Versatile Seed Beads in Jewelry Making

Seed beads are extremely versatile in jewelry making, even if they are tiny. They can be used as tiny bead spacers between other jewelry beads or as basis for many complicated designs. We can easily find many different seed beads and seed beads jewelry designs on jewelry market.

Glass Seed Beads

The sizes range of seed beads is from 24/0 to 5/0, but the most common size is 11/0. These little jewelry beads come in translucent, matte, opaque, luster finishes, silver, copper, or bronze lined colored beads. Glass seed beads are generally available for purchase wherever jewelry making supplies are sold. Seed beads necklaces are a popular choice for accessories in jewelry for women. They vary from simple and minimal styles to elaborate costume pieces. Some people like to use seed beads to create net necklaces. The net patterns vary, but the design is typically constructed solely with seed beads. However, counting these tiny glass beads is the most difficult aspect of beading a net necklace. If there is one bead off, the pattern will be distorted. The most widely used sizes of these tiny beads are 10/0, 11/0 and 15/0. When you work with these tiny beads, you will need needles. And a beading mat can help prevent your beads from rolling around on your work place.

Seed Bugle Beads

When you find seed beads on jewelry market, you can also find bugle beads. Both seed beads and bugle beads are sold by weight, but others are sold by a unit bundle of strands known as a hank. Apart from making necklaces and bracelets, both seed beads and bugle beads are popular for creating dangling earrings. You can use these tiny beads only or mix and match them with other jewelry beads, such as glass beads, gemstone beads and so on to create different styles. Use these tiny beads to create rings is very easy too. The most simple seed bead rings can be an elegant accent, especially when worn with other rings. Patience is very important when you use seed beads and bugle beads to create jewelry designs. As these jewelry beads are so tiny, they are very difficult for the novice to string.

Why so many jewelry makers and jewelry wearers like seed beads and bugle beads? Except they have a wide range of selection with sizes, colors and types, these tiny beads allows you to be tremendously creative. Both jewelry beads are available in many jewelry stores, but if you want to get a large range of selection and cheap price, you’d better purchase them from reliable online wholesale stores. 

Seed Beads—A Fancy Jewelry Beads

Seed beads, a type of tiny glass beads, are widely used in jewelry making and decorating garments. This sentence is not wrong, but not correct absolutely. Glass is the most common material used to fabricate seed beads, but they are also made from metal, porcelain or tile. Some people may not know this. And of course, the most widely used one are the glass ones. Seed beads have been found that are centuries old and used to be currency.

6/0 Glass Seed Beads, Trans.Colours Rainbow

The world of seed beads is wonderful. Let’s take glass tiny seed beads for example. They have a hole in the center that enables you to run a needle and thread through and create all sorts of wonderful projects. The size for describing is not like other jewelry beads. Larger numbers mean smaller sizes. The most common smaller sizes are 11/0 and 15/0, and the most common larger sizes are 6/0 and 8/0. This is pronounced “eight-aught”, and means that about 8 beads strung together will measure 1”. Larger seed beads are also called pony beads.

11/0 Glass seed beads

Seed beads are extremely versatile. They can be used as spacers between other jewelry beads as the basis for intricate multi-strand necklaces. Loom or off-loom bead weaving is also quite popular among those who wish to make seed bead jewelry designs with a Native American feel. When working with these tiny beads, patience is the key. Since these beads are so tiny, they can be rather difficult for the novice to string. The very first thing that you have to arrange is a string that has a high tensile strength. You can use a thin wire or a strong thread. Next, you should have a beading mat with you. A beading mat can help prevent your beads from rolling around on your work area, while a small triangle scoop makes it easier to clean up when you are finished working.

Glass Bugle Beads, AB Color, GreenYellow

Seed beads are available in many colors, from opaque to transparent. Some beads are lined with a different color, or metallic material for a unique variation. And they are also available in many countries, but not only in Czech Republic and Japan. Searching them on the internet, you will find they are available in tens of thousands of jewelry beads online stores. Some are jewelry beads retailers, and some are wholesalers. I would suggest you to purchase from wholesalers as they can offer you much lower prices than retailers. And you can use the rest money to purchase more other jewelry materials for your designs. 

Sizes of Seed Beads and Bugle Beads

Seed beads and bugle beads are widely used in jewelry making today. They are small, lightweight but colorful and beautiful, which are the reasons why so many jewelry makers would like to add them in their jewelry designs. While, to some beginners of jewelry making, they may not clear about the sizes of seed beads and bugle beads. The sizes of seed beads don’t mean the same as other jewelry beads.

Seed Beads

You will find that the sizes of seed beads are described like 12/0, 11/0, 8/0 and etc. What the mean of those numbers? I think this is the question of many beginners. About seed beads, the bigger the number, the smaller the seed beads. Of course, some people label seed beads like 12°. Both 12/0 and 12° mean the same thing: this is a size 12. Size 0 is the original size of seed beads. As the technology of beadmaking got better, the beads got smaller. Some people may ask are all seed bead sizes the same? The answer is No. Each seed beads company has their won sizing system, so a size 12 from company A will be close, but not exactly the same size as a bead from company B. If your pattern calls for a specific size bead, get all the beads from the same manufacturer / supplier to get the most consistent result.

8/0 Glass Seed Beads, Trans.Colours Rainbow

Bugle Beads

Bugle beads are a kind of beads belong to seed beads, but not in the same shape. Bugle beads are produced in tube shape, but with different effects, for instant, be smooth and round, smooth and squared, squared and twisted and etc. Even though bugle beads are belong to seed beads, but the numbers of their sizes are not the same. People usually use2mmor 3/32”,4mmor 3/16”,7mmor 1/4”,25mmor 15/16”and etc to describe the sizes of bugle beads. As the same as seed beads, the size of bugle beads may be a little different from different company.

Glass Bugle Beads, AB Color

As seed beads and bugle beads are used commonly in jewelry making, and are available in different sizes and countries. So knowing the sizes of those beads and the difference between them to other jewelry beads is very important to make sure you can choose the correct beads for your jewelry designs. And purchasing them from online wholesale stores such as PandaHall.com will be a good idea if you would like to get wide range of selection and get low prices. And I would suggest you to purchase those beads from the same company or supplier to make sure their sizes are the same.

Bugle Beads Help You Create Super Jewelry

Bugle beads is a kind of beads belong to a group of beads called seed beads that are usually used as spacers between other beads in the jewelry making. Bugle beads are varying in sizes and colors. They have different quality and are produced in different countries.

Glass Bugle Beads, Purple

Some people may not know why they are named bugle beads. Because it is cylindrical and conical in shape that resembles that of a bugle as a musical instrument, thus bugle beads came about. It is faceted with round, twisted, and hex body but still it is tube like and long in most cases. Bugle beads can be smooth and round, smooth and squared, squared and twisted, hex-cut (with six long facets), or twisted hex-cut. They are also available with either round or square holes. Square holes usually are larger than round holes, which means that you can pass a needle through them more times. Square holes also serve as internal facets, adding extra sparkle to transparent bugle beads.

Glass Bugle Beads, AB Color

You need to look at a few factors when you are planning to use bugle beads for jewelry making. The first is consistency in length. If you want to use those beads in different colors, but in the same size, you should be able to gather and examine same length for them to hasten your jewelry making. While, it is also a good idea if you would like to use bugle beads in mixed colors and sizes to make a unique design. The second is their color and styles, for example, matte, transparent, metallic, opaque, and silver-lined and etc. Depending on your preference or your customer’s preference if you make jewelry for selling, you should know how to mix and match these beads into making a dazzling jewelry piece. The third, mix and match different shapes together also will be a good idea to create amazing jewelry art.

Glass Bugle Beads, AB Color

Many jewelry makers like to use seed beads and bugle beads together. Both beads are available in different colors, sizes and styles, and can be purchased easily–both online jewelry stores and offline jewelry stores. While, if you would like to get wide range of selection and low prices, I would suggest you to purchase them from online wholesale stores. Finding a reputable online wholesale store like PandaHall.com and some others is the first important thing you need to do, or else, you will meet many problems after you received your orders. Of course, choosing correct items for your designs is very important too. And success lies at your arm’s length.