been slightly worried about the fact that I had no shawls. If I had a request, I would have to reach out across the country because my larder was bare. But the blessings came forth this weekend. These are the shawls that were donated by the machine knitters at Rocking Horse Farms.The patterns and designs are done in the patterns of three. They are so beautiful.

I finished the navy fun fur and ribbon one this week and then this weekend I finished the pink fun fur one.

This weekend I was at the Yarn Garage and Carol was so nice to knit two shawls and bring them in to the store. The Yarn Garage is a drop off point for Sheila's Shawls.

Past Activities
The Northwoods Fiber retreat happened two Saturdays( Sept. 23) ago. I was there and helped Steven set up, visited with many of the participants and stayed long enough to help him set up his presentation. This is where I failed. I always seem to forget the camera. I think about it before I go. I think about it in the car and remember it is at home. I also say stupid stuff to myself as others take pictures at the conferences and retreats. I am forever asking people to send me copies of there pictures. There were several shops represented and the participants learned nal binding and fiber dying as well as style and design presented by Steven, The "Glitter Knitter". Jennie, the Potter, was there. A good time was had by all. The killer of the night was, we were 70 miles from home. I went home for a dinner date, leaving South Haven at 6:00 PM. At about 8:30 PM Steven calls my cell phone and asks where his car keys are? Yikes, they are in my pants pocket in the Twin Cities. I moved his car earlier that day and put the keys in my pocket. Sooo... I had to drive 140 miles additional round trip to give Steven his keys.

Last Thursday, September I presented Sheila's Shawls at The September seminar at Rocking Horse Farms in St. Cloud.

I am wearing my scharf and displaying a simple rectangle garter stitch shawl that was made at school.

Here is Carol and another participant displaying several of the machine knit shawls that they made, did a show and tell, and then donated 6 shawls to Sheila' Shawls.

Aren't they lovely? The textures are so pretty and it is a nice light weight.

Here I am, wearing my scharf (shawl / scarf) looking over the shoulder of a participant as she casts on a hand knit shawl for Sheila's Shawls.

Here is Skip adding a few rows to the hand knit Sheila's Shawl.

This is how far they got on Thursday night. By Saturday when I went back, they were considerably farther and I even added several rows.

This is called a Shawl in Process. It becomes a community shawl because everyone that comes into the store adds a row, rows, or even a few stitches. All of it is done with love and care for the healer of domestic violence.

Rocking Horse farms has become a drop off site for Sheila's Shawls. They are currently hosting Bethany, the Silent Witness, for the month of October, promoting Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Jason, from Rocking Horse Farms was kind enough to write:
Hello friends, Day 1 of our Seminar is over and I felt compelled to
write a quick note about the excellent presentation we had on
Thursday night. Renee Youngberg, National Coordinator of the Sheila's
Shawls program (for Silent Witness) talked about her experiences
working with the program that provides shawls or scarves to persons
affected by domestic violence. She shared some stories about people
who received the shawls and the "thank you" letters that resulted.

Not only did we hear about the program, but she showed some hand-knit
samples that people really loved, including the "SCHARF" that she was
wearing herself. The Scharf is a combination scarf/shawl that she
hand crocheted using artistic yarns. As she continued, several of the
machine knitters got excited about translating one of the hand knit
patterns for the machine. The evening continued with several others
showing Prayer Shawls they had knit, and we were able to thank Renee
for her presentation by donating more than a half-dozen shawls to the
program.

Rocking Horse Farm will now serve as a drop-off point for the
Sheila's Shawls program. (There are coordinators and drop off points
in many other states, too...) Anyone can bring knit, woven, felted,
or crocheted shawls to a drop off point. They also love to receive
sewn items, such as a polar fleece shawl Renee told us about. It's a
great opportunity for machine embroidery, too.
Personal projects
Usually I don't knit for myself. Here are the two projects I have kept.

The one on the left is Aanarondack pheasant rayon yarn and chenille. I did it in the Faroese Shawl pattern, Fenna Shawl by Myrna Stahman. I really enjoy it. It is comfortable and practical. The one on the right is the infamous Scharf. Shawl/ scarf crochet pattern that was designed by Steven Berg (aka The Glitter Knitter) and myself. It is not practical just glitzy and fun.

Everything you didn't know, and didn't ask

2006-09-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

Love of Jesus!
Just wanted to share with you that I am a Christian. I have known Jesus as my Savior for as long as I can remember. I continue to go to Bible Study and pray daily. The cool thing is even when I worship on Sundays, I can knit. I am doing mission work at a church in Blaine, MN. That church welcomes everyone, with many forms of worship. They are called Living Presence Lutheran Church.
This is a great way for me to pray, meditate and worship. I have truly embraced my knitting as a gift from God. I use it daily as I make items for Charities and donate them. I started a knitting group at the school I work at. They are called the Lasallian knitters. They are currently working toward making 100 hats for the premies in theCaps for the Capital campaign, sponsored by Warm up America! Foundation and Save the Children. They also make shawls and scarves for families who have lost a loved one to domestic violence, Sheila's Shawls and Paul's Scarves. They learn by making hats, scarves and mittens for the local area shelters.

I also wanted to share with you a great plan, a way to spend devotion time with your best pal, Your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have talked about how I love to knit. I can't sit still well, and the be silent and know that I am God thing is difficult. Then I came across this, Seven minutes with God. I saved it, printed it and brought it to Bible study and it worked conversion experiences with others that I attend Bible study with. I know God is working wonders when something comes up twice in one day. There are NO coincidences. I think even if you don't have much time, you will have Seven minutes to be with God. I have found this to really be a blessing.
Shawl Ministry
Sheila's Shawls and Paul's Scarves is a shawl ministry that comforts families who have lost loved ones to domestic violence or are victims of domestic violence. Silent Witness Initiative is our parent organization. They started making Silent Witness figures and made a march on the National Capital on May 21-23,2004. I currently have a silent witness, Bethany, in my home. I have had her at school and take her with me when I make shawl ministry presentation in yarn shops around Minnesota.This is a picture of Bethany, the silent witness. She is wearing a shield that describes how she lost her life and was a victim of domestic violence. She displays a beaded knit pouch with Sheila's Shawls brochures in them for people to learn more about Sheila's shawls. She currently is standing in my daughter's room, as Rachel is away at college. The black shroud to the left of her is a red silent witness shape that explains the Silent Witness Initiative.This is a close up of Bethany's shield. Her name was Bethany Muller. She was 16 years old at the time of her death. She died on June 10,1990. She makes a powerful impact on many of my students, because the numbers of teen dating violence continues to go up. What the shield says is this: She was a teenager living in Roseville (a suburb of Minneapolis). She was stabbed 22 times in a triple stabbing that left her sister and a friend injured. She died wrapped in a blanket on the sofa. Her sister's former boyfriend, previously charged with "domestic assault" was charged with first degree murder in her death. This is so sad. So depressing, but if we share the information we can work to stop what we know about, not what we don't know about.
This is a shawl made by one of the students at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley. I put it on Bethany when we go places. It demonstrates the warmth and caring created by the group.
Bethany is ready for her next trip out. She and I will be going to Rocking Horse Farms in St. Cloud, Minnesota to kick off the knitting retreat they are having on September 28th.
Yarn projects and stash
This is a new Sheila's shawl. I have on the needles. It is a Faroese shawl, with a feather and fan border. I have added just two pictures of my stash. It is two small containers. I have at least 7 or 8 more stored away, awaiting projects.
NowI wanted to save the best for last!!!!! My precious Puppies!
Here is Charity, on the left. She is the youngest. The puppy of 1 year 5 1/2 months old. She is a pure bred Brittany Spaniel. She loves to run and play. When she can't get outside and yet is awake when all others are asleep. She loves to play with yarn. Whether it is in a ball, a skein or anything. She sniffs yarn! Finds it in it's bag and removes it and spreads it all over the house. This is not a one time operation, Oh no! She goes on yarn hunts several times a month. I try to get more and more creative, short of locking my projects up in a cupboard. But here she is a cuddliest pooch. Can't you just see the fiber lust in those eyes?

Then there is Bandit, on the right. Bandit was a Shelter dog. She came to us, when we lost our precious Patchy. Patchy was a Black Lab mix that my girls grew up with. She died of cancer at the age of 8. We got Bandit, a short time later from the shelter. She is a German Shepard / Lab cross. She was about 2 when we got her. She is gentle, fun loving, but is showing her age at 10 years old now. She still teaches the puppy what to do. Bandit can catch a frisbee in midair. She is very tolerant of Charity. Especially when Charity still thinks that she can act like a puppy, even though she is technically a teenager.

Last, but not least, is the old lady of the group, Xena- the warrior princess. She is a pure bred Australian Terrier. You can't see her cute pointy ears in this picture. She looks somewhat like Toto, in the Wizard of Oz. She too, was a shelter dog. Both she and Bandit came to us with the name Angel. We needed to change that. We got Xena when we still had Patchy. Xena came in and was the low female on the totem pole, so to speak so she tolerated Patchy and Patchy thought the same. But after Patchy left us, Xena was not so sure about these others that came to live with her. She was top dog now and Bandit was much like Patchy, so she thought that was okay. She and Bandit are only two years apart so the tolerance was fine. They didn't do similar things because of their size and Bandit stayed out during the day when we were at school. But then 8 years later, we get Charity this puppy that doesn't know the rules and wants to play with everything. She tried to see if Xena was a squeaky toy. Xena let her know and still does, who is the top dog to be reckoned with. Xena has two torn anterior cruciates, so she can not jump. She runs like a rabbit, her front legs pull fine and her back legs just spring off together.

All three of these darlin's sleep in my bed. My darling husband is not so keen on the idea but they get down through out the night, because they find the bed too hot. Sleeping on the floor is cooler. So now you know it all, Religion, Knitting and Pets, what more could a woman want. Books for entertainment? Maybe but that's for another day.
Blessings and good night.

I love buttons!!

2006-09-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

If you have been reading this blog at all. You will have noticed an increase in the buttons on the right hand side. I love Buttons. They are so cute, creative and quaint. I was thinking of trying to create a button for Sheila's Shawls or Paul's Scarves. Then when person made a shawl or scaft and donated it to the closest state coordinator they could put the button on their blog. I think that would really be fun. If I can become internet savy enough on how to make the buttons and put them on there so that others can use them that will be great. We can always use additional donations of shawls and scarves from people world wide. We have a coordinator in the country of Austrailia. I would like to get a coordinator for Canada. I have talked with many knitters from there. Well maybe this weekend, I can post a few pictures of my projects and my doggies and tell you a bit about my Christian faith. I am looking for a cool alpaca button, as alpaca and llama yarn is my favorite and they are the coolest animals that the Lord has created. I have a wonderful navy shawl on the needles now. I will have to show it to you this weekend.
Blessings,

School and still looking for State Coordinators

2006-09-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

Well, we moved our oldest off to college. She will be a busy young woman. She is double majoring in Journalism and Music. She is selling Mary Kay cosmetics as well as working a job on campus. She will also becoming home once every two months to stay on the payroll of her summer employment so she will have another job next summer. She is also the New State Coordinator for Sheila's Shawls and Paul's Scarves. She is the state coordinator for Wisconsin. Welcome Rachel, we are glad to have you with us.

I am still looking for additional state coordinators. I need about 35 more. Check the first posting of this blog and you will see the state coordinators listed there. If your state is not listed, we would love to have you join our cause of sharing prayer or healing shawls with families who have lost a loved one to domestic violence or survivors of domestic violence. I have sent letters to shelters asking for volunteers. I have emailed shelters asking for help. I have joined yahoo groups and am asking for other suggestions in getting people on board. The job itself is not really very hard. Send out a shawl or a scarf when asked. Share information if people ask. The other items on the job description are as flexible or involved as you want them to be.

I am still working on the sweater for my father. This is it here to the left. I had all the pieces done, sewed it together, had him try it on and it was too long in the front and sleeves. So I took the stitching out. Ripped the sleeves out to the armholes, and the front down to the armholes. It was easy to do because it was a raglan pattern. I reknit those pieces and am in the process of sewing it back together. He will be able to wear it this fall, as soon as he gets back from vacation in the wonderful west. I also had to whip up two washcloths because I am in an exchange, and I did not get them done.
I have another shawl on the needles on the right hand side and a few ufo's. I may just rip out the ufo's and start something else. Not much else for now.
Let me know if you know someone who is willing to help Sheila's shawls.

Save the everything

2006-08-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

Good morning,
Many thoughts are running through my head. I will finish this post and get back to my knitting. Then I will not be so confused.
I am continuing my research on knitting, meditation and prayer. It is an on going quest to explain to the traditionalists that knitting does have a place in public. We are capable of being at meeting and other places and knitting and actively participating in discussions and workshops. Many people have a problem with others knitting in the business world. Knitting is not a bad thing. As it keeps many of us focused. (Done with the soapbox now.)

The reason we are into Save the Everything is because we want to save the earth and recycle. As well as buy earth and animal sensitive products to keep the earth and the animals safe. No More Testing on Animals. We are really into Freecycle and Caring Consumers and even recycling yarn. Buy that nice wool sweater from a thrift shop and pull it apart and make something new and trendy.

Last night, Rachel, my eldest dd, and I went to the Yarn Garage and got a tune up on projects, the latest and newest in yarn selection and projects to design and wear while Rachel is at college. She leaves in two weeks. I will be assisting the Glitter Knitter. aka Steven Berg, at the Northwoods Fiber Retreat on September 23 and 24, 2006.

We are gearing up for October already, as October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. So I will post pictures of shawls as they come in and ones that I am working on. I continue to search for additional volunteers for Sheila's Shawls State coordinators. The job is not really that large and it would make things much easier if we could have a coordinator for every state. But the search continues through email and the snail mail process.

I have just learned how to add links to the blogs now I have to create other lists on the right sidebar as well. I hope things go as well as they have so far. This blogging is a new and interesting phenomenon.

Sorry, there are no additional pictures as of yet, but we are getting closer.
Have a good'ay

Sheila's Shawls and Paul's Scarves: The Program

2006-08-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

My name is Renee. I am an Avid knitter and I love Charity. So I have become the National Coordiantor for Sheila's Shawls. The rest of this post will explain Sheila's Shawls and Paul's Scarves, as well as The Silent Witness Initiative which is our parent organization. I will share more about myself in other posts.

The Silent Witness National Initiative invites you to honor Sheila Wellstone and her tremendous work in reducing domestic violence in our country. She was tragically killed in a plane crash with Senator Paul Wellstone on October 25, 2002.

As of July 4, 2005 we have distributed over 475 shawls. This is an amazing project. It touches the hearts of so many people.

Renee Youngberg is the Sheila Shawl National Coordinator.

She will moderate the online group, write What's Up with Sheila's Shawls? for the Silent Witness newsletter, connect and respond with others by email, encourage new volunteers to join as State Coordinators and Volunteer Knitters, Also Renee will receive and distribute scarves, shawls and yarn, respond to inquiries and requests by phone, email and here at the group, offer support and assistance to State Coordinators and Volunteer Knitters.

Renee will be here to answer questions, make suggestions, and offer help and support.

Together, we support domestic peace.

We've a yahoo discussion group (see link below) to give us all a safe place where we can share together about all the different aspects involved in creating, collecting and distributing Sheila's Shawls and Paul's Scarves. (This is an email discussion group, and not a chat room.) I hope others will find this kind of forum helpful and meaningful.

Here's the link to the online discussion group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SheilasShawls

We encourage you to knit (or sew or weave) scarves for the men who've lost sisters, mothers, or daughters to domestic violence. We are doing this in honor of Senator Paul Wellstone, who died tragically in a plane crash in October of 2002, along with his wife, Sheila, his daughter and staff members. (See Sheila Shawl story link on home page) Paul fought tirelessly to end domestic violence and we want to honor his memory in this way by extended his caring to men who have felt the pain of domestic violence.

We would like to call these scarves Paul's Scarves in honor of Paul although all of these patterns originated as a form of the Seaman's Scarf. We are indebted to those knitters on line who were willing to share these patterns freely. We have chosen two simple patterns that you can knit easily. But if you would like other lovely and perhaps more challenging designs, refer to the web sites below. Some of these scarves were designed or knit as a result of other tragedies so they will fit right in with the cause that we are pursuing.

As with the shawls, please knit comfort, healing, hope and love into the scarf so that the person receiving it will feel those feelings when he wears it. This intention in knitting affects the knitter and it certainly helps the recipient. Thank you for your interest and generosity in this project.

Remember Sheila by knitting a healing shawl for a mother or sister of a woman who was murdered in domestic violence.

We welcome hand sewn shawls, woven shawls or embroidered shawls, whatever your tradition suggests. The idea is to send healing and good will into the cloth, yarn or threads so that the person feels it when they wear it. If you have patterns for other kinds of shawls we welcome them.

Materials:

Four skeins of Lion Brand Homespun yarn and size 11 or 13 needles OR
50 gm. Heather Mohair yarn, 5 skeins size 13 needles. (more yarn for larger shawls).
Cotton yarn is fine too, for warmer climates.
Gauge: 3-3 1/2 stitches to an inch.
Minimum size 60" long by 24" wide without fringe.

If you need supplies you might want to visit one of the supporters of this program:
Creative Fibers, a knitting/weaving shop in Minneapolis.

Needlework Unlimited in Minneapolis

Pattern: We are grateful for any shawl that you choose to knit but we offer this simple pattern.

Cast on 54, 57, or 60 stitches or some multiple of three. Knit three, purl three to the end of the row.
Turn and knit the purl stitches and purl the knit stitches. A weave pattern will develop.
Leave about one third skein for fringe. The fringe can be from three to nine inches, as you desire.
Blocking is optional.

Method:
The purpose of knitting a healing shawl is to weave good thoughts, healing, hope and love into the piece so it will comfort and warm the recipient. Be reflective or offer a prayer for the recipient as you knit; make this a peaceful experience.

Triangle Shawl Variation

*The prayer shawl ministry and the first pattern on this page was started by Janet Bristow and Victoria Cole-Galo in 1998 in Hartford, CT. Rev. www.shawlministry.com

When you have completed the shawl please send it to a Shawls Coordinator. Please make sure to Include your name and city.

State Name Address City Zip email

Conneticut Wendy Steele 10 Cross Road Waterford 06358 majycbear@yahoo.com

Delaware Tracy Hommel 38093 Old Stage Road Delmar 19940 freedomborn@msn.com

Georgia Stephanie Whitehead P O Box 3378 Macon 31205 Vipmacga@yahoo.com

Hawaii Moana Ramos 922A Hala Drive Honolulu 96817 keahola4you@aol.com

Idaho Myrna A.I. Stahman 2814 Tartan Place Boise 83702 shawlsand scarves@aol.com

Illinois Danielle Byron 547 N Joyce Lomabard 60148 daniellek2tog@yahoo.com

Kansas Claudia Duran 1309 Augusta St. Salina 67401 alleyways2001@yahoo.com

Kentucky Doris Sizemore 2122 Linden Road Newport 41071 dcrochetr@yahoo.com

Maryland Stacie Beard 514 Mauser Drive Bel Air 21015 ficerai@comcast.net

Minnesota Renee Youngberg 9820 Pierce St NE Minneapolis 55434 falkum@ties2.net

North Dakota Becky Dunker P O Box 407 Casselton 58012 besco94@yahoo.com

New York Trisha Ryan 21 East Main St Fillmore 14735 liharborchich@yahoo.com

Oklahoma Sherry Clark 1403 S E Hagar Lane Tulsa 74133 faces.sherry@gmail.com

Pennsylvania Tanis Rusin 2201 Manning St Philadelphia 19103 zebrastripes23@aol.com

Texas Rita Guthrie Tom Green rita.guthrie@co.tom-green.tx.us

Virgina Susan Rosebrough P O Box 477 Radford 24143 transportation@wrcnrv.com

Washington Leslie Sirag 7337 Greendale Court Olympia 98512 siragwatkins@yahoo.com

As you can see we need many more state coordinators and we could use your help. If you or someone you know would be willing to be a state coordinator please email me at falkum@ties2.net. Help us end domestic violence and comfort those touch by it.
If you are able to send $10 for packaging and shipping of your shawl, we would appreciate it so much. Write the check to Silent Witness. Thanks again for your generosity in this healing project.

Be sure to send your name, address, and telephone number along with the shawl. We like to keep track and we love to send out our special thank you notes.