Seed Beads

• size 15 seed beads
• size 11 seed beads
• size 8 seed beads

Seed beads historically were described as a very small size glass or metal bead (less than 2mm) and grew out of the term seed pearl (small pearls used to embellish fabric.) The earliest seed beads of European manufacture probably date to about 1490.

Today the term "seed bead" applies to rounded glass beads in a variety of sizes denoted by number. The sizes range from size 2 (large) to size 24 (almost invisible.) The most common seed bead size and widest color availability today is size 11 (about 2.5mm.) A size 5 seed bead is called a "pony bead." The larger the seed bead, the larger the hole, as the metal rod on which the glass beads are formed is larger for the larger sized beads. The size of seed beads is measured in aughts, not inches or millimeters. Consequently, the size is expressed 11/0 for size 11 aught. One of our 10 gram packages of size 11 seed beads will result in approximately 50 feet of beads when strung as a single strand. A size 8 seed bead is approximately 3mm in diameter and 2mm thick.

Colorants and oxidants like copper, cobalt, bauxite and even precious materials such as gold are added to the glass to achieve the desired color. These chemical additions affect the pricing of different seed bead colors. As well as the addition of chemicals, the process of making seed beads (consisting of many steps) can affect the color of the glass. Consequently, there is some color variation from batch to batch.

Primary sources of seed beads are Czech Republic and Japan, but they are also made in China, France, India, and the United States. The major difference between the beads made in Czech Republic and Japan is the holes in the Czech beads tend to be smaller, and the beads made in Japan are more consistent in size. The Czech seed beads are sold in hanks (groups of beads temporarily strung) and the Japanese beads are sold unstrung by weight.

The size thread used with seed bead beadwork should vary as the size of the bead varies.
For seed beads size 15-12 (small) thread size 00 or 0 is used. (Thread size 0 is larger than size 00.)
For seed beads size 11-10 (average) thread size B and is used.
For seed beads size 10-5 (large) thread size D is used.
For seed beads size 8-5 (very large) thread size F is used.

The size needle used by seed beads should also vary as the thread size varies.
For seed beads 10 or larger, use a needle size 10.
For seed beads 12-11, use a needle size 12.
For seed beads 14-13, use a needle size 13.
for seed beads 15 or smaller, use a needle size 15.

We sell our seed beads in 10 gram packages. That's about 380 beads per package for size 8, 1,030 beads per package for size 11 and 2,400 for size 15.

Beading with seed beads affords a vast choice in design due to the range of color and size choices. They can be used in jewelry making, apparel embellishment, embellishment of household articles, and many other arts and crafts. Their cost is reasonable as well. They only thing they require is a great deal of patience.

special care: avoid impact

For dyed beads, avoid moisture, abrasion, harsh chemicals, and prolonged exposure to sunlight, coat with a clear fixative such as Krylon or automotive clear coat spray paint.