Linked Rosary Necklace Project — Project #68-002-11
A traditional rosary necklace is made with specific numbers of beads in specific locations, to remind the wearer which prayer in the rosary to pray next. Following are instructions, illustrations, and a 'key' to the parts.

Suggested Parts:
      1       Crucifix
      1       Rosary Center (piece with 3 holes)
    Sacred Heart has image of Jesus;
    Miraculous Heart has image of Mary
    59     7/8-inch Eye Pins     (37-711 or cut sterling/gold-filled to desired length)
    59     6-7mm beads:    6mm Czech glass firepolish beads or
   6-7mm Austrian crystal beads,
   or rosebud beads are often used.
      4 medium jump rings
      7 inches of chain

Tools:
      Round-nose jewelry pliers and small wire cutters.

To make a linked rosary necklace...

A. Cut chain, and string the beads:
  1. String one bead onto an eye pin. Trim excess and make a loop. (See eye pin loop instructions.) Continue this step until you have made 59 beaded eye pins.

    String one bead onto an eye pin (image courtesy of Rings & Things)

  2. Cut 14 pieces of chain, each approximately 1/2 inch long. An odd number of links, such as 3 or 5, usually looks best, but the precise number of links that looks best will depend on the chain you are using. The pieces appear to lie flatter when you use odd numbers of links. All pieces of chain should have exactly the same number of links.

    Cut 14 pieces of chain... (image courtesy of Rings & Things)

B. Connect beaded eye pins, to make prayer sections.
  1. Connect 3 beaded eye pins together, end to end:
    Open the loop on one end of an eye pin, and connect it to one end of a second eye pin. Open and close the loop on an eye pin the same way you open and close a jump ring. (See jump ring directions.) Attach a third eye pin to the far end of the second eye pin.

    Connect 3 beaded eye pins together... (image courtesy of Rings & Things)

  2. Connect 10 beaded eye pins together, end to end, the same way you connected 3 eye pins together in step B1.

    Connect 10 beaded eye pins... (image courtesy of Rings & Things)

  3. Repeat step B2 4 times
    Note: You should now have 5 sections of 10 beaded eye pins, 1 section of 3 beaded eye pins, and 6 single beaded eye pins.
C. Connect the necklace pieces to make the hanging section of the necklace.
For any connections involving eye pins, simply open the loop on the eye pin to connect the parts. You only need to use jump rings when connecting chain directly to the crucifix or centerpiece.
  1. Use a jump ring to attach one end of a piece of chain to the top of the crucifix.
  2. Open the loop on a beaded eye pin to attach it to the other end of that piece of chain. (Close the loop when done.)
  3. Open the loop on the other end of that beaded eye pin, to attach another piece of chain. (Close the loop when done.)
  4. To the end of that piece of chain, attach the 3 eye pin section from step B1, and then attach another piece of chain.
  5. Attach a single beaded eye pin to the other end of that piece of chain, and then attach a final piece of chain to the other end.
  6. Use a jump ring to attach that final piece of chain to the bottom of the necklace's centerpiece (the Sacred Heart or Miraculous Heart).
Connect the necklace pieces... (image courtesy of Rings & Things) D. Connect the necklace pieces to make top section of the necklace. Work from Left to Right.
  1. Lay a piece of chain in front of you (left to right).
  2. To the right end of that chain, attach one end of a 10 eye pin section (from step B2).
  3. To the right end of that 10 eye pin section, attach a piece of chain, then a single beaded eye pin, then another piece of chain.
    Continuing to work to the right...
  4. Repeat steps C2 and C3, 3 times.
  5. Attach the final 10 eye pin section.
  6. Attach the final piece of chain.
E. Connect the final pieces together.
  1. Use a jump ring to attach one end of step D to a top loop of the centerpiece.
  2. Use the final jump ring to attach the other end of step D to the other loop of the centerpiece.

The finished product: Linked rosary necklace project from Rings & Things

Although there are variations of this Papal Cross rosary, the most consistent information we have found says that the sections and beads have the following prayers behind them:
  • At the crucifix, do the Sign of Cross, and say the Apostle's Creed.
  • At the first bead, say an Our Father.
  • At the section of 3 beads, say 3 Hail Mary's.
  • The next bead represents another Our Father.
    This bead is sometimes left out, because an Our Father is normally said during the next section (the centerpiece).
  • At the Centerpiece, say a Glory Be, an Our Father, and which Mystery (starting with #1).
  • For each of the 10 beads, say a Hail Mary.
  • At each single bead, say an Our Father, and which Mystery (some people say that you also say a Glory Be before each Our Father).
  • Go around the circle 3 times, finishing with 10 Hail Mary's, to complete the 15 Mysteries.


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