Making Rosaries

[Sianelle]

In my spare time in the evenings I like to make Rosaries. I haven't been doing it very long as yet, but I am getting better at it. Practice makes perfect and all that

This is the small Rosary and Chaplet I pretty much carry with me all the time. The scan is close to full size.

This is my large Rosary which I had to recently re-string because the original cord wore through. Personally I prefer to use strung Rosaries, but the only hitch is that the cord does eventually wear through with use.

I'm slowly teaching myself how to make a chain and link Rosary from scratch, but it's not that easy to do when you're doing your best to make a really nice job of it. The simplest Rosaries to make are ones made entirely from cord which is perhaps one of the oldest forms of Rosary and certainly what the poor would have used in historical times. In modern times cord Rosaries have often been used where Christianity is not welcome because they don't show up in metal detectors and they are silent in use.

 

[AMDG]

If your problem is that the cord "eventually wears through", may I suggest that you get the cord that Our Lady's RosaryMakers (http://www.olrm.org/ ) sells. It's bonded Filament Nylon Cord (1/4 pound makes approximately 120 Rosaries and the 1 pound makes approximately 450 Rosaries.) Oh, and for Mission Rosaries (Rosaries given away for free to anyone who will begin praying for Our Blessed Mother's intercession) parts to make the Rosaries are subsidized to maintain a very low cost.

 

[Antigone]

I LOVE the one made only of cord. Really really pretty.

 

[Sianelle]

If your problem is that the cord "eventually wears through", may I suggest that you get the cord that Our Lady's RosaryMakers (http://www.olrm.org/ ) sells. It's bonded Filament Nylon Cord (1/4 pound makes approximately 120 Rosaries and the 1 pound makes approximately 450 Rosaries.) Oh, and for Mission Rosaries (Rosaries given away for free to anyone who will begin praying for Our Blessed Mother's intercession) parts to make the Rosaries are subsidized to maintain a very low cost.

Thankyou so very much for the link to OLRM

My large Rosary was made for me many years ago by Franciscan Brothers and they used a thick soft waxed cotton cord for the original stringing. This made for a very flexible and nice handling Rosary, but the cord began to wear surprisingly quickly which meant that I began to use this lovely Rosary less and less for fear that it might break and fall apart. After some practice with making cord Rosaries I finally decided it was time I re-strung my Rosary and I used the same strong bonded nylon cord that I use to make cord Rosaries. Something tells me that I shouldn't have to worry about it breaking for a good while
My small Rosaries are made with either 1mm waxed linen or cotton cord. Linen cord is more difficult to find locally for some unknown reason, which is a nuisance because linen cord is the best and strongest.

When making cord Rosaries folk more practiced than I am often say the Rosary as they fashion the knots. I try to do this, but unfortunately my devotions to Our Lady still have a lot of 'Oh bothers' in them

 

[Sianelle]

A Rosary of the Little Crown. Three 'Pater' beads and twelve 'Ave' beads. I use the large bead to pause and reflect after completing the 'Little Crown'. I find this to be a very rewarding devotion when combined with the 'Veni Creator' and 'Ave Maris Stella'.

 

[Sianelle]

Another little chaplet, - one for Joyous reflections this time......

This type of Rosary is known as an Irish Penal Rosary because it was used by Catholics in Ireland when the English were attempting to supress the Church. Move the ring from finger to finger for each decade and if any nasty Protestants hove in sight then it's easy to hide it in the palm of your hand or slip it down your sleeve. I really like using this type of Rosary because it's so easy to use and only a very small pocketful.

 

[isabella1]

Love that link you provided ADMG! It was a feast for my eyes. And the prices are really good.

I just started to make rosary bracelets this summer. I made my first rosary as a gift for my nephew's baptism. It was a baby rosary.

I never had instructions though. I just did it on a wing and a prayer. LOL. Praise God he helped me in them turning our descent.

Now with this site I can order the proper pieces to make it, and crucifixes. I have been looking all over for them (in the stores). Never knew they were so hard to find. Then when I did find then, they were to expensive to purchase.

I think I have decided that this Christmas I will be making my gifts. Or at least most of them. "Gifts from the heart".

Besides by Christmas time I will be really doing the backstroke in the financial area. I will barely have the financial support I need to stay afloat.

Oh well, our Lord promised me that he would always take care of me. So trusting in his providence is going to be what I need to really pray and focus on. He has never let me down yet. I have always had what I needed, at the moment I need it. My problem is, when I give something over to Him, I tend to forget and take it back.

 

[isabella1]

Nice work Sianelle!

 

[Sianelle]

Nice work Sianelle!

Thankyou Isabella

After knoting lots of knots and messing around with beads I've figured out a way to make a nice simple Rosary to give away to anyone who needs one.

Finding Rosary parts here in New Zealand isn't all that easy, but craft shops that sell beading supplies often have all manner of bits and bobs that can be adapted. I buy my cord in 100 metre rolls from the local hardware store which works out to be reasonably economical.

 

[Secundulus]

Here is one I made. I got all the parts for about $10 from http://www.rosaryshop.com/

 

[Sianelle]

Nice work

You've got the knots done nice and neatly.

I find it's much nicer using a Rosary you've made yourself. Some of the cheap ones around can fall apart after using them just once and I don't like the way they feel in the hand.

 

[Sianelle]

I discovered that it's possible to make a Rosary that looks nice, but isn't very good to pray with.

The Ave beads are too smooth and close together to finger them accurately and having the Pater beads the same as the Ave beads without better separation makes for confusion.

 

[isabella1]

Really nice, I might try to make one like that. I just bought some new beads, and actually found crucifixes (as apposed to having to order them). I will take a pic and post them for you to see here if you don't mind when I finish. Whenever that is. LOL.

 

[Sianelle]

I'll very much look forward to seeing your Rosary Isabella

This evening I discovered just how important it is to have a long enough piece of cord when making bead and cord Rosaries. The piece I was using was far too short at one end and when I tried to join in another piece of cord the whole thing ended up looking very untidy indeed. Starting again is the only option because if I'm making Rosaries to give away to enable folk to draw nearer to their God+, making something that's a dog's breakfast is not going to encourage anyone now is it?
I want to try to make my own crucifixes. To tell the complete truth what I would like to do is handmake all the Rosaries I'm making and not just assemble off the shelf parts.

 

[isabella1]

I'll very much look forward to seeing your Rosary Isabella

This evening I discovered just how important it is to have a long enough piece of cord when making bead and cord Rosaries. The piece I was using was far too short at one end and when I tried to join in another piece of cord the whole thing ended up looking very untidy indeed. Starting again is the only option because if I'm making Rosaries to give away to enable folk to draw nearer to their God+, making something that's a dog's breakfast is not going to encourage anyone now is it?
I want to try to make my own crucifixes. To tell the complete truth what I would like to do is handmake all the Rosaries I'm making and not just assemble off the shelf parts.

I know what you mean. I dont know if I can get the knot thing down. Mine would probably fall apart. But I might give it a shot though.

 

[AMDG]

I know what you mean. I dont know if I can get the knot thing down. Mine would probably fall apart. But I might give it a shot though.

Then you should try the RosaryMakers site I listed before. They have a kit (with instructions) a cord Rosary. The kit comes with a tool for making those knots (but in the RosaryMaking group belong to, they are able to bypass that and use old cutdown umbrella stays instead. )

 

[Mom2Alex]

Thank you for sharing pictures of these lovely rosaries! I too make rosaries, usually with either sterling pins, chain, joiner, crucifix or using base metal. I have yet to venture into making them with cord and I would like to make rosaries using only nylon twine. I have also made many rosary bracelets and have repaired them for others as well.



There remains a constant need for rosaries donated to various missions.

 

[Sianelle]

I've been having a go at making knotted cord Rosaries, but I find that practicing tying the knots is absolutely essential. I haven't been able to make a knotted cord Rosary that I feel is good enough to give away yet, but I'm keeping on working at it.
I seem to be able to make an acceptable knotted cross though which is certainly encouraging. I would like to learn how to handcarve wooden crucifixes as well as make better beaded crosses.

 

[Sianelle]

Thank you for sharing pictures of these lovely rosaries! I too make rosaries, usually with either sterling pins, chain, joiner, crucifix or using base metal. I have yet to venture into making them with cord and I would like to make rosaries using only nylon twine. I have also made many rosary bracelets and have repaired them for others as well.



There remains a constant need for rosaries donated to various missions.

Now I am impressed! I have a metal linked Rosary that I'm painfully making by hand and I must say that it's looking encouraging, but it is hard work. I think I might need to buy a cheap pair of craft pliers and get someone to grind them into a better shape so I can form the chain eyes without so much painstaking messing about. I've been using 20g silver plated wire to make the links btw.

 

[AMDG]

I find that practicing tying the knots is absolutely essential.

It is very true. I remember struggling with a nylon cord to make a rosary in which the knots were the beads. I was pretty proud in that I had gotten the first decade all tight (each knot had to be pulled really tight--I even used pliers to do it!) and equal distances apart. Proudly showed my work to the lady who was teaching me. She took a look and told me to take out all the knots and start over! She had me take out the knots and redo them so often the nylon thread was starting to unravel! I finally had to resort to a woven fishing line that wouldn't ravel when I practiced the knots. (When I later finished the Rosary, was able to dye it a nice light blue and was able to give it away.)

Hint: I have found that those cord Rosaries are ideal to give to the Sick and HomeBound. (There's no worry should the person fall asleep in bed praying the Rosary--no sharp edges to hurt someone.)