MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR MAKING THE CORD ROSARY:

To start you will need some type of cord, heavy string, or rope the size of cord. This can and will vary by choice and availability. We recommend #36 white nylon twine. This cord knots and dyes easily and turns out rather beautifully as well as being very durable.

The following measurements are required for the different sizes of string used to make a rosary:

#36 REQUIRES 6 1/2 YARDS OF CORD
#48 REQUIRES 7 YARDS OF CORD
#60 REQUIRES 9 YARDS OF CORD
#72 REQUIRES 10 1/2 YARDS OF CORD
#96 REQUIRES 12 YARDS OF CORD

You will also need a lighter in order to seal the ends of the cord and to cut off excess string. It is not recommended that you use scissors. The string will unravel.

Patience - Once you get the hang of it it goes quickly, but the first few knots may be frustrating.

STEP 1 - HAIL MARY

Take the cord and measure about 6 inches from the end (1 inch is about equal to the tip of your thumb to the knuckle). With the cord in your left hand, wrap the cord clockwise 3 times over the cord and first finger. Be sure to keep the cord flat and in a tight row. Slide the string carefully off your finger and then pull the entire length of cord through the circle of string where your finger used to be. Pull the string tight to form a knot. (Be sure to guide the knot so that the strings don't cross over each other and as a result you have an untie and start over). This completes your first Hail Mary. Just think, only 52 more to go!

STEP 2

Repeat the first step placing the second knot close or against the first knot. Tighten up the knot and manoeuvre the second knot close to the first knot keeping the desired space. (We recommend you leave only a small space between each Hail Mary. About the size of a bead itself.) Do not leave too much space because you don't want to run out of string when you come to the end.

STEP 3

Repeat steps one and two for the next 8 Hail Mary's. This will complete the first decade of your new rosary.

STEP 4 - OUR FATHER

Now let's make the first Our Father. Wrap the cord clockwise 4 times over the cord and your first finger. Be sure to keep the cord flat and in a tight row. Slide the cord off your finger. Then pull through the entire length of string through the circle of cord where your finger used to be. This sounds familiar doesn't it? It is just like the Hail Mary but it is 4 times around instead of three. Be sure to leave extra space on either side of the Our Father. As a rule of thumb, I like to measure the space between the Hail Mary and the Our Father as if there were an invisible Hail Mary between the two.

STEP 5

Repeat steps 1 through 4 for the second, third, fourth and fifth decades.

STEP 6

After you have completed the 5 Decades and 4 Our Fathers it is time to bring together the ends of the cord. If you have come this far, you are home free! Take the first Hail Mary and the last Hail Mary in your left hand. Wrap both cords around your first finger twice. Then pull both ends of string through the circle. (Just like making the other beads), and tighten. Be sure to pull the short cord first, then the longer one. Tighten as tight as you can.

STEP 7

Take a butane lighter and burn the short string at the base of the end closer to the knot. Be sure not to burn the knot or the rosary as you burn off the cord. Work on flattening the little nub flat against the knot. (Burning the end it seals the light coat of wax which is on the string and prevents the cord from coming unravelled.)

STEP 8

With the remaining string, tie 1 Our Father, space, 3 Hail Mary's, space and one Our Father. Now you are ready for the Cross.

STEP 9 - THE CROSS

Making the cross is much simpler than it looks! All that it is, is 5 Our Father's. After you have made the last Our Father on your rosary, leave a space and make another Our Father. Make a second Our Father leaving only space enough between the two for a piece of cord to fit. Then make one more Our Father and place it as tightly as you can against the Last Our Father. Burn the excess cord at this point. (Refer to step 7 for instructions for burning the cord.) Now take the extra piece of string and tie it as you would tie a shoe string between the first and second knot. (You should have equal amounts of string on both sides.) Proceed to make an Our Father on either side and burn the ends.

IMPORTANT: PULL THE KNOTS ON THE CROSS AS TIGHTLY AS YOU CAN!

Thank you to Beads for Prayer for the instructions.  Check out their site for other Rosary instructions and different beads available.  Their Rosaries are designed to be passed from generation to generation.