Okay, so today I tried making a granite mala. Let me tell you, it was quite the journey.
Getting Started
First things first, I gathered all the materials. I went with these beautiful, polished granite beads. I got them from a local craft store – they had a whole bunch of different stones, but the granite just called to me. I also picked up some strong, durable string and a few spacer beads to add a little extra flair. Oh, and a tassel, can’t forget the tassel!
Stringing the Beads
Next up, I started stringing the beads. I laid them all out in the order I wanted, which took a bit of time, to be honest. I wanted a nice pattern, alternating between the darker and lighter granite shades. Once I was happy with the layout, I grabbed my string and got to work. It was a bit tricky at first, trying to keep the beads in order and not let them roll off the table. My cat, Mittens, thought it was a great game, so I had to keep an eye on her too.
- Grab the string and tie a knot at one end.
- Start threading the granite beads onto the string.
- Add spacer beads every few granite beads for some visual interest.
- Keep going until all the beads are on the string.
Adding the Tassel
Once all the beads were strung, I added the tassel. I chose a simple, dark gray tassel that matched the granite nicely. Attaching the tassel was probably the easiest part. I just tied it onto the end of the string, making sure it was secure. A few extra knots just to be safe and done!
Finishing Touches
With the tassel attached, I tied off the other end of the string, completing the loop. I made sure the knots were tight and secure, because the last thing I wanted was for my mala to come apart. Then, I just trimmed off the excess string, and voila! My granite mala was complete.
Admiring My Work
I have to say, I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out. It’s got a nice weight to it, and the granite beads feel really grounding. I spent the rest of the afternoon wearing it, just getting a feel for it. I can definitely see this becoming a part of my daily routine. I might even make another one with different stones, just to switch things up. We’ll see!
