How to Make a Rosary with Beads

Create your own rosary to use in prayer.

The rosary is a Catholic prayer of faith. Catholics pray the rosary on a set of beads containing a crucifix, which is a representation of Jesus Christ on the cross; small medals; and five sets of 10 beads. The 10 beads represent the Hail Mary or Ave. The 10 beads--called decades-- are separated by four beads, representing the Our Father or Pater.



You can make your own rosary using cord, rosary beads, the crucifix and medals. You need to become familiar with making a barrel knot, as this rosary features several of this knot in its design.

Things You'll Need

• Cord
• Cord knot making tool
• Tape measure
• Rosary beads
• Crucifix
• Sharp scissors
• Lighter

Instructions

1. Cut a length of cord 63 inches long.

2. Measure 8 inches from one end of the cord and hold this spot with one thumb. Hold the short end of the cord and the knot making tool in your left hand. Make sure the tunnel on the knot making tool faces toward you.

3. Make a diagonal wrap around the knot making tool. Make a second wrap, forming an "x." Make four wraps of the cord around the x, positioning the wraps close to each other. Insert the long end of the cord under the wrapped cord, through the tunnel on the knot making tool. Pull the cord all the way through, making sure you catch the short end of the cord underneath the wraps. Pull firmly on the long end before removing the knot making tool.

4. Work the knot off the tool gently. Keep the coiled shape of your knot intact and hold the short end of the cord in your left hand with the long end in the palm of your right hand.

5. Pull gently on the short end of the cord and roll the knot back and forth between your thumb and index finger. Keep the coils close together as you move the knot into the correct position. Don't tighten the knot until you have it in the right spot. When it's positioned in the right spot, start pulling gently on the long end of the cord. Hold the knot with your left hand. Pull hard on both ends of your cord to secure the knot.

6. Add the first decade (10 rosary beads). Position a barrel knot about one thumb width away from the last rosary bead. Add one Our Father bead. Scoot this bead up against the knot you just made and made another knot. Position it as close as you can to the Our Father bead.

7. Repeat step 6 for the next four decades, with a knot after the 10th bead, an Our Father bead and another knot after the Our Father bead. You should have five sets of Hail Mary beads separated by four Our Father beads, according to the Rosary Makers Guide.

8. Mark the spot on the cord just after the last decade where you want your last knot to go. It should be directly across from the first knot you built. Tie a barrel knot and position it, then tighten. Line up the two knots so they are next to each other. Mark a spot with your thumb where you are going to tie a double barrel knot.

9. Holding both ends of cord in your left hand, lay both cords over the tool and wrap them around the tool two times to form the coils for your barrel knot. Tuck the end of one cord into the tunnel of your knot making tool and pull it through. Thread the other cord through the tunnel and pull both cords through. Tighten the cords. Holding onto the knot making tool and the end knots, place your left index finger on top of the coils and pull hard on both cords with your right hand. Make sure the loop is pulled as tightly as possible against the coils. Slip the knot carefully off the tool.

10. Start rolling this knot to a position about a thumb's width away from the other two knots. When it is placed correctly and coiled tightly, pull hard on both cords. Let your left hand pull back on the cord to help make the knot tight.

11. Add one Our Father bead to the longest cord. Make another barrel knot. Add three Hail Mary beads and make another knot. Add one last Our Father bead.

12. Slip the end of the cord into the hole at the top of the crucifix. Double this end of cord over the top of the crucifix. Leave about a thumb's width between the top of the crucifix for the last knot. Lay this cord, with the doubled-over end, over the knot making tool and wrap around two times. Draw the ends of the cords into the tunnel of the knot making tool so you catch the cords coming from the crucifix.

13. Position the crucifix so it is directly under this knot and tuck the end of the cord in under the coils of the knot and through the tunnel. Pull the cord end through. Pull hard so the knot is tight. Slip the knot off the cord making tool and pull on both ends of the cord to tighten the knot. Cut any remaining cord, leaving a small nub. Burn this nub with a lighter.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave enough room between the beads and knots so your beads have some wiggle room when you fold the rosary.

• Don't leave so much room between the Hail Mary beads that you can't move easily from one bead to the next as you pray your rosary.

References

• Rosary Makers Guide: Make a Cord Rosary