How to Make a Cloth Rosary
You can make a cloth rosary very easily and inexpensively. The color, pattern and texture of the material are completely up to the rosary maker. However, lightweight fabrics do work best. Since these rosaries require only a narrow strip of fabric, they are an ideal project for using up remnants. With such a variety of fabrics available, you can make many unique rosaries. Make a cloth rosary as a gift or to donate to a hospital or church.
Things You'll Need
- 3-by-36 inch strip of lightweight fabric
- Straight pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Scissors
- 1/4-by-36 inch dowel rod
- Crucifix medal
Instructions
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1
Fold the strip of fabric in half lengthwise with right sides together. Secure with pins.
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2
Begin at one of the short edges and use the sewing machine to sew it shut with a straight stitch. Sew all the way up the long open side as well. Remove straight pins as they are encountered. Cut the thread and remove from the sewing machine. You should have a long tube.
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3
Use the dowel rod to turn the tube inside out, so that the right side of the fabric is showing.
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4
Sew a straight stitch to close up the open short side of the tube.
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5
Leave a 2 inch end piece and tie a knot in the fabric tube. This knot represents the first Hail Mary bead of the first decade of the rosary. Tie another knot as close to the first as possible. Continue until you have ten knots.
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6
Leave a ½ inch space and make another knot for the Our Father bead. Leave another ½ inch space and begin a string of ten close knots.
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7
Leave a ½ inch space and make another knot for the second Our Father bead. Leave another ½ inch space and begin a string of ten close knots.
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8
Leave a ½ inch space and make another knot for the third Our Father bead. Leave another ½ inch space and begin a string of ten close knots.
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9
Leave a ½ inch space and make another knot for the fourth Our Father bead. Leave another ½ inch space and begin a string of ten close knots.
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10
Knot the remaining strip of fabric to the two inch end at the beginning of the knots. This will make a circle.
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11
Leave a ½ inch space and make one knot. Leave a 1/2 inch space and make three close knots. Leave a 1/2" space and make one knot.
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12
Leave a 1/2 inch of fabric and thread the remaining fabric through the o ring on the crucifix. Leave a 1/2 inch of fabric and trim the remainder.
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13
Fold the 1/2 inch tail of fabric over 1/8 inch. Fold the remainder up over the o ring. Sew a straight stitch to secure.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
