Another types of beads
There are many types of beads available, and choosing the right beads for a project is essential. So, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of finding a good supplier who will be able to advise you on the best beads to use.
Most beads are sold either by weight (grams) or in hanks. It is impossible to mention every bead available, so I focus on the most common ones.
Seed beads
These are the most popular type of bead and there are two types.
*Japanese beads are cylindrical in shape and range in size from 6 (the largest) to 22 (the smallest). They are though: to be more uniform in size and have larger holes than the equivalent size of Czech bead. They are ideal for all types of beadwork.
*Czech beads range in size from 7 to 20.They are usually more doughnut-shaped than
Japanese ones, and are best used for off-loom beading and bead embroidery
Delica beads(antique beads)
These superior beads are perfectly cylindrical in shape and have thin walls and large holes. They are ideal for bead weaving where a very flat,smooth finish is required. There are only two sizes size 11 and the larger size 8. They are more expensive than seed beads, but well worth using for that special project.
Bugle beads
These are long cylindrical beads available in a variety of colours, finishes and twists. They are sized in millimetres, the most common sizes being 2, 3, and 5mm. Take care when using them as they can have quite shape edges which could cut through thread. They are mainly used for edgings and fringes.
Shaped beads
Apart from the usual cylindrical shape, there are also other shapes of beads-triangles, squares and hexagonal (six sided) – which can give an unusual and different texture.
Faceted beads
Round beads
These can be made from plastic, wood, glass and semiprecious stones. They are sized in
millimetres from 2 to 10mm or even larger.
Thank you so much for the article. Really interesting.