I'm learning how to make cord rosaries. This is my second one, and I used black microcord for the first time; it worked great. It's 1.18mm in diameter and it fits well into these beads where the hole is about 2-3mm. It's also very easy to burn the ends which not only makes it easier to thread the beads, but to also finish off each not so they stay tight. The 8mm porcelain beads are many earthy colors with small designs in most of them. I separated out six white beads to use for the Our Father, but all others are placed at random. The centerpiece is St. Michael the Archangel (the back says "pray for us"). The crucifix is base metal.