Aug 12, 2022

ROSARIES

There is something so satisfying in creating a beautiful rosary. Whether you use it traditionally or in your own way to be peaceful, mindful and prayerful, it is a lovely gift or accessory to create for yourself or for others. Handcrafted rosaries are thoughtful presents for all sorts of occasions, from births, graduations, major milestones, and weddings to bereavements and more. Join me in making your own.

You will need the following supplies (included in a Three & Me DIY Art Kit):

10" jewelry wire
36" jewelry wire
rosary center
crucifix
53 Hail Mary beads
6 Our Father beads
4 crimp beads
up to 100 spacer beads
optional: metal bead caps
medallions

Tools you'll require to create the rosary:

needle nose pliers
wire cutters/ strong scissors
a non-slippery surface
optional: crimping pliers

If you need a DIY Art Kit to create a rosary, please ask here.

Get comfortable. Grab a snack. Turn on a good light and let's begin!

The instructions below, will allow even beginners to create a uniquely lovely rosary. Once you get used to the pattern, you can change it up with additional beads and accessories. This post will mostly deal with a simple, classic pattern.

1. Lay out the first segment of the rosary:

You will need:

the crucifix
10" wire
2 Our Father beads
3 Hail Mary beads
2 crimp beads
the rosary center
spacer beads
optional: Our Father cap beads

Laying out the beads will help you visualize what the rosary will look like.

To prevent your beads from rolling off the table, place them on a napkin, plain kitchen towel, little bowls or on a tray with a lip.

I include additional beads in your DIY Art Kit, in case you lose one to the hairy carpet, voracious vacuum cleaner or exuberant pet!

2. start at the cross:

3. Thread the wire through the crimp bead.

4. Secure:

Thread the wire through the top of the crucifix, bend it over at about 1" and re-thread it through the same crimp bead in a loop.

5. Crimp:

Use the needle nose pliers to squeeze the crimp bead shut. This will lock the crucifix onto the wire.

6. Bead:

Thread your beads onto the wire in the following order:

1 Our Father
3 Hail Marys
1 Our Father

Place spacer beads between each big bead.

Optional: create a pattern with multiple spacer beads around each Our Father, mirroring the pattern on each side of the bead.

Optional: add a metal bead cap directly to each side of the Our Father beads (not shown).

This is an example of the metal end caps you can add around the Our Father beads:

7. Attach the rosary center:

Add a crimp bead and thread the wire through the bottom loop of the center connector piece.

8. Secure the center:

Loop the wire back through the crimp bead.

9. Crimp:

Squeeze the crimp bead with the needle nose pliers to secure it in place.

10. Trim

Remove excess wire with wire cutters/ fine scissors.

11. Attach the long wire:

Using the same technique as before, loop the long 36" wire through a crimp bead and one of the top holes in the rosary connector.

Bend it over to create a loop and return the wire through the crimp bead.

12. Crimp:

Squeeze the crimp bead and trim if necessary.

13. Lay out the first decade:

You will need:

10 Hail Marys
1 Our Father
spacer beads

It is important to lay the beads out in order. I have, on numerous occasions, arrived at the end of the rosary and realized that I have made a mistake somewhere near the beginning and need to rethread the whole thing!

14. Add spacer beads:

15. The first decade

Add one Hail Mary with one spacer until you have 10 Hail Marys lined up.

16. Add the Our Father

Complete the decade with 3 spacers, the Our Father and 3 spacers.

Optional: add metal bead caps to each side of the Our Father bead. (not shown).

17. Continue

Keep going in this same pattern until you have 5 decades completed. This means: 5 sets of 10 Hail Marys with 4 Our Fathers.

18. Double check:

Keep counting to make sure you have the correct bead count, before sealing the rosary. You can still remove and re-string, if you have made a mistake.

Please note: there are extra beads in your DIY Art Kits, just in case you lose one in the carpet while beading. So keep your own count going to make sure you don't add all of them!

19. Crimp bead:

As before, thread the end of the wire through a crimp bead and the remaining opening on the connector.

20. Seal it up:

Loop the wire through the same crimp bead.

Pull the wire, so that the beads sit snuggly against the connector. There can be a little room to move between the beads, but not too much. Don't make it too tight either, or else the rosary will be stiff.

Use the pliers to squeeze the crimp bead shut and secure your rosary.

Trim off excess wire.

21. Optional:

Attach a medallion to the rosary connector.

Most people add medallions of their patron saints, but this is optional.

Your DIY Art Kit includes a medallion blessed by Pope Francis.

There are so many variations on the theme. You can play with colors, textures and a variety of different sizes. I love using crackled glass beads, because they have an old world feel to them and remind me, that although I am a broken, imperfect human, I am still beautiful and beloved in God's eyes.