Japanese cylinder beads are the favorite bead of many beaders who love to do peyote and brick stitch. Their amazing range of colors and precisely uniform shape and size create a beaded fabric unlike anything else.
1. What are Japanese cylinder beads?
Japanese cylinder beads are tiny seed beads made from glass that are precisely uniform in shape and size.2. Who manufactures Japanese cylinder beads?
There are two primary companies that manufacture Japanese cylinder beads:
- Miyuki Co., LTD manufactures Delica beads
- Toho Co., LTD manufactures Treasures and Aiko beads
3. What do Japanese cylinder beads look like?
Japanese cylinder beads are very uniform in shape and resemble small cylinders. They “click” together to create a very polished and tailored look to beading stitches. They have large holes that allow for many thread passes.4. What sizes are Japanese cylinder beads available in?
Japanese cylinder beads are available in 15/0, 11/0, 10/0 and 8/0.5. What colors of Japanese cylinder beads are available?
As with other Japanese seed beads, cylinder beads are available in thousands of colors. There are metallics, transparent, opaque, gold-luster and color-lined varieties available. Japanese cylinder beads also come in a range of precious-metal plated colors.6. How are they sold?
Japanese cylinder beads are sold in tubes, boxes or bags. They are usually sold per 5 to 10 grams of beads. Some of the precious metal plated beads are sold in quantities of 4 grams to make them more affordable.7. Where can I buy Japanese cylinder beads?
Cylinder beads are available in most local bead shops and are widely available on the internet.8. What stitches work best with Japanese cylinder beads?
Since the holes on Japanese cylinder beads are very large, they can accommodate many thread passes. They work well with just about every beading stitch, and work very well to make beaded ropes. They can also be used in bead crochet to make very supple and beautiful beaded ropes. Cylinder beads are the preferred seed bead for those who work with loom weaving.9. What else can I use Japanese cylinder beads for?
Japanese cylinder beads can be used in most beaded jewelry projects, but also work well in strung jewelry to add tiny accents of color. They work very well for fringe techniques and other beaded embellishments.10. How much do Japanese cylinder beads cost?
Because of the techniques used to create these beads, they usually cost more than other types of seed beads. A 7 gram tube of a basic color (transparent or opaque) averages $2.50. The precious metal and metallic matte varieties often cost significantly more than other types of seed beads, anywhere up to $10.00 for a 4 gram tube.
