Definition: Seed Bead is a term used to describe a wide variety of small beads, round or cylindrical in shape and often used in bead weaving techniques, loom weaving, beaded flower making, wire work, and as spacers in bead stringing projects.
Seed beads have a uniform guideline for sizing, though the origins of those guidelines are a bit hazy. Some say the size is based on the size of the metal rods used in making the seed beads, others say it is the number of seed beads in a row an inch in length; meaning that there should be 11 size 11/0 seed beads in an inch. Sizes generally run close to true, even from country to country.
The most important thing to remember regarding bead sizing is this: the smaller the bead number for instance, a 6/0 the larger the bead. Beads run as small as 26/0, which looks like a grain of sand! The most common sizes seem to be, from largest to smallest, the 6/0, 8/0, 11/0, 13/0 (usually in the Charlotte cut) 14/0 and 15/0. Smaller beads are made, but most on the market today are vintage, with a small range of colors and finishes available. They are very attractive to collectors, as are the cut-steel beads made in Europe in the earlier part of the 20th Century.
There is such a variety of seed beads, including Delica beads, which is the brand name for a very popular cylindrical bead made in Japan; Toho Aiko, which is a brand name for a different company's Japanese cylindrical seed beads, Antique and Mill Hill, which are also trade names for a brand of Japanese cylinder beads; Czech Beads since beads have been made in the Czech Republic for centuries, dating back to the days of Bohemia. The Czech beads do tend to vary a bit in size and shape, even within the same hank of beads, but are valued for their use in bead embroidery, as the difference in size allows for more exacting contours in the beadwork.
Seed beads have a uniform guideline for sizing, though the origins of those guidelines are a bit hazy. Some say the size is based on the size of the metal rods used in making the seed beads, others say it is the number of seed beads in a row an inch in length; meaning that there should be 11 size 11/0 seed beads in an inch. Sizes generally run close to true, even from country to country.
The most important thing to remember regarding bead sizing is this: the smaller the bead number for instance, a 6/0 the larger the bead. Beads run as small as 26/0, which looks like a grain of sand! The most common sizes seem to be, from largest to smallest, the 6/0, 8/0, 11/0, 13/0 (usually in the Charlotte cut) 14/0 and 15/0. Smaller beads are made, but most on the market today are vintage, with a small range of colors and finishes available. They are very attractive to collectors, as are the cut-steel beads made in Europe in the earlier part of the 20th Century.
There is such a variety of seed beads, including Delica beads, which is the brand name for a very popular cylindrical bead made in Japan; Toho Aiko, which is a brand name for a different company's Japanese cylindrical seed beads, Antique and Mill Hill, which are also trade names for a brand of Japanese cylinder beads; Czech Beads since beads have been made in the Czech Republic for centuries, dating back to the days of Bohemia. The Czech beads do tend to vary a bit in size and shape, even within the same hank of beads, but are valued for their use in bead embroidery, as the difference in size allows for more exacting contours in the beadwork.
Pronunciation: Seed beed
Also Known As: Czech, Japanese, Delica, Toho Aiko, Aiko, Antique, Mill Hill
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Examples: The freeform beaded bracelet was made with Czech seed beads, Japanese seed beads, Delica beads, and some really lovely 8/0 beads to give it some extra color.
