How to Make Muslim Beads
Many Muslims around the world carry a strand of brightly colored beads in their hand as they go about the course of their day. The strand of beads are sometimes mistakenly referred to as "worry beads". However, they are really prayer beads known in Arabic as "subha". The beads are used to count the numbers of units of certain prayers and to count verbal remembrances of God. They come in a variety of lengths featuring 33, 66 or 99 beads. A focal bead, also known as the leader bead, adorns the end, where a long tassel hangs. The "subha" can be made from cheap plastic beads or expensive glass or clay ones. You can make a strand of prayer beads for yourself or a Muslim friend.
Things You'll Need
- 33, 66 or 99 of the same-sized glass or plastic beads
- 1-inch rod-like focal bead
- Embroidery floss
- Scissors
- Plastic clothespin
- Sewing needle with large eye
- Tassel
Instructions
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1
Decide how many beads you want to put on the "subha". The number of beads, and their collective length when placed side-by-side, determines the ultimate length of it.
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2
Cut a length of embroidery thread to the appropriate size, adding an extra six inches. Clip a plastic clothespin onto one of the ends to prevent the beads from slipping off during the stringing process.
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3
String the beads onto the embroidery thread so that they rest against the clothespin on the one end.
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4
Fold the strung beads in half so that the ends of the embroidery floss match perfectly and remove the clothespin.
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5
Tie the ends in a knot right at the point where the beads meet. The excess three inches of floss must remain intact.
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6
Insert both ends of the excess floss into the rod-like focal bead and push it against the beads that have already been tied together. Tie off the remaining floss into a double knot and trim the excess.
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7
Thread a sewing needle and sew the knotted end of the tassel to the knot at the end of the focal bead to complete.
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Tips & Warnings
Experiment with different bead colors and material to create unique prayer beads.
Ideally, the beads and focal bead should be in the same color.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit multi-coloured beads, background from beads image by 26kot from Fotolia.com
