The document provides step-by-step instructions for making a traditional 5-decade rosary using cord. It details the necessary materials, which include different types of beads, cord, and a knotting tool. The 17 steps cover threading the beads onto the cord and tying knots to assemble the rosary.
The document provides step-by-step instructions for making a traditional 5-decade rosary using cord. It details the necessary materials, which include different types of beads, cord, and a knotting tool. The 17 steps cover threading the beads onto the cord and tying knots to assemble the rosary.
The document provides step-by-step instructions for making a traditional 5-decade rosary using cord. It details the necessary materials, which include different types of beads, cord, and a knotting tool. The 17 steps cover threading the beads onto the cord and tying knots to assemble the rosary.
The document provides step-by-step instructions for making a traditional 5-decade rosary using cord. It details the necessary materials, which include different types of beads, cord, and a knotting tool. The 17 steps cover threading the beads onto the cord and tying knots to assemble the rosary.
MAKING CORD ROSARIES To make the typical 5-decade rosary you will need 53 Hail Mary beads, 6 Our Father beads, 1 center, 1 crucifix, 3 or more feet of cord, 1 cord knotting tool, scissors to cut the cord, and 20 minutes to 1 hour (depending on your experience and dexterity). If you are making a diffent kind of cord rosary or chaplet, these same techniques apply, but you might have a different number of components or assemble them in a different configuration. You may also need wax, glue, nail polish or a match to fuse the end of the cord. Otherwise the end of the cord will quickly fray making it difficult to thread the beads. Some wood beads may have wood particles or burs clogging the holes. A wood bead reamer, paper clip or similar device can clear out the holes. Simply follow these steps to make your rosary. These directions are written with a right-handed person in mind. If you are left handed, you might wish to reversethe hands where specified. 1. Pull an end of the cord about six inches through one of the top holes on the center. Hold the knotting tool, cord and center in your left hand as shown. The slot in the tool should be facing you, with both lengths of cord laying against the round side of the knotting tool. 2. Grasp the six inch length with your right hand. While pressing both strands of cord against the knotting tool with your left index finger, wrap the six inch length around the tool and cords about six times beginning about 1/2 inch away from the center. The coils should wind back towards the eye of the center. 3. Push the end of the six inch strand through the slot in the knotting tool, through the coils, and out the end of the tool. 4. Gently slide the knotting tool out from inside the coil. Carefully pull on the six inch length of cord, tightening down your knot. Massaging the knot with your left index finger and thumb can help while tightening the knot. Dont worry if it isnt perfect; these knots take practice. If you arent happy with the results and you havent pulled it too tight, you can usually pull the cord back out and start over. If you just cant get the knots, then tie one or more simple square knots. 5. Slide ten Hail Mary beads onto the long length of string. These ten beads are called a decade. Some of the wood beads may have burrs in their holes, or the end of the cord may become frayed, making it difficult to thread the beads. A long, thin metal object like the blunt end of a needle can be used to clear the hole. Place a small amount of glue, nail polish or wax on the end of your cord. Allow it to dry and trim the end at an angle to create a strong pointed tip that can easily thread through most beads. There are a few extra beads in the kit, so if one or two are not usable, you should still be able to complete the rosary. 6. Leave about half a bead length and tie another knot. In this case, the knotting tool and ten Hail Mary beads will be in your left hand, as shown. 7. Using your left index finger, pin the cord against the knotting tool about 1/2 inch beyond the last Hail Mary bead. Grasp the long cord with your right hand and wrap it around the pinned cord about six times, coiling back towards the beads and center. 8. Slide the loose end of the cord through the groove in the knotting tool, through the coil, and out the end of the knotting tool. 9. As before, remove the knotting tool from the coil, and gently pull on the cord until the knot cinches down. It will take some practice to get the knot to end up in the right place and look uniform. Dont worry if your first knots (or rosaries) arent perfect. Copyright 2003, The Rosary Shop, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This document may not be reproduced without the express written permission of The Rosary Shop. 10. Slide one bead onto the cord -- an Our Father bead -- and make another identical knot on the other side of the bead. 11. Repeat steps 5 through 10 three more times. 12. Add one more decade of Hail Mary beads, and then attach the cord to the other upper eyelet on the rosary center as you did in steps 1 through 4. Cut off the excess cord; it will be used to finish the rosary. 13. Attach one end of the new cord length to the lower eyelet on the center as in steps 1 through 4. 14. Add an Our Father bead and a knot as in step 10. 15. Add three Hail Mary beads and a knot. 16. Add a final Our Father bead, and then attach the crucifix to the end of the cord, using the same knotting technique in steps 1 through 4. 17. Apply a drop of glue or nail polish at the points where the loose cord ends protrude from the knots at the center and crucifix. Once the glue has dried, trim off the loose ends. 18. Congratulations! Youve finished making the rosary. For a different look and a longer rosary, make a small knot between each of the Hail Mary beads and a larger knot between the Hail Mary beads and the Our Father beads. For more rosary supplies or information on the rosary, see your local Catholic supply store, or visit The Rosary Shops web site at http://www.rosaryshop.com/.