Seed Beads are
the most wonderful and versatile of all beads. They are able to be used
solely on a piece of jewelry providing a stunning piece and can also be used as
fillers and highlighters in others. Keep a range of seed beads and sizes
on hand at all times. Depending on the brand bought will depend on the result
you want to achieve. Some seed beads are precisely cut to give you a
repeatable result, others (often the cheaper they are the less quality you will
receive) you may find disappointing at times.
The unit of
measurement for seed beads is known as ‘Aught’ which is either displayed as a
symbol " ° " or a forward stroke followed by a /0.
The greater the
number, the smaller the bead.
Size 11/0 is
the size most commonly used. Sizes can vary from 24/0 to 1/0.
Colors and Finishes
Seed beads come
in a range of colors and finishes.
The color is
the original color of the glass used to create the bead, and the finish is
applied to the surface or the core of the bead.
Transparent: The bead can
be seen through allowing light to pass through.
Silver Lined: Is a
transparent bead that has a silver lining in the core of the bead.
Gold Lined: Is a transparent
bead that has a gold lining within the core of the bead.
Bronze Lined: Is a transparent
bead that has a bronze lining in the core of the bead.
Copper Lined: Is a
transparent bead that has a copper lining in the core of the bead.
Luster: Is a shiny coating
that has been applied to the surface of the bead giving it a shiny finish.
Translucent or
Milky: Finished in such a way that only diffused light can pass
through.
Matte: Is a finish that
provides a matte finish.
Opaque: The solid color
prevents light from passing through the bead
Gold Lustered: Finished
with a gold dust which gives the bead a rich golden metallic hue
AB or Aurora
Borealis: Is a finish that has a rainbow effect applied
to the surface of the seed bead.
Inside-Color: An opaque color is
applied to the inside of a transparent bead.
Metallic: Are beads that have
been heated and then sprayed with oxidized tin. The thicker the coating,
the darker the finish.
Iris: This finish gives
an 'oil slick' appearance, giving the beads purple/teal/blue/fuschia
tones. This finish is generally used on dark rich tones such as purple,
brown blue and green.
Galvanized: The beads are
plated with zinc which gives them a metallic finish. However this is not a
stable finish and can rub away with friction
Dyed: These beads are
transparent beads that have been painted and baked.
Delicas
Delica beads have very thin walls and are cylindrical in shape compared to the
rounder, thick-walled seed bead. They are usually of excellent quality. They
line up perfectly in stitches such as Brick or Peyote, with the large holes
allowing for multiple passes of the thread through each bead. They are an
excellent choice in any project using looms, peyote or brick stitches because
they are so precise. Patterns line up perfectly and provide a clean crisp
finish to your piece of jewelry. Delicas give curved stitches such as a Spiral
or Rosette a more angular shape and lend good definition to Herringbone weave
projects.
