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Cord Rosary Making Tools
What this web site is about.
This web site is about tools for making cord mission rosaries. It describes a bead jig that lets you quickly put ten beads on a wire rod which is then used to transfer the beads to the rosary cord all at once. There is also a tool used to pull the rosary cord through the groove in the knotting tool and another tool used to ensure the knots are evenly spaced throughout the rosary.
You can make these tools yourself with rosary wire and balsa wood or plaster of paris.
These tools reduce the time it takes to make a rosary and they also reduce the chances of making a mistake. The tools let one enjoy more time making rosaries because they reduce tedium and fatigue.
How to use this web site
Look over this page to get an overview, take the vido tour ( high speed connection, dialup connection, video help ), and then read how the tools are used to make a cord rosary . Click on the "Make it" links on this page to read how to make each tool and see the Links page for sources of tools and materials needed to make the tools.There is also a page on tips for making cord rosaries and a page on general information about the rosary.
The Tools:
Bead Jig
Knotting Hook
Knotting Hook In Use
Thread Loop
Threading Rods
Threading Rod Closeup
Spacer
Bead Brace
Thread Block
Bundle Needle
Cord Stick
The bead jig holds five rows of ten beads and one row of nine beads. The jig eliminates the need to count beads and facilitates putting the beads on the threading rods. This bead jig is used with oval beads 8-9 mm long and 5-6 mm wide.
Make it from Balsa Wood , Plaster .
The knotting hook is used to pull the cord through the groove of the cord tool. The tool in the picture is for the left hand. The pinkie goes through the loop, the ring finger goes over the trough and the middle finger goes under the ridge. The straight portion ending in the hook comes out under the index finger. Because it is worn on the hand, one does not waste time setting it down and picking it up for each knot. However, if you use stiff cord, it may be easier to use a hook not worn on the hand like the one shown in the inset.
Video: Using the knotting hook.
Does it matter which direction I wind the knots?
I need help making the knots. ( Video )
I need help with the crucifix knot.
The thread loop is placed over the hook on the threading rod to transfer ten beads onto the cord at once. The thread loop makes it easy to work with non bonded cord because it prevents the cord from unraveling.
The threading rods are made from fine aluminum wire. They are used to transfer a row of beads from the bead jig to the rosary cord all at once. They can also be used to pull the ends of the cord through an Our Father bead to hide the cut ends of the cord in the finished rosary (More).
Video:
Inserting the threading rod through the beads.
Hooking the thread loop on the threading rod.
Sliding the beads from the threading rod onto the cord.
The spacer helps to keep the knots evenly spaced throughout the rosary. Place the spacer after the first knot in a decade, add the beads, and then make the second knot right next to the last bead of the decade. Make the spacer 1 cm thick from plywood or other hard wood. Use a thinner spacer (1/8 inch) if you make the second knot at the end of the fifth decade with six coils and you need to remove slack in the knot to even it out. You can also make a spacer from a bead as shown in the picture. You can put 6 spacers made from beads on your bead jig so that they get transferred to the rosary cord automatically.
The bead brace holds the beads in position while the threading rod is inserted through the beads. Video
Insert a dowell or the handle of your knotting tool through the loop through the crucifix to tighten the knot of the loop through the crucifix.
The thread block is used to make threads for thread loops. Thread is wrapped around the block and then cut at one end of the block. This block is made from balsa wood with dimensions of 3/8 inch x 2 inches x 3 inches Video
The bundle needle is used when tying a bundle of ten rosaries with a loop of cord.
The cord stick is used to cut many rosary cords at the same time. The stick is half the length of a cord needed to make a rosary. The cord is wrapped around the stick a number of times and then cut at one end. The ends of the cord stick are concave to keep the cord from sliding off.
Video
I have created this web site so that others may find out about these tools and make them themselves. My hope is that use of the tools will result in more rosaries being made for the missions.
