40 inches in 40 days
Starting on Ash Wednesday (February 17) there will be a daily knitting meditation posted here every day during Lent except for Sundays.
Lent is a perfect time to start or renew a spiritual discipline. How often have we thought about spending more time in prayer or trying to figure out how to deepen our relationship with God? Dedicating time for prayer every day is difficult. When we pair knitting with praying, we may have a better chance of developing the habit and sticking with it. But how to start? The idea is to commit to something that involves knitting and praying for 40 days. You can commit to sitting and knitting for five minutes a day or knitting an inch a day or whatever commitment makes sense for you.
You can make anything you want. Just like there is no one way to pray, there is not one right way to knit, or just one thing to make.
However, if you are looking for suggestions, then consider making a infinity scarf. A possible Lenten Knit Along project is a 40-inch infinity scarf. The idea is to knit one inch a day for forty days while praying and reflecting on the meditation for the day. There will be a daily meditation on this blog every day except Sunday during Lent.
What needs to be done now to be ready by Ash Wednesday.
- Choose a yarn. Any yarn will do. Usually, I would suggest you look in your stash but this year, because of Covid, I am going to buy yarn in order to support my local yarn store.
- Choose the size needles that is recommended for your yarn. This can be found on the ball band or just experiment until the knitted fabric is what you want.
- Cast on twelve to twenty-four stitches, knit at least twelve rows and check your gauge. You want to know two things: how many stitches per inch and how many rows per inch. Since the goal is to knit one inch per day, you may want to pick a yarn that is a worsted weight to bulky weight.
Example:
You could use size 8 needles and cast on 48 stitches (there are a lot of stitch patterns that use a multiple of 8 stitches). After knitting the gauge, you discover 4 rows a day equals one inch of length. This seems doable. After you knit the forty inches using any stitch pattern you want, you could join the two ends together for a wrap-around scarf that will be 40 inches long by 12 inches wide.
Or
Pick any project that you want to use for your spiritual knitting time.
Contemplative Knitting 
I don’t knit, but crochet. There’s a similarity in using it for prayer and meditation, as it helps me focus. I’m going to try to do this with you, though. My choice of project is to make scarves for the seafarers supported by the Seaman’s Church Institute. Their requirements and instructions are available on their website
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I love the Seaman’s Church Institute. What a wonderful organization. I agree with you about crocheting. I’m hoping to learn how soon.
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I have enjoyed making prayer shawls over the years. They another meditation/prayer discipline. I would love to join you during lent this year.
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I also have been crocheting scarves for the Seamen’s Church Institute, and would love to incorporate prayer and meditation with it during Lent. Thank you.
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My plan for Lent is prayerfully to finish several beading UFO’s (Unfinished Objects – do knitters have those too?) My assumption is that the reflective, prayerful nature of beading repetitive patterns will fit with what you have planned. The finished jewelry will be sold to raise funds for the Episcopal Church’s Microfinance ministry.
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Sounds wonderful. Send pictures when they are done!
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My custom has been to resort to knitting during a blizzard (Buffalo NY) but I need the discipline of commitment during this covid crisis. This goes beyond my Lenten practice of spiritual reading. Thank you for the initiative.
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I have found knitting so calming during Covid and the discipline of doing it daily is helping me stay calm. Glad you are aboard! I’m in the Netherlands for a year but I live in Rochester, so I get knitting during snow storms!
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funny you should ask! I had given up crocheting because I was bored and hadn’t had a progressive thought in years! Last Saturday I noticed a “How to Crochet” booklet at the market, Food Lion. I thought “Oh, what the heck…” but did NOT buy it. Haven’t stopped thinking about it since then. Today you gave me this idea, so I will hie me back to the market to buy this and refresh self, dig out ALL my crochet hooks, plop big butt down in my chair, and begin communing with God with a purpose. Thanx………….
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Sue, I love this! You go girl!
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While I don’t knit, I do needlepoint. I have a large project I’ve been trying to finish since 2014. This will be my Lenten discipline.
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We have a group at my church called Knit, Crochet and Pray. They meet virtually right now and make chemo caps, prayer shaws, hats and mittens for Rosebud Reservation and for the homeless of Atlanta. Could I share your program with them, or is this for clergy only? Thanks.
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No, this is for everyone who wants to pair their knitting time with prayer. Please share!
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Like others, I am a crocheter. But I have made prayer shawls in the past. I start with washing my hands and applying a scented hand lotion(Usually lavender) while meditating on why or for whom I am working. I like the idea of doing this over Lent.
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What a beautiful ritual before starting to crochet something so sacred.
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my friend Kate and I will be crocheting for Lenten Knit/Crochet Along – we will be making lap blankets for a nearby residential assisted living facility – and inviting the congregation to join us!
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That sounds wonderful and I’m so glad you have someone to crochet with! I hope more of your congregation will decide to join. Blessings on the two of you and your ministry!
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I love this idea and hope to join in. I am currently making a baby blanket for a close friend who is expecting their 2nd – a girl this summer. I may however think about the infinity scarf.
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Either one works! Whatever motivates you.
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My church’s DOK chapter meets once a month as a group (on Zoom now). We knit prayer shawls for the sick, new mothers, those having surgery, etc. I have knitted with them for years, however, I’m the Directress for our Mother Teresa Junior Daughter Chapter and my Lenten project is to knit prayer squares with a popcorn cross in the middle for each incoming Junior Daughter. I’m excited to knit these prayer squares during Lent while praying. What a great idea!
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That sounds like the perfect project!
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Would you share your pattern for prayer squares?
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Why did my name appear vertically?
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I am part of a small church knitting group called “Knit and Natter” in Wilmington, NC We are knitting hats for our local homeless shelter. We are excited about being a part of this Lenten discipline.
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Thank you for introducing me to this wonderful practice.
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