Finishing your mala:
Start with both ends having a single knot after their final bead. You should now have 4 strands of cord (if there is still a loop on the starting end, snip it).
- Take your guru bead and pull all 4 strands through. I used a needle with a large eye for this, but others have done it with the threading tool you already have. If you are placing another bead before the guru bead, thread it on first. If your 4 cords won’t fit through your bead, give me a holler, and I can describe how to go down to 2 cords.
- Using a skewer or something similar, widen the path through the knot in the middle of your tassel. If it still has a ring or loop on it, cut it off.
- Take two strands of cord and take them through the tassel knot in one direction, and take the other two strands through the knot in the opposite direction.
- Pull everything tight – the tassel and guru bead – and tie a knot on what will be the front of the mala.
- Flip it over and tie another knot on the back. Pull tight.
- I put a dab of super glue on the back knot just to be sure it stays put. You can also double knot it, but it will be bulkier.
There you go! If you have ANY questions, do not hesitate to reach out!
