Making Rosaries

[Sianelle]

I found this illustrated tutorial on how to make twisted wire links that won't break or come undone. I'm still practicing making a linked Rosary and my efforts are still too ugly to show to anyone unless they've lost their glasses

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g166/saskebay/Twistedlinktutorial.jpg

 

[Mom2Alex]

That video is fab. Even i might be able to make something like the all cord rosary. Thanks for sharing that Rosary Army, Rosary making link!

I'm sorry I missed your reply to my post - I just saw it. And I watched that video which made me catch the bug! I have a quiet night at home alone tonight and ran to the local craft store - Michael's and they had no nylon #36 twine. That was frustrating, but I ran to Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts - no nylon #36 twine. The lightbulb went on in my head, , and I remembered that the site mentioned you can purchase the twine at a hardware store. So... I went to Lowe's - guess what -- they had nylon #36 twine, BUT only in white. They had some really bright pink, #15 and some really cool orange, #15... So... I'm thinking, get the white and practice and in the meantime continue looking for colored twine elsewhere. Of course the time home alone and in the quiet will be coming to an end shortly, but I'll let you know how it goes. I have also considered getting some dye and making my own colored twine out of the white. The twine was rather cheap, 70m for $4.43. I really didn't want to order twine online because first, I wasn't feeling patient and second, I didn't want to have to charge it.



Kelly

 

[Sianelle]

White can be really nice for a Rosary, - young girls often like it. BUT the risk is that it might not stay white for long and I don't know if a knotted Rosary would survive being put in the washing machine
My problem with cord out here in the rural district where I live is that I often buy the last roll of cord in a certain size and colour the shop has, and then when I go back for more it wasn't re-stocked. Generally they will get what I want in though, but it is annoying having to wait when the Rosary making urge is powerfully upon you.

 

[Mom2Alex]

Okay, here is my practice chaplet.

Now that I have the hang of it, I can be fussier about the knots the next time around. If I can do this, my dog can do it.

 

[AMDG]

the site mentioned you can purchase the twine at a hardware store. So... I went to Lowe's - guess what -- they had nylon #36 twine, BUT only in white. They had some really bright pink, #15 and some really cool orange, #15... So... I'm thinking, get the white and practice and in the meantime continue looking for colored twine elsewhere.

You can also dye the twine. (I like to do that before making the knots, but if the knots are really tight, I would think that it could even be done afterward.)

Oh, should you ask the salesman if such twine (or even heavy duty nylon fishing line) would take a dye, they'll say "no" (at least the salesman told me that) but I have a couple of beautiful Rosaries that say differently. (I particularly like the one that was dyed a deep jewel purple--just letting you know that the line even takes a deep dye.)

 

[Sianelle]

Okay, here is my practice chaplet.

Now that I have the hang of it, I can be fussier about the knots the next time around. If I can do this, my dog can do it.

Nice work Knots do tend to get better the more you practice. My first knots were pretty rough.

 

[Sianelle]

Oh joy! I think I've found a local on-line supplier of suitable Rosary making cord in big rolls.

I've been playing with polymer clay making Rosaries and I'm really delighted with how they have been turning out. The overall effect has a certain 'primitive' handmade look about it, but the Rosaries themselves are wonderful to handle. I guess it takes me two evenings worth of spare time to make all the beads and parts, bake them and then string the Rosary.

This one is for my keen gardener elder sister.

And this one I made following a design that popped into my head. The large 3D medal of Our Lady didn't scan so well, - it looks much better in real life.

I found a supplier of wooden beads as well other bits and bobs so hopefully I can get back to making 'give away' Rosaries again soon. The Legion of Mary is going to be holding a special Marian day in the district soon and I'd like to have plenty of Rosaries in my shoulder bag when I go.

 

[foxsta]

Wow! They are amazing! You are very talented! Although jealousy is creeping in (lol), I am now inspired to try my hand at making rosaries again yay!

 

[Mom2Alex]

I love that you are making your own beads. They are coming out very well! Are you using nylon twine for knotted rosaries or is it something else? I love that rosary with the green and beautiful cross for your gardening sister - it is lovely.

I dyed my twine, now waiting for it to dry. Then I can get busy - again - practicing on my knots.

God bless you.

 

[Mom2Alex]

You can also dye the twine. (I like to do that before making the knots, but if the knots are really tight, I would think that it could even be done afterward.)

Oh, should you ask the salesman if such twine (or even heavy duty nylon fishing line) would take a dye, they'll say "no" (at least the salesman told me that) but I have a couple of beautiful Rosaries that say differently. (I particularly like the one that was dyed a deep jewel purple--just letting you know that the line even takes a deep dye.)

I see this post AFTER I dyed the twine. I want to do some darker ones, but I dyed quite a bit of twine in a sort of lilac/pale pink color for my son's class at Advent. Nice to know the darker colors will emerge. I want some deep blue and deep green ones. Thanks so much!

 

[Sianelle]

I love that you are making your own beads. They are coming out very well! Are you using nylon twine for knotted rosaries or is it something else? I love that rosary with the green and beautiful cross for your gardening sister - it is lovely.

I dyed my twine, now waiting for it to dry. Then I can get busy - again - practicing on my knots.

God bless you.

God bless you too!!

Yes I'm using nylon cord for my knotted Rosaries, - I did try some rayon macrame cord I found somewhere, but the jury is still out on that.
To my great surprise making enough beads for a Rosary (along with spares for those that get dropped on the floor and are never seen again) doesn't take that long at all. It pays to shop around for polymer clay though as I've found that prices can vary quite a lot. A large commercial stationers in the next town has the best prices I've found so far being a dollar or more cheaper than the posh craft shops.

 

[Sianelle]

I was awfully lucky recently to find some large plain wooden beads in the craft section of a $2 Shop. They aren't stained or painted or even varnished and their finish is slightly rough. I found myself liking the feel of the raw wood sooooo what I did was make a Rosary from them. An offcut of kindling wood was attacked to make a cross and I was so pleased with it I even coated it with polyurethane
This is a big Rosary, - stretched out it's 93cm long! I'll most probably take it to the Legion of Mary day that's coming up very soon and see if I can find someone there who needs it.

 

[Sianelle]

I had a go at making a 'Risen Christ+' using polymer clay. I based the design on a picture of very old bronze cross I saw somewhere recently. It's 58mm long.

I'm not too sure as to the style of Rosary I will be creating for it just yet.

 

[Sianelle]

I couldn't decide how to make a bead set for the 'Risen Christ+' cross so I distracted myself by making a Byzantine icon styled Our Lady instead.

I'm very pleased with how this piece turned out. Until now I've never been able to draw anything and I was hopeless at art when I was in High School, but it seems that polymer clay and I are getting on nicely.
The whole time I was shaping Mary's face I was praying, 'Holy Spirit guide my hand; - please don't let me ruin it.'

A bead company here is running a Christmas season special on smaller sized wooden beads and I've just ordered a couple of thousand. That should keep me quiet for a while

 

[Sianelle]

I've been busy with more Rosary making. Word is getting around and I'm having no trouble passing on everything I make. The Samoan Mission Sisters have asked me to make some more Rosaries for them which is an absolute thrill. The graces Our Lord+ gives me are just sooooooo wonderful.

An attempt at making a Penal Rosary with a simple 'primitive' Celtic Crucifix.

I've made up my mind to only use wooden beads from now on after having some of the cheaper plastic beads I was using messily shed their coatings.

Another wooden bead Rosary; - I was trying out some new ideas with this one.

Another Penal Rosary. I'm very fond of this single decade type of Rosary.

 

[Sianelle]

This evening I discovered that it wasn't clever at all to drop a tray of around 3,000 carefully sorted wooden seed beads in 4 different sizes

After some difficulty I've finally found a source of hemp cord so I can make some better looking and more convincing historic type Rosaries. Wooden beads are much nicer to use and handle than plastic IMHO. I made a Rosary using 100% small glass beads recently. No question that it wasn't beautiful, but my word it was heavy.

How are the rest of you doing with your handmade Rosaries?

 

[Mom2Alex]

They're absolutely beautiful - as always! I haven't had time lately to work on rosaries but hope to soon. I agree with you about the wood beads.

 

[MamaHen]

Wow! This thread really is a feast for the eyes. I love making rosaries too. I get everything from Our Lady's Rosary Makers. They are a great company!

 

[Sianelle]

Thanks for the nice comments

This is a strung wooden bead Rosary I made for a very old French Crucifix I found some months ago. I might just keep this one

Lots of work in stringing tiny seed beads, but the results are worth it.

I do have the contact details for a New Zealand supplier of Rosary parts, but I'm still curious to see just what I can make using commonplace craft materials.

 

[servant of Merciful Love]

Hi Sianelle!
WOW; you are one talented lady!
Those rosaries are amazing!!

I have been a member of OLRM for 15 years; my ministry is making rosaries for the missions (plastic bead/cord), an dfor our Parish Prayer Shawl ministry.
The metal ones hurt my fingers when we first began (arthritis) so I had to stop.

I invite you to advertise your rosaries on my forum:
[URL="http://www.arborwood.com/awforums/show-forum-1.php?fid=4614"]http://www.arborwood.com/awforums/show-forum-1.php?fid=4614]CATHOLIC EUCHARISTIC PRAYER FORUM & MESSAGE BOARDS[/URL] IN THE CLASSIFIEDS SECTION.

I think I read that you give them away, but you could also charge for them....recover some costs.

If you are interested, I would be happy to have you....no guaranty on the response...even if people just MARVEL at them.

Thanks so much for sharing....you have been blessed with a great talent for the Lord, and we are blessed to see what the Lord has done in you