Hand-crafted Rosary

I wanted to create a rosary as a gift for a Catholic friend, and did some Internet research. The results were fascinating and enriching. Prayer-beads are used in many religions. They are an aid to spiritual practice, helping one to focus on one's core beliefs. For the Christian, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, the rosary guides one to think about all the central stories in the Bible.

In this swap, we will each have one partner for whom we will create a rosary (or prayer beads from any other tradition - check with your partner). You may use some store-bought components, but please make (or "alter") as many of the parts yourself as you can. The idea is to produce with great love something really unique, personal and meaningful.

The components of a traditional Catholic or ecumenical rosary are:

1. a cross
2. a large bead
3. three small beads
4. a large bead
5. a medallion

To one side of the medallion, attach five sets of small beads (called "decades"), separated by large beads, in this order:

1. ten small beads
2. one large bead
3. ten small beads
4. one large bead
5. ten small beads
6. one large bead
7. ten small beads
8. one large bead
9. ten small beads

Attach the last decade of small beads to the other side of the medallion.

The size of your rosary is up to you - whatever you feel sits comfortably with your self-expression. You may wish to include a personal letter to your swap partner, sharing what you have learnt, or what the experience of making the rosary has meant to you.