Make Your Own Prayer Beads
Making your own prayer beads is a fun creative activity for individuals and groups. And the bonus is, you end up with a great set of prayer beads that YOU created!
Interested? We’ve included a supply list and full instructions below.
All of the supplies can be purchased at your local craft store or online.
Your Shopping List
Materials Needed
5 large (10mm – 12mm) beads
29 medium (8mm – 10mm) beads
36 seed (size #6 or #8) beads
1 cross or other pendant
2 crimp tubes (size 2 x 2)
20 – 24 inches of wire (49-strand, .019 or .018″)
Tools Required
1 pair of chain nose pliers
1 set of side (flush) wire cutters
Putting It All Together
Legend
L = large bead
M = medium bead
S = seed bead
Instructions
Thread one of the crimp tubes onto the wire, then add the cross. Thread the end of the wire back up through the crimp tube. This will leave you with the two ends of the wire coming out of the crimp tube: the primary length of wire and a smaller “tail,” about one inch in length. Using the pliers, squeeze the crimp tube until it is flattened.
String the beads in the following pattern, taking them all the way down so that the first bead aligns with the crimp tube that sits above the cross. (Note: make sure the beads cover both of the wires—the primary wire and the “tail” that extends from the top of the cross): s L s M s L s
String the crimp tube (this is a critical step!).
String the first section of week beads in the following pattern: s M (7 times), then 1 s. It will look like this: s M s M s M s M s M s M s M s
String 1 L bead.
String the second section of week beads by repeating Step 4.
String 1 L bead.
String the third section of week beads by repeating Step 4.
String 1 L bead.
String the fourth section of week beads by repeating Step 4.
Take the end of the wire and thread it back through the crimp tube that was added in Step 3 (the wire will be heading back toward the cross). Thread it through the crimp tube, the seed bead, the large bead, the seed bead, and the medium bead so that it comes out from the bottom of the medium bead.
Pull the wire tightly, adjusting the beads as necessary to remove any slack in the wire and to ensure that the wire is completely covered up by the beads. This is a good time to count all the beads and double-check your pattern to be sure the beads are in the order you desire. If not, make the necessary changes before proceeding to the next step.
Using a pair of chain nose pliers, flatten the crimp tube as tightly as possible.
Using a set of side (flush) wire cutters, cut the remaining wire off as close to the beads as possible.
Enjoy your beads! Blessings!
Want to explore some ways to use those spiffy new prayer beads? Check this out.
