Recently I was searching the internet for rosary themed crafts to do with my kids, and while I did find the cutest pipe cleaner rosary project for them, I also found a fabulous mom-friendly craft: the Kitchen Rosary. A kitchen rosary is abacus style rosary, designed to be used when your hands are full or you are regularly distracted from your prayers by tiny children and want to keep your place. They are functional, beautiful, and surprisingly easy to make.

We have a Jo-Ann Fabrics in town, and it is one of the few stores I still go to in person instead of online shopping. I highly recommend their app if you go, they have fabulous coupons! I got all of my supplies there, so if you’re looking to duplicate, it’s a good place to start.

Here’s what I used: 

5×7 Just a Frame by Woodline Works Corp or a Fab Lab

Hildie and Jo Beads, personally, I like the pearls in different styles and colors

Hildie and Jo crosses (or whatever crosses/medals you have and want to use!)

Hildie and Jo 24 gauge beading wire

.56 inch eyelet hooks

K&Company Decorative Paper Pads or similar in whatever colors you like

paint pen or sharpie depending on preference (if you want to get really fancy, you can use watercolor pencils for the calligraphy- super fun!)

A drill

Scissors and/or needle nose pliers

 

For the picture part: I like using a sharpie straight on the paper pad (which fits perfectly in the frame space by the by) or using a white sheet with calligraphy using a paint pen or watercolor pencils then mounted on a colorful sheet. Use whatever word or phrase from the prayers of the rosary that inspire your heart. English or Latin, all are beautiful!

Once your calligraphy is done and the image is in the frame, you can move on to drilling. Using a 1/16 drill bit, drill 3 sets of holes on each side of the frame (the measurements are if you are holding your frame horizontally).  Go down 5/8 of an inch in from the corner on both sides, then 1 3/4 from that mark is the middle screw, and then each screw is set in from the inside edge 5/8 inch. (These measurements are from my wonderful husband who handled the drilling for me, so hopefully they make sense!).

Once your holes are made, you can screw in the eyelet screws. After that, cut a piece of your beading wire, wrap it around the hook, using your hands or the needle nose pliers. String the beads as follows:

5 of one kind on the first wire. These are for the mysteries and Our Fathers

10 of another kind for your Hail Marys on the second wire

3 Hail Mary beads and one Our Father bead followed by a cross on the bottom wire. These are for the prayers for faith, hope, and love, and the beginning prayers of your rosary.

Once your beads are strung, wind the other end of your wire to the other eyelet hook. Turn the hook to tighten the wires as needed.

Obviously, there are a million variations you can do with this project. You can be as decorative or simple as you like. I’m sure that people who are more talented than I can improve on this design. If you do, be sure and let me know!

(Also, if you aren’t crafty at all, but would like one- let me know, I am loving making them!)