I looked FOREVER for a rosary pattern. I found one, but the beads were too difficult for me. This lady, wisely advised me to change the beads to puff stitches, and with a few other alterations, I’ve made about fifty of these. They make fantastic gifts for Catholics, and once you get the hang of the pattern, it will take less than an hour to do each one. Very inexpensive, yet a gift that will be loved for years.
Also, if you’re ever looking for a service project, this group sends rosaries all over the world. Most are beaded, and will not work for our military, as they are not silent and do not meet the color restrictions. However, the following pattern, crocheted in black, meets all of the requirements. Last I checked, I was the only one that ever sent them any, so the need is definitely there.
Rosary
I use either an E or F hook to make these depending on my mood and the yarn. I use worsted weight acrylic or cotton.
To work the beads:
LIL BEAD– Make a puff stitch
BIG BEAD–Make the same stitch, but collect 11 loops on the hook instead of 7.
Cross:
-Ch8
-Sc twice ch1 sc in 2nd ch from hook, (top of cross)
-Sc in next 2ch, ch 5 sc back to body (one arm of the cross)
-Sc in remaining chs, ch1 2sc in same ch ch1 sc in same ch (bottom of cross)
-Sc up to cross piece, ch5, sc back to body, sc in last 2 ch, sc ch1 sc in same ch as beg, join with slip stitch.
First set of beads:
-Ch4
-Work one BIG BEAD
-Ch 4
-LIL BEAD, ch 2, LIL BEAD, ch 2, LIL BEAD
-Ch 4
-BIG BEAD
-Ch 4
Triangle:
-Sc
-Ch1, turn, 2sc in sc
-Ch1, turn, 2sc in next 2 sc
-Ch1, turn, 2sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 2sc in next sc.
Decades:
-Ch4
-[(LIL BEAD, ch2) 10 times, ch 4, BIG BEAD.] 4 times
-(LIL BEAD, ch2) 10 times
Finishing:
-Ch4, join to beginning triangle with a slip stitch.
-Weave in ends.
**(EDIT 2/04/09): There is now a tutorial on the BEAD STITCHES and a ROSARY POUCH for baby baptisms.
**(EDIT 1/7/09): We had several requests for a Spanish translation of this pattern. So…we accosted all our Spanish-speaking friends. We cannot say for sure that this is going to read just right, so please feel free to correct us!
Espagnol:
Rosario
Cuenta pequeña-Bucle con 7 vueltas en el ganchillo
Cuenta grande- Bucle con 11 vueltas en el ganchillo
Realización:
Cruz:
1-8 cad
2-pb 2cad 1 pb en la 2 ª cad de ganchillo (parte alta de la cruz)
3-pb después 2 cad, 5 cad pb regresando al centro (un brazo de la cruz)
4-pb en los restantes pbs, 1cad, 2 pb en la misma cad, 1cad, pb en la misma cad
(parte baja de la cruz)
5-pb hasta el centro de la cruz , 5cad, pb regresando al centro(el otro brazo), pb en las 2 últimas cad, pb 1cad pb en la misma cad como al principio, anudar el hilo.
Primer juego de cuentas:
1- 4cad
-trb 1 Cuenta Grande
2- 4cad
-Cuenta pequeña, 2cad, Cuenta pequeña, 2cad, Cuenta pequeña
3- 4cad
-Cuenta Grande
4- 4cad
Triangulo:
-pb
-1cad, vuelta, 2 pb en pb
-1cad, vuelta, 2 pb en sig pb
-cad 1, vuelta, 2 pb en los siguientes 2 pb, 2 pb en los sig. pb < Decadas:
-cad 4
-{(Cuenta pequeña, 2cad)10 veces, 4cad, Cuenta Grande}4 veces
-(Cuenta pequeña, 2cad)10 veces
Acabado:
-4 cad, anudar el hilo con el principio del triangulo con un slip stitch
-Cortar el hilo
Ivory
I have been trying my heart out to make this rosary and can’t seem to get past the cross. I am fairly new to crochet and am teaching myself slowly. For some reason I can not figure out the instructions. Is there a more laymen’s term directions that I might be able to understand. Thanks so much for your help!!!
jen
For the cross or the rest?
I love Rosaries, and was very happy to see someone decided to make a pattern. But I’ve been trying and trying to get the crucifix started and have to keep pulling it out and restarting!! there has to be a turn somewhere in the pattern. Can you possibly recheck your pattern for errors on the Crucifix etc. thank you so much
can you please recheck your pattern for errors on the wording, turns on Crucifix etc. many thanks.
help, please, please help me to get Rosary started. I am an experienced crocheter, and can’t seem to understand directions for Cross etc. Would truly appreciate any response so I can make and send to family in Italy, and USA. Thank you so much, Sofia
Sure. What do you need?
@ anna et al–try this out
@ anna–there is no turn. It’s crocheting in the round. You ch the eight, then go back on itself to start the sc, sc, ch, sc. Then you go down one side and do the bottom and back up the other. slip stitch it together and then start the chains and beads. There’s no turning. The only turning happens on the triangle in the middle.
thank you so much for your response. I will get started on this right quick. again thank you : )
I loved this pattern, a lady at my work donated bunch of yarn and I made lots of them and now need to send them off to a charity.
thanks for sharing.
HURRAY! We love writing these posts, but it’s so exciting to find out people really USE them!
Ivory Soap, thank you so much for putting together that diagram of the cross. reading the instructions just confused me but seeing the diagram I was able to put it together with no problem . The only problem is when I get to the big bead the yarn is very hard to work with and I can’t make 11 loops. I saw that the kind of yarn you use is worsted weight acrylic or cotton yarn which is what I did but i am having a hard time. I used both types of yarn but both were 4ply. I dont know if that makes a difference. please let me know the kind of yarn you used, thank you so much.
@isa3187 I just used standard Sugar and Cream from Lily or regular old Red Heart/Love the Yarn acrylic
I can’t wait to try this rosary. I’ve been hunting forever for a cross and rosary all in one that is simple & quick. I hope that I can understand it and make it work. One of our groups at church does the Divine Mercy Chaplet at the nursing home and this would be great if I could make some for them…..Also great for the military…..Thanks again so much…
I did not have a problem with the cross. I cannot figure out how to get the bead started. What do you use for the stitch to attach the bead to?
@Rosemary- did you check out the bead tutorial?
Since I found your pattern I have been making many rosaries. I would like to know where I can send the ones used by the military. If you can give me an address or website it would be greatly appreciated.
Happy New Year and God Bless
This is so very cool. Thanks for sharing the pattern!
Thank you! My brother wanted to take his Rosary with him overseas but was told that he could not…now I have a pattern from which to make one! I’ll have to check if they allow other dark colors like gray and green, too.
Thank you for the pattern!!
Debbie: can i have the directions to the cross (#10) I love it!
Thanks so much for posting this. Like you, I had a hard time finding a rosary pattern. I am allergic to metal and some plastics, so I have been looking for a pattern that I could use with organic yarn. Can I post a link to this on my blog? Thanks, Chris
Hey thnx for the design …i njoyed stiching the rosary…. do post more designs…
How do I make a “puff stitch”?
I love rosaries, and already have the cross started on this. The bead puffs are turning out to be a pain for me, though. Is there some magic trick to making it not so tough by the 9, 10, 11 loop? Or is that just something that goes with it? 🙂 Thanks for the pattern! Will post on ravelry when/if I finish!
Tank you for the rosary and the pouch pattern, but would like to know which organization do you donate to, and what is the website to send to the Military.
What a great idea! I’m going to give it a try.
You also mentioned rosaries for the military. Another group who makes rosaries is Rosary Army (www.rosaryarmy.com). They do all-twine knotted rosaries, so they would work for the military purposes. They also look for volunteers to make rosaries for them so that they can give them out to anyone who wants one. 🙂
I keep trying the cross and mine always looks silly. I can’t tell what I’m doing wrong. I’m going to keep trying.
Thank you for the design. I love this rosary and the cross. I did one that looks beatiful, it was easy , thank you for the pattern!! . I´m going to do in diferents colours. Excuse for my english, I´m from Montevideo, Uruguay and speak spanish.
Thanks another one !!!!
Thank you so much for this rosary design! I, too, had a hard time until you posated that picture and now I don’t know why it took me so long! It came out beautiful. I plan on making many with my prayer shawl ministry for the my friend’s son’s platoon.
Take care, Carolyn
I was so happy when my niece in NH sent me the website w/the instructions for the rosary. Now I cannot seen to find how to print the instructions! I have just upgrated from 2003 to 2010, am I missing the place to find print or the icon for it?
Have lots of ladies, including myself, who want to make these. We have been making the bead ones, but as you said it is more servicable for our heroes. (Plus you can take it with you, no hassle or spilled beads.
Thank You, claire
Do you have a kn it pattern for the Rosary? I am interested but can’t crochet?
Marney–Unfortunately we don’t have a knitted pattern for the rosary. It would be a good project, though. Hopefully someone can work something up sometime.
I am very excited about this crochet rosary pattern and the diagram picture. Thank you!! kind of concerned that Ivory soap hasn’t commented in over a year 🙁
I am sharing this pattern with my Catholic friends in FB.
Your rosary’s very cute! I made different models of crocheted rosaries. If you want you can see them on my blog or on my ravelry page (on ravelry I’m rosabianca).
All my best,
Rosa
Thank you so much for sharing this pattern. I am barely above a beginner, and had no trouble following your directions. The visual instructions you left in the comments for the cross were very helpful. I am making 8 of these for my formation class students, and a black one for my brother. He’s a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the Army Reserves, and may be shipped out to Afganistan this fall. I cannot wait to give it to him!
thank you such a blessing is this website and a miracle in my life!
i don’t think so, best blessings to you all!
Kate, I am so glad that you are finding our site to be so helpful! Thank you for all the kind comments.
Hello everyone! 🙂 I’m a beginner at crocheting and I love to do it especially because I have really bad arthritis its like a hobby for me. I was recently asked to be a godmother and as a gift I want to crochet her a rosary but I’m having so much trouble. This might sound funny but what does ch mean? And sc mean single crochet? I only have like 3 months crocheting and I love it. And also does anyone know of a actual video where the show you how to crochet the rosary, it’s hard for me to understand directions… I just rather watch. Please help me 🙂
Thank you!!
I am an advanced experienced crocheter. The instruction for this crosss Suck. I am sure it is clear for the person who did this, but for someone with little or no experience, this would be impossible to understand. Wish I could be more helpful, but there are other sites with better, more clear instructions on how to do this. one more thing I’ve made a rosary using crochet thread #10 and size 6 crochet hook. I’ve also made one using the thread and a metal cross and Mary Medal and cultured pearls (drilled) for the beads It came out awsome good luck.
Thank you for this pattern. I have modified it to make an Anglican Rosary and also a pocket Rosary. I’ll be happy to send anyone the directions, just let me know your e-mail addres. My directions are much clearer than the original as I included how to make the puff stitches. I also had much trouble with worsted weight yarn but have used #3 Crochet Thread with great success.
Wonderful site! Have just found this today and already found articles that I’ve been searching forever! Thank you!
I have never crocheted anything before, but I really want to make one of these for a friend who’s joining the Navy. Any BASIC sites and/or resources you can point me towards would be much appreciated!
bonjour,
serez t’il possible d’avoir le diagramme de votre rosaire car j’ai un peu de mal a comprendre les explications en anglais….
en vous remerciant par avance car il es tres beau
cordialement
aymeline
Je peux essayer.
I am a visual learner. LOL. Anyone willing to do this on youtube for me/us to view? PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!
This pattern is very poorly written. The directions for the cross alone is poorly written and does not match the photo at all.
I’ve made several of these over the past 5 years and initially yes, the cross can be a little confusing because you come around and finish it only to see that one arm is longer than the other when in fact you’re not looking at the arms at all but the top and one arm. Remember, you’re crocheting in the round here ladies. That means that each chain in the body of the cross (not the arms) will be single crocheted into TWICE, once on each side of the chain! Also… I make mine a little bigger. I chain 10 to start. SC into the second chain from the hook, SC in the next chain, SC in the next chain, chain 5, SC in each chain back to the initial chain. SC the next 5 in the chain. In the final chain, SC THREE times. This is shaping your end like this ( and leading you back up the side of your initial starting chain. Now, SC in the next 5 (we’re working on the opposite side of our initial chain now, thinking of a mirror image). In the next chain we should now be parallel to the arm on the other side, SC into it and then chain 5 once again, SCing back to the center in those 5 chains. Now SC the last couple and you’ve got your cross.
Best thing I can say would be to envision your beginning chain as a center line through your cross because that’s where it will be when you’re done. Right down the middle with the body and arms built off of it. It’s fiddly and easy to get “lost”.
I always have a rough time with the beads. I’ve learned the key is to make the chain directly before you begin a bead very, very relaxed and loose. Then I make the chain directly following a bead very, very tight. So, loose chain, small bead, tight chain, loose chain, small bead, and so forth. I know it’s been years since this was written but if anyone needs help with it, feel free to email me at LadyLeonard84@aol.com I really enjoy the pattern personally and would be more than happy to help others figure it out. Thank you so much Ivory for this pattern, I’ve given several as gifts over the years and just made one for myself this morning.
I just found this pattern today. I have done crocheted rosaries for years from a pattern that was done back in the 1920’s and handed down through women in the church. We used to teach girls who were in their confirmation year to crochet and make these rosaries. The priests used them to take to the old folks homes as we called them years ago. Many seniors tend to have problems holding on to a beaded rosary or they get dropped and stepped on and become a fall hazard. The ones that are crocheted work great as they crush down if stepped on and don’t pose a risk. They are also easier for seniors to hold on to. I made myself one recently as the regular beads on my rosary I have had for about 45 years now are getting a bit difficult to use since I am almost 70 and have severe arthritis. It takes me a few hours to make one of these now (mine are made out of thread not yarn) but I find it is well worth the effort.
Besides nursing homes, many priests will give these out at hospitals. These need to be made out of cotton for nursing homes and hospitals so Red Heart acrylic will not work but Lily Sugar n Cream will. Or most thread for crochet and knitting is made of cotton. Just check to make sure as some thread now is made of polyester.
I will be trying out this pattern to see if it is easier to make than the pattern that I already have and know by heart. I can tell you that both patterns use cluster stitches or puff stitches to make the beads. I think the patterns are very similar after reading through this one for the third or fourth time. Yes I always read a pattern through several times before I attempt to make the item. I was taught to do that by my mother who designed many of her own patterns. She told me that by doing that I would not only learn to catch mistakes in the pattern before I started crocheting the item but not skip ahead and miss a tiny little direction like a ch stitch in the middle of something.
I absolutely love this pattern!! I made it and loved it so much!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! And again… Thank you! My husband and son carry rosaries in their pocket and the metal ones break.. The string one frayed. I’m somewhat new to crochet but I think I can manage this pattern. Do you sell these? If so, I would like to buy one as a sample so I can follow along as yours look beautiful! Pls if you wouldn’t mind email me the details for purchase. I would be forever grateful!
Best wishes,
Kathy H.
Ps. I did notice this post was made years ago…. I’m praying your still looking at this post ????
I was wondering if I could sell items made using your pattern. Thank you for your time.