Size and types of beads

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:46

The art of beading has existed for several millennia on different continents. Recently, it has again begun to gain popularity among both small and adult masters. And no wonder, because this ancient craft is very beautiful and exciting.

New material processing technologies have led to the emergence of all kinds of beads. Small beads differ in size, color, shape, material and country of origin. Such a variety of bright grains allows you to create unique and truly impressive products that are not even ashamed to give.

Bead sizes

Bead size has its own special designation, which was established in ancient times. The smallest beads were assigned the number 0. Later, even smaller beads appeared. It was marked with two zeros. And so it happened on the rise. When zeros became difficult to count, they were replaced by numbers. Then the size designation system took the following form: 6/0, 7/0 and so on. That is, the first digit is the number of zeros. And the more this number, the lessthere will be beads. Usually the size is from 1.4 to 4.2 millimeters. Also, the first number before zero indicates the number of beads that fit in one inch.

However, not all manufacturers are equal to the generally accepted system of types of beads in size. The labeling of one company can be very different from the labeling of another company. At this point, you should pay special attention before purchasing the material. This is especially true in cases where the surface must be perfectly smooth. Due to the different size of the beads, the product may be crooked and uneven.

Bead colors

Modern method of making beads allows you to dye it in a variety of colors and shades. But besides this, it also differs in other properties.

So, according to optical parameters, you can select transparent, translucent and opaque beads. It is made from different types of glass, which transmit light differently.

Types of beads and beads can be considered from the side of the effects that are used to create a unique brilliance. Available in Matte, Glitter, Pearlescent, Metallic and Petrol.

Also use different methods of staining. Beads are completely covered with any color, only from the outer or inner surface. For beads, the hole is additionally painted in gold, silver, bronze or copper tones. From this effect, the product gets a mirror, sparkling coating. Beads can be covered with small grooves. From this, it becomes like a silk cloth or a stone. Tiger's Eye. There are also beads with various inclusions of various dots and stripes.

What are they made of?

Many types of beads are distinguished by the material. The photo in the article clearly demonstrates this. Today, most often small beads are made of glass or polymers. On a production scale, plastic is fused onto a thread, and in home-made hand-made, the lampwork technique is used.

Material for beads, in principle, can be anything. Stone, metal, wood, bones, tusks, amber, shells, pearls, corals, precious stones, ceramics, plant grains. Some craftswomen even manage to make beads out of paper or fiber.

Types and names of beads in shape

Manufacturers produce beads in three basic forms.

1. Round beads. It is they who are commonly called beads.
2. Cutting. These are short sticks.
3. Bugles. These are already long tubes.

Of course, there are other varieties and forms. But only the three main ones will be considered, since they are the most popular.

Round beads

The round shape is the most familiar for all needlewomen, and it is present in all traditional jewelry. These are small beads ranging in size from number 6/0 to 15/0. The hole can be round or square with melted edges. This type of beads is today made from glass, which is heated to a liquid state. After that, dyes - chemicals and metals - are melted inside. Balls are formed from still hot glass. After cooling, they are sorted by size. Each company packs beads in its own way, independently determining the size and number of beads in a bag.

Cutting

In another way, these beads are also called chopped. These are short tubes (about two millimeters in length) that are cut off at both ends. In size, they correspond to round beads 11/0. A variation of this species is faceted felling. These sticks are not round, but angular. Usually shaped like a pentagon or a hexagon.

The cabin is special in that it has rather thin walls and a wide opening. It also has the same shape and size, while round beads have small errors in this regard. That is why chopped beads are ideal for weaving using the “brick stitch” and “mosaic” techniques. Also, because of the wide center, this type of bead is great for those cases where the thread must be passed several times through the same hole.

Bugle beads

Bugles are also chopped tubes, but longer - from 2 millimeters to 2.5 centimeters. Even more oblong sticks can be found on sale, but they are extremely rare. Glass beads can be rounded, faceted and twisted. Manufacturers also combine these varieties with each other.

In beading, the most popular is glass beads of two, six and twelve millimeters. It is used most often for decoration of brushes and embroidery. It is also good to decorate products woven on a loom or by hand with long tubes.

Classification by producing countries

Beads differ not only in color, size and shape, but also in quality. It will depend on him how even, neat and beautiful the product will turn out.

The most common bead manufacturers are three countries:

• China.
• Czech Republic.
• Japan.

Depending on the type of beading, beads should be selected of a certain quality. Of course, the highest is always better, but not everyone can afford expensive beads. And why overpay when a cheaper replacement will do.

Chinese beads

These are the most inexpensive and affordable beads, which are often purchased by novice craftsmen to practice. The Chinese manufacturer has a rather limited choice of shapes, sizes and colors. Most often, fully colored beads (transparent and opaque) and with internal silvering come on sale. But even bright colors fade over time.

Beads from one bag always differ in size, shape, and this is noticeable. They are uneven and too fragile, so they often break in half in work. The edges of glass beads and cuttings are so sharp that they can damage the thread on which they will be strung.

Due to all these shortcomings, a low price is formed. But this does not mean that such beads are not worth buying at all. It is good for children's creativity, for training and creating holiday costumes (because it is lightweight).

Czechbeads

Among needlewomen, Czech-made beads are the most popular for any kind of weaving. The catalog of its species is very diverse in shapes, sizes and colors. Beads are considered moderately expensive, of high quality, but not without flaws. The same shade in different batches may differ, although this is important when creating a product. The size and shape of the beads are basically the same, but sometimes you still have to deal with calibration. Some beads burst during work or meet with a hole too narrow, because of which the needle simply does not fit through.

The listed shortcomings occur, but not as often as in Chinese counterparts, which are much cheaper. For this reason, needlewomen most often prefer Czech beads.

Japanese beads

This manufacturer is not so common in art stores. Most likely, this fact can be explained by the too high cost for consumers. Although this is exactly the case when the price is justified by the quality.

Almost one hundred percent Japanese beads are smooth and even. Therefore, before weaving, there is no need to sort it out. If any irregularities are found, they are not visible to the naked eye and do not spoil the finished product. The color palette is clearly fixed, and even the slightest error in shade does not occur. The edges of the beads are well melted, so it does not cut the thread. The walls are very thin, due to which Japanese beads weigh less than Chinese and Czech counterparts.

Now you know what beads are. Speciesthere are so many on sale that any needlewoman will be able to choose the right option for herself both in terms of appearance and cost.