Gloves. There’s several YouTube videos of people knitting gloves with them. If you use 5 holes, you’ll end up with a slight curve to one side for free. You can use the hole-sizes as a guide for finger width. Most of the work is done by the nubs sticking out, which hold the outermost stitch.
Are you asserting that an ornament can’t be categorized as a religious artifact? Cuz if so, I (or you) have some explaining to do.
Also, I think people have found them on people’s bodies and in their purses, indicating it’s something they might carry around regularly.