Soft Rosary

Description:  The Soft Rosary was a custom pattern I designed for Nancy Gill, who wanted to make a special gift for a friend.  The Button knots represent the beads in a standard rosary, but they are softer.  This design is ideal for someone who likes taking a rosary to bed, but doesn’t want something hard (in case they end up sleeping on it).

This inspirational Rosary features a Celtic Cross.  The design for that was found in a book called “Celtic Knots for Beaded Jewelry” by Suzen Millodot.  The instructions for making it can be found there, or you can refer to a similar pattern I wrote, listed separately here in Free Macramé Patterns.

Supplies Needed:

• 2mm Macramé Cord (Rattail, Nylon, or Cotton)
• Glue
• Project Board and Pins
• Needle Nose Pliers

• Celtic Button knot, Sliding Variation
• Square Knot
• Square Knot Button
• Linen Stitch
  

Creating the Cross and First Section

Step 1:  Cut 4 cords for the Celtic Cross; two 30 inches and one 120 inches.  Apply glue to the ends to prevent unraveling.  If you don't know what a Rosary is supposed to look like, refer to the diagram at the bottom of the page.

Step 3:  Cut 1 strand of material 90 inches long.  Add it to the long cords coming from the cross. The best way is to center it underneath and tie a Square Knot using the new strand as the working cord.   Tighten the knot as much as you can.

Step 4:  You should now have 4 strands to work with.  Tie a Square Knot.  Move down approximately ¼ inch and tie 3 more SK.  Direct the ends into the space to make the Square Knot Button.  Tie a SK below it to hold it in place. 

Step 5: Take one strand and make a short wrapped area using the Linen Stitch.  Wrap around the other 3 cords very snugly, for about ¾ inch.

Step 7: Select a different working cord, and make a second sliding Celtic Button Knot.  It should rest no more than ¼ inch from the first.  The cord used to make the previous knot should be one of the holding cords, so you still have three.  

Note:  By switching cords, the sliding of the Celtic knots for the Soft Rosary is limited, so they don’t all bunch up together.

Step 8:  Repeat step 7, making a 3rd Celtic Button.  Be sure to switch working cords again before tying it.

Step 9: Switch working cords again and repeat step 5 (Linen Stitch).

Step 10:  Make a Square Knot Button by leaving a ¼-inch space and tying 3 SK.   There is no need to tie a SK before the space. Don’t forget the SK below the button that secures it.

Step 11:  Cut one cord 110 inches long, and the other 160 inches long.  Add one of them to 2 of the strands you’ve been working with, with an Overhand Knot.  Simply tie the knot in the center of the new cord, and avoid tightening it. Direct the ends of the original cords into the knot.  Tighten it down as much as you can. Do the same with the second cord, adding it to the other 2 strands.

Designing Section 1

Step 13:  Make the Linen Stitch for approximately ¾ inch, and make sure it is very snug. Use one of the shorter cords to make the wraps.

Step 14:  Tie 10 Celtic Button Knots, switching working cords each time.  There should always be 3 fillers. Two of the cords may become too short.  If this is the case, just use the others to make the knots.  Tighten the knots so they are no further than ¼ inch apart.

Tip:  When I made my Soft Rosary, I ended up using the newest cords for most of the knots, because they were longer. 

Step 15:  Switch working cords, so you use one of the longest ones.  Make the Linen Stitch again.  The wraps should end up approximately ¾ inches. 

Step 16:  Make a Square Knot Button. 

Section 2

Section 3

Creating Sections 4 and 5

Step 19:  Now you will use the 4 strands you pushed aside back in step 12.  Repeat steps 13 thru 16 once.

Finishing Touches

Step 21:  It’s time to join the 2 portions of the Soft Rosary so it forms a circle. Take 2 cords (from section 5) and direct them into spaces beside the SK Button you tied last in Section 3 (opposite end). The ¼-inch space you left when forming the button is the place you are aiming for.  You can also try to squeeze the ends into the back of the button itself, but it is more difficult. 

Step 22:  Leave a ¾-inch space between the last Celtic Button and this “linked” SK Button.  Bring all the ends together next to that space.  Take the longest cord and make the Linen Stitch in that area.  Make the wraps as tight as you can make them, since they are holding the ends.