Pocket Prayer Shawls, aka Pocket Prayer Cloths

I subscribe to a weekly e-newsletter from Lion Brand that highlights new patterns and contains articles about knit and crochet projects.  In a one of their newsletters was an article about Pocket Prayer Shawls.  I was familiar with Prayer Shawl projects, but had not heard about the smaller, very portable prayer cloths, which are small enough to carry in a purse or pocket.

The idea appealed to me, since the pocket prayer cloths work up very quickly. 

The Lion Brand newsletter article mentioned Southern Belle Crochet, which has easy instructions for a Mini Prayer Cloth.

I searched the web for other patterns available.  One site suggested making a granny square to use as a pocket prayer cloth.  While the center of a granny square does look like a cross, it isn't well defined.

I played around a bit with the granny square idea and came up with my own design.

August 2017: A few months back a person asked if this could be modified so it could be made into a baptismal blanket.  Here is my rectangular Cross Granny Square. 

Granny Pocket Prayer Cloth

Before you begin, say a prayer for the person who will receive the prayer cloth.

Materials:
About 10 yards worsted weight yarn, size G crochet hook

• Use cotton or 100% wool instead of acrylic if the prayer cloth will be sent to someone in the military, a police officer, firefighter or other first responder.  Acrylic melts and adheres to the skin, causing severe burns. 
• Some worsted weight yarns are heavier than others.  I switched to an H hook and changed the first ch 5 to ch 4. 

Stitches - U.S. terms:
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
dtr = double treble
sl st = slip stitch

Instructions - please note, this is made just like a traditional Granny Square except one of the "arms" is longer to form a cross.  I posted a few photos below, 1 of round 1 and several for round 2:

ch 5, join with sl st to form ring
r1      ch 3, 2 dc in ring (ch 3 counts as 1 dc)
    ch 3, 3 dc in ring
    ch 5, 3 dtr in ring
    ch 5, 3 dc in ring
    ch 3, join in top of 1st ch-3 with sl st
    do not turn

See photo below of round 1

r2    ch 3, dc in next 2 dc
    2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in ch-3 sp
    dc in next 3 dc
    5 dc (or 6 dc *see below), ch 1, 2 dc in ch-5 sp
    dc in next 3 dtr
    2 dc, ch 1, 5 dc (or 6 dc *see below) in ch-5 sp
    dc in next 3 dc
    2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in ch-3 sp
    join with sl st in back loop of 3rd ch of 1st ch-3
(* Vanna's Choice yarn was lighter than what I originally used.  I added an extra dc to keep the cloth from curling.)

See photos below of round 2

 
r3  loosely sl st in back loop of each st around
    sl st in joining sl st from prev round

fasten off, weave in ends 

This is round 1. To start make ch 3 then 2 dc in initial ring.

Beginning of round 2

This and subsequent photos show round 2

End of round 2. Work round 3 next (no photo)

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Links to other sites:
Prayer Cloth Ministry/Sending Troops Prayers
Cross Pocket Prayer Cloth
Angel Prayer Cloth

Notes:
4 Apr 2016 Revision: Changed the last joining stitch on round 2.  Added round 3.

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Blessings and peace.