My grandmother was recently treated for a stroke. While in recovery, I made her a prayer shawl. I told her that whenever she wore it, think of it as me giving her a big, long hug. This is a wonderful gift idea for anyone, especially elderly in the hospital or nursing home.
Now she's typically a really classy lady, always wearing the nicest clothes and great conversationalist. I wanted to give her something that looked just as classy, as if it were bought from a store. The yarn I used was Lion Brand Homespun in Painted Dessert which I would think would go with anything. Isn't it beautiful!? For flair, I added a pin on fabric flower that matched very well. I've heard she loved to show it off to visitors, and hopefully it's giving her plenty of hugs!
This took me two sittings in the evening to make. I used a pattern of a "shoulder cape" I found online which uses double crochet (dc) stitches, then I added half-double crochets (hdc) around the edge to finish. Don't forget to pray for that person as you make it, hence the "Prayer" shawl name. Of course, when you're not busy counting the stitches and tending to the kids then recounting the stitches. No worries, by 10pm and row 10 I was able to stop counting and start praying.
From Bev's Country Cottage: "Elder Care 'Warm Shoulders' Capelet" © 2009
Small/Medium (as shown) has 15 rows of dc about an inch each.
Ch 50
Row 1: 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in each of next 5 ch *, repeat from * across ( as many times as possible), 1 dc in each of remaining ch, ch3, turn (Count turning chain as first dc)
Row 2: 1 dc in each of next 2dc, 2 dc in next st,*1dc in each of next 6 dc*, *, repeat from * across ( as many times as possible), 1 dc in each of remaining ch, ch 3, turn (Count turning chain as first dc)
Row 3: Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 7 dc*
Row 4 : Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 8 dc*
Row 5 : Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 9 dc*
Row 6 : Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 10 dc*
Row 7 : Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 11 dc*
Row 8 Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 12 dc*
Row 9: Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 13 dc*
Row 10: 1 dc in each dc; ch3, turn
Row 11-15: repeat Row10
At end of row 15, 2 sc in 1st st up front of capelet; sc up front. At top corner, ch 5, sl st in 1st ch (to form button hole), ch 1 in each st across neck; at corner,3 sc in last st, sc down other edge side. Finish off, or do fancy stitch across bottom edge.
Sew Button on top edge opposite button loop
Lg-Xlg
Ch 55Row 1: 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each of next 3 dc, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in each of next 5 ch *, repeat from * across ( as many times as possible), 1 dc in each of remaining ch, ch3, turn (Count turning chain as first dc)
Row 2: 1 dc in each of next 2dc, 2 dc in next st,*1dc in each of next 6 dc*, *, repeat from * across ( as many times as possible), 1 dc in each of remaining ch, ch 3, turn (Count turning chain as first dc)
Row 3: Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 7 dc*
Row 4 : Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 8 dc*
Row 5 : Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 9 dc*
Row 6 : Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 10 dc*
Row 7 : Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 11 dc*
Row 8 Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 12 dc*
Row 9: Repeat row 2, using *1dc in each of next 13 dc*
Row10: Repeat row 2, using *1 dc in each of next 14 dc*
Row 11: 1 dc in each dc; ch3, turn
Row 12-16: repeat Row11
At end of row 16, 2 sc in 1st st up front of capelet; sc up front. At top corner, ch 5, sl st in 1st ch (to form button hole), ch 1 in each st across neck; at corner,3 sc in last st, sc down other edge side. Finish off, or do fancy stitch across bottom edge.
Sew Button on top edge opposite button loop
More Patterns for "shoulder capes" "capelets" "shrug" or "prayer shawls"
*CHECK OUT FREEPATERNS.COM here
This one is so pretty…
http://www.karensvariety.com/CopyPatterns/Stoles/Cape426.htm
I'll add on if I find any more. Any suggestions??
Keywords: Elderly, Seniors, Shawl, Cape, Capelet, Shrug, Prayer Shawl, Shoulder Cape, Recovery, Nursing Home, Crocheted Gifts for Hospital
