How to make a Rosary

Instruction to make an heirloom quality Rosary with eye pins and chain. This example uses Sterling Silver parts & pieces, with glass beads, totalling $60 (incl. shipping). Makes a unique, heartfelt, and lasting gift. A more utilitarian (but still pretty) version can be made using base metal parts & pieces for under $20 (incl. shipping).

See some of the rosaries I've made at http://kqrpnb.googlepages.com/rosaries

Featured 10/29/09 - Welcome new viewers!

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Step 1: Anatomy of a rosary

The following will help you understand the process of creating a Rosary.

Comments

[Oriyn]

 Thank you for a great Instructable. I have never made any jewelry item before, so I took about 5.5 hrs doing this project. It was all learning. I used antique finished fastenings (made from brass I think) and stone beads. I also used a 3 connector fastening instead of a center piece and do not have any thing at the end of the drop chain. Including buying tools, I spent about 35-42 dollars. As I got used to the motions, I got much quicker and was doing a decade every 8 minutes or so...but pinning the beads took almost an hour for 25 beads....beginner's lack of skill. XP

Word of warning, my needle-nose pliers did damage the eye pins because I didn't have them coated with anything (I know there's a dip you can apply to your pliers to turn them into "jeweler's tools"...just don't have any) but it worked well for my antique look anyways. ;)

Stones used: 8mm Tigers Eye, 6mm Poppy (Red Brecciated) Jasper, 6mm Red Jasper.

Thank you again!

[kqrpnb]

 Wow, that's gorgeous!  I like what you did for the long chain between the ave's and the our fathers, though I'd like to get a better look at it.  Well done!

[Oriyn]

 Large picture is available on my dA account, oriyn.deviantart.com

The long chain is actually just a "Lost and Found" collection chain from Michaels. I scalped every other link twice so I could free one for the project each time it called for a space before an 'our father'. (sorry if that sounds confusing...I sacrificed every other link basicly)

[eash]

I just made one to send to my husband in Iraq. Thanks for such a wonderful 'ible!

[rsic]

thanks for the ible! i just finished making one today, it only took me a few hours, and came out very well for being my first one. i also found some beads i really liked that even had eye pins already through and looped on both sides that will save me time on my next one.



near the center the rosary overlaps, that is why it looks a little weird, i didn't notice until after i took the picture

[kqrpnb]

Hey, that's a beautiful one! I LOVE the colors - what kind of beads are those? Very well done!

[CocoAngel]

You did a commendable job...It took me a long time to make anything that resemble yours. I applaud you for taking the initiative to experiment with the chain that you used...You are well on your way to making the best of Rosary or Jewelry. Congratulations on a job very well done, CocoAngel

[rdowning]

I have a lovely "infinity" cross I'd like to use (looks celtic). It does NOT have a loop at the top to attach to the chain, but is open so you could pass a chain through any of the 4 ends. So here's my question. Would it be too unorthodox to use the cross as the centerpiece, attaching a the chain to the left and right "arms", and hanging the bottom chain from the base with some other pendant, such as a heart in the same style as the cross?

[kqrpnb]

rdowning: You are free to make the rosary however you wish, although with traditionally you'd want a crucifix and you'd want it on the end. But since these are really just tools to help you keep your tally, does it really matter? :) You could also just make a large jump ring to hang this cross off of the end and get a traditional center, but your idea might look cool!

[rdowning]

i tried to upload the photo but it didn't work. trying again

[rdowning]

I have a lovely "infinity" cross I'd like to use (looks celtic). It does NOT have a loop at the top to attach to the chain, but is open so you could pass a chain through any of the 4 ends. So here's my question. Would it be too unorthodox to use the cross as the centerpiece, attaching a the chain to the left and right "arms", and hanging the bottom chain from the base with some other pendant, such as a heart in the same style as the cross?

[coniosis11]

..I don't Like that instructable.........
I want blessed/holy rosary .......

[TinkerJim]

...a very well done Instructable on a truly worthwhile project !

[ravenking]

Beautiful rosary. :)

[jessea92322]

I love you instructable and I decided to make a rosary of my own. I think I might change it to some sort of thread instead of the eye pins because my beads are on the large side hahaha :)

[Rayvenstar]

Okay, I saw from this post that I wouldn't be able to bead them on beading wire, but I do have a couple of questions.

my first: Is it absolutely necessary to have a center? My second: Does it always have to be a crucifix?

I was thinking of making some and I'm trying to get more information

[MrL33TPenguin]

 You would have to get this blessed by the priest from your Church..

[kqrpnb]

 You CAN get them blessed by the priest, but you don't have to.  If you are making these to sell though, make sure you do NOT get them blessed first!

[Jackson1952]

It's best not to have them blessed first, they should be blessed by the priest from your your place of worship. However, I recently purchased one already Blessed by the Pope. So, if it's good enough for the Pope to prebless them I'm sure you can have them preblessed as well. Another however, it would be a missed opportunity to get to know your Priest better and your church community which is very important. Besides I don't know how Priests that would be willing to bless rosaries for your commercial gain.

[MrL33TPenguin]

 Yeah, I was meaning that should be blessed by the priest if it's for you, but like you said, you shouldn't bless them if they are for sell.

[Ladylaughsalottoo]

I had never made rosaries before & I looked all over the internet for instructions.  These were the instructions I used.  I made 5 sets, for Christmas, a couple years ago.  They were liked so well, my Grandmother (Irish Catholic) asked me to make a set for one of her sisters.  Now I have an Aunt & an Uncle that want a set as well.  I'm gonna show them the instructions, ande help them, but they can make their own.  LOL
Great instructions, great pics.   Thank you so much.

[MoonPanther]

This is a really cool guide! I was wondering though, where you get the cross for it...and if there is a way to make a custom cross yourself.

[kyashi]

The instructions were really well done, and the photos were great.  I used vintage faux ivory beads to make one for my best friend's birthday.  Thanks so much for posting this! 

[zmannion]

Dont forget to have them blessed

[Carpedi7]

Excellent instructions, I was looking for a rosary instruction manual to make a present for my future grandmother in law and this let me make a beautiful one in about 1 1/2 hours. Thank you!

[kqrpnb]

Awesome! Post a picture in the comments

[kristy666]

I made a rosary last night using these instructions, only took me about 2 hours total time. EXCELLENT INSTRUCTIONS!

[kqrpnb]

Thank, glad it helped!

[morgagni]

Bless you for the clear instructions and awesome photos! I especially liked the mouse-over labeling (I hope that part is the PDF I downloaded). I feel like I could do this with some practice! (I'll practice w/the cheap stuff first, LOL!)

[ARVash]

Wonderful instructable, I might just have to make some instead of buying ;D.

[m0nkey013]

cool instructable about how big should the beads be to make a normal size pair?

[kqrpnb]

Thanks, glad you liked it. I've found 8mm beads (with 8-10mm for the Our Fathers) to make a 'Normal' sized rosary. 6mm make a comfortable one as well. 4mm is what I call a Baby Rosary. 10mm are good beads, but the rosary is too long for me. 11mm is more for decoration. Thanks also for pointing out that I never said what size to use! I was hedging on it, but I will add it to the Instructable now.

[m0nkey013]

yay, thanks! i made a pair and they were like 2 feet long, lol i dont think that i made the loops on the eye pins tight enough to the beads either.

[Rosie-Rose]

I love the red hearts rosary, can I ask where you got the beads from? Thank you for these instructions to make Rosaries, I am really excited and can't wait to make my own.

[kqrpnb]

I carried on this conversation with Rosie in personal messages, but for those interested, here is what I found (links may be dated):

These are the right beads here on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/8mm-***--RUBY-RED-***-GLASS-HEART--BEADS-(25)_W0QQitemZ200195366027QQcmdZViewItem?IMSfp=TL0801261110a42868

And here on this site:

http://buttony.zoovy.com/product/RUBY27/24_Clear_Ruby_8mm_Heart.html

But keep in mind you need 53 or 59 of them, depending on whether you use a separate bead for the Our Fathers.

Rosary Parts has something similar, not sure how it would look, but I personally would try it someday:

https://www.rosaryparts.com/pages/store/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=3008S

Here's the center:

http://www.rosaryshop.com/description2.php/SQL/pn%3D%27CE-0025SP%27

And the Crucifix:

http://www.rosaryshop.com/description2.php/SQL/pn%3D%27CR-0110SP%27

The Our Father hearts are Hematite. Again, I found them in the physical store, but here are some on-line that I found:

http://shop.vendio.com/davebraun/item/562185039/?s=1201519788

Also, I expect Rosie-Rose to post her finished product here!!

[kerosene-soaked-clothes-arent-fun]

I like it, very roman catholic. Already have a set so don't think I'll bother with this. Excellent instructable non the less.

[SugarTeen52]

Very well done! Illustrated very well! I hope you win the contest!

[arwen]

What a beautifully done project! Thanks for posting something a little different from the usual Instructables project (and amazingly documented).

[kqrpnb]

Thank you!

[radiorental]

Nice project. I didnt know you could accessorize Rosemary beads, a little bit of Religious Eye for the Maker Guy.