How to make a Rosary

Step 4 Put beads on eye pins

Here you will mount each bead onto an eye pin. Eye pins have one end already formed into a loop, so you only have to form the other end. It is important to use the right size eye pin. My supplier does a great job of making it easy to select the right size for the bead you use. I use 6 & 7mm beads and though 1mm sounds a trifling difference, these beads need different sized eye pins!

1. Put the bead on the pin, all the way down to the loop.
2. Bend the other end 90 degrees right at the bead, perpendicular to the existing loop (see image)
3. Grasp (gently) the end of the eye pin in the round nose pliers and roll the pliers toward the bead. This step takes practice! The end result you want is to have both loops twisted 90 degrees to each other.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for a total of 59 beads.

Warning: Be careful of pressure. Using the bead itself for leverage is ideal (and unavoidable!), but keep in mind that it is metal against glass: the glass may chip without care. Also, use care not to dent the eye pin with the pliers, especially when using Sterling Silver.