How to Make Rosary Beads From Fresh Flowers

Making rosary beads from fresh flowers is a traditional method for making rosaries that dates back centuries. The word rosary comes from "rose garland" or "ring of roses." There is something so sacred and special about rosary beads made with real roses, and as long as you store them in an air-tight jar, and are careful handling them, they will last for a very long time. Try this technique to make your own beautiful beads.

Pluck all of the rose petals from the stems and discard the stems. Place the roses on the cutting board and chop them finely as you would chop herbs.

Place the chopped rose petals into the pot. Cover them with water and bring them to a simmer. Do not let it boil. Allow them to simmer for several hours, adding more water as needed to keep them from drying out. Simmer them until they turn into what looks like a sticky pulp.

Allow the mixture to cool enough so that you can touch them. Begin taking small scoops of the pulp, rolling them into beads. Place them on the cookie sheet as you finish them. You will need 53 small beads, six medium-sized beads, and one slightly larger bead. Pierce each bead with your needle.

Pierce each bead with your needle. Take a thread, leaving a few inches at the end, and string your beads on in the following order: 10 small beads, one medium bead, 10 small beads, one medium bead, 10 small beads, one medium bead, 10 small beads, one medium bead and 10 small beads. Pull both ends of the thread through the large bead so that they both come out the bottom of it. Thread one medium bead on the ends below the large bead, then three more small beads, then the last medium bead. Finish it off by tying the cross to the end. Check the diagram in the link listed in the Resources section below to ensure that you have strung your rosary beads the right way.

Place your rosary on the cookie sheet and set them somewhere dry. Cover them with a towel. For the first day, every few hours, turn them and reposition them. Leave them for another week, turning them once or twice a day until they are dry.