Seed beads are tiny beads usually made from plastic, glass or metal, they can measure from one millimetre and are used for jewelry making, clothing adornment, household decoration to name some of their uses.
Who creates these beads?
The Czech Republic are the biggest manufacturer, they produce glass beads, firepolish beads and also crystal beads. Other countries that are famous for making seed beads are Japan and France. The French generally make their beads from recycled metals. India and China are swiftly becoming as productive in mass bead making as other countries but beware, the quality isn't as good.
Who creates these beads?
The Czech Republic are the biggest manufacturer, they produce glass beads, firepolish beads and also crystal beads. Other countries that are famous for making seed beads are Japan and France. The French generally make their beads from recycled metals. India and China are swiftly becoming as productive in mass bead making as other countries but beware, the quality isn't as good.
What types of Seed Beads can you get?
Seed beads come in all types of textures and shapes. They can be transparent, translucent, opaque, coloured, lustered or matte finished for instance. Japanese beads are renowned for their cylinder shape which makes the bead not as round in shape but it has more area space for the design. Charlotte Cut beads have areas of the surface cut to make the bead more shiney, Charlotte Cut beads are also known as single faceted beads as well are 2 cut or 3 cut beads depending on how many surface cuts there are.
What size do Seed Beads go up to?
Seed beads come in numerous sizes, usually a size 11 bead is an inch in size, these sizes range from 5 to 24. A bead is measured before it is cut so if you have a bead that has been judged as an inch in size chances are it is a little less than an inch due to wastage from it being cut. Alas seed bead sizes are not exact.
How are the quantities measured?
Seed beads are not measured by the amount; the logistics of counting out hundreds of beads makes it nearly impossible to be exact. Instead the beads are measured by weight or a hank. A hank is a bundle of beads made up generally of 12 strands if it's a size 11 beads for example. Purchasing beads in a hank does work out far better for price than purchasing them loose. Czech beads are usually sold as a hank were as Japanese beads are not.
Seed beads come in all types of textures and shapes. They can be transparent, translucent, opaque, coloured, lustered or matte finished for instance. Japanese beads are renowned for their cylinder shape which makes the bead not as round in shape but it has more area space for the design. Charlotte Cut beads have areas of the surface cut to make the bead more shiney, Charlotte Cut beads are also known as single faceted beads as well are 2 cut or 3 cut beads depending on how many surface cuts there are.
What size do Seed Beads go up to?
Seed beads come in numerous sizes, usually a size 11 bead is an inch in size, these sizes range from 5 to 24. A bead is measured before it is cut so if you have a bead that has been judged as an inch in size chances are it is a little less than an inch due to wastage from it being cut. Alas seed bead sizes are not exact.
How are the quantities measured?
Seed beads are not measured by the amount; the logistics of counting out hundreds of beads makes it nearly impossible to be exact. Instead the beads are measured by weight or a hank. A hank is a bundle of beads made up generally of 12 strands if it's a size 11 beads for example. Purchasing beads in a hank does work out far better for price than purchasing them loose. Czech beads are usually sold as a hank were as Japanese beads are not.
Seed beads come in numerous sizes, usually a size 11 bead is an inch in size, these sizes range from 5 to 24. A bead is measured before it is cut so if you have a bead that has been judged as an inch in size chances are it is a little less than an inch due to wastage from it being cut. Alas seed bead sizes are not exact.
How are the quantities measured?
Seed beads are not measured by the amount; the logistics of counting out hundreds of beads makes it nearly impossible to be exact. Instead the beads are measured by weight or a hank. A hank is a bundle of beads made up generally of 12 strands if it's a size 11 beads for example. Purchasing beads in a hank does work out far better for price than purchasing them loose. Czech beads are usually sold as a hank were as Japanese beads are not.
About the Author:
How are the quantities measured?
Seed beads are not measured by the amount; the logistics of counting out hundreds of beads makes it nearly impossible to be exact. Instead the beads are measured by weight or a hank. A hank is a bundle of beads made up generally of 12 strands if it's a size 11 beads for example. Purchasing beads in a hank does work out far better for price than purchasing them loose. Czech beads are usually sold as a hank were as Japanese beads are not.
About the Author:
Siffion Quaid has had an interest in bead jewellery for a long time and where to buy beads. On his site are great deal of articles making reference to beads and also about seed beads.