For centuries, the devout have used beaded or knotted strings to help focus meditations and track prayers. For Catholics, this takes the form of the rosary, which is traditionally five sets of 10 beads each that count the "Hail Mary" prayer, with other beads between the decades to represent the "Our Father," or Paternoster, prayers. Many people also carry a smaller version of a single decade to remind them to pray throughout the day.
Make a One-Decade Rosary Strand
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A simple strand of beads with a saint medallion and a crucifix is a simple project that creates a convenient prayer and meditation tool.
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Things You'll Need
10 “Hail Mary” beads
1 “Our Father” bead
2 bead caps
11 inches of 20-gauge wire
Side cutters
Chain-nosed pliers
2 jump rings
Rosary medallion
Crucifix
Tip
Any size of beads will work for this, but 8 mm round beads make a string that is comfortable in a pocket or a purse.
Use 10 beads of one color for the "Hail Mary" beads and one of another color for the "Our Father," or you can mix the colors and make the "Our Father" slightly larger.
Step 1
Cut 11 1-inch pieces of wire.
Step 2
Using the chain-nosed pliers, make a simple loop at one end of each of the wire pieces.
Step 3
Slide a "Hail Mary" bead on each of 10 pieces of wire.
Step 4
Make a loop on the other end of each wire.
Step 5
Place a bead cap, the "Our Father" bead and the other bead cap on the last piece of wire and make a loop at the other end.
Step 6
Open one loop on one "Hail Mary" bead slightly and slip the loop of another bead unit into the open loop. Close the loop. Repeat to string all of the bead units together, ending with the "Our Father" unit.
Step 7
Open the two jump rings.
Step 8
Slip one jump ring into the extra loop on the "Our Father" bead unit. Add the crucifix to the ring. Close the ring.
Step 9
Add the medallion to the other end of the beaded string.
Make a One-Decade Rosary Loop
A one-decade rosary in a joined loop is more similar to a traditional, five-decade version.
Things You'll Need
10 round beads - 15 mm
1 oval bead - 15 mm
20 inches of 20-gauge jewelry wire
17 jump rings - 8 mm
3 inches jewelry chain
2-to-1 rosary medallion connector
Crucifix
Chain nose pliers
Side cutters
Tip
A 2-to-1 connector joins two ends of a wire at the top while allowing you to add a single piece at the bottom.
If you prefer to use all round beads, use a slightly larger one to replace the oval bead.
Step 1
Make bead units like those for the rosary string, with simple loops at each side of each bead.
Step 2
Open all of the jump rings.
Step 3
Connect the ten round beads with a jump ring between the units.
Step 4
Cut 4 pieces of chain, each 3/4 inch long.
Step 5
Attach a jump ring to each end of the pieces of chain. Join two pieces of chain to the ends of the bead strand.
Step 6
Join the chain to the two top corners of the medallion connector.
Step 7
Add a piece of chain to the bottom of the connector.
Step 8
Attach the oval bead to the end of the chain before adding the last piece of chain to the other loop in the unit.
Step 9
Slip the crucifix on the jump ring at the end of the chain and close the ring.