To knitters who aren't familiar with prayer shawl knitting, it may seem that a shawl is just a shawl. But there is actually a difference between knitting and giving a shawl and knitting and giving a prayer shawl. Mostly, it's about intention.
Knitters who are knitting prayer shawls will tell you it's a different process than simply knitting a garment. It all starts with the intention of the knitter to infuse healing, good thoughts and prayers of protection into the shawl.
Prayer shawls are typically prayed over through their process of creation and are also blessed when they are finished before being given to the recipient. This can be done either in a formal ceremony if the shawl is being given by a group affiliated with a church, or the individual who made the shawl may pray over it before giving it away.
The person who receives the shawl is also likely to be prayed over when the shawl is presented, if the shawl is given in person.
Prayer shawls may also be knit with a symbolic pattern or using colors of yarn that are meaningful to the religion of the person giving or receiving the shawl. For instance stitch patterns with multiples of three are common in prayer shawls knit by Christians because of the idea of the trinity.
Some stitch patterns that involves threes include 3x3 ribbing and Trinity Stitch. Blocks of three stitches and three rows of knits and purls can also be alternated across the knit fabric for an easy and meaningful pattern.
