Rosary beads make wonderful, thoughtful gifts. Add your special touch by making one yourself. This rosary is made using 22 gauge, half-hard wire so that it will be strong. If you have any problems with your hands, you may want to use 24 gauge, as it will be a bit easier to work. You have plenty of loops to make in this project, so use the wire that will work best for you. CLICK HERE for a helpful chart on wire gauge.
Step one: Begin with a sterling silver ornate rosary center. Each link will be made with approximately ½-inch of wire. Cut your wire and make a simple loop in one end. Before you close the loop attach it to the rosary center. Add a 6mm pink cat's eye bead and make another simple loop. For detailed instructions on how to make a simple loop please visit the Handy Tips section of the Learning Center. Add links in this fashion until you have ten.
Step two: After your tenth link, add three links of sterling silver open cable chain. On the end of the chain you will attach a larger link that consists of an 8mm round Swarovski fuchsia bead capped with silver antique (pewter) oasis beadcaps. The wire you will need for this link should be cut to about 1 inch. Add three more links of the open cable chain. This concludes the first section of the rosary. Repeat this pattern four more times, ending back at the rosary center. When completed, you should have four of the large fuchsia links and five of the pink cat's eye sections.
Step three: From the bottom loop of the rosary center you will attach a fuchsia link, followed by three links of the cable chain, three pink cat's eye links, three more links of chain and one more fuchsia link. At the bottom of that section, you attach the sterling silver cross charm. That is it. You are complete! Make sure to follow the instructions precisely, the count is very important. Before giving the rosary as a gift it is thoughtful to have it blessed by a priest.
