Beading basics / A practical guide
Seed beads,
made simple.
A seed bead size chart is just the beginning. Find the right shape, choose your size, and know how much to buy.
Matte turquoise Delicas
A beautiful bead project starts with a few small choices. Do you want crisp rows of color or a softly rounded texture? Tiny details or something easier to handle? One tube—or enough for the whole bracelet?
This guide focuses on Miyuki round seed beads and 11/0 Delicas, with practical comparisons you can use while you shop. If you’re following a pattern, start with its materials list. The right color in the wrong shape or size can change the result more than you expect.
Start with shape
Delicas are seed beads, too. The useful distinction is between their cylinder shape and the rounded profile of traditional seed beads, also called rocailles.
Delicas
Short cylinders with flatter sides and ends. Their even shape creates a smooth surface that lets detailed color patterns read clearly.
Try 11/0 Delicas for charted peyote, brick stitch, or loom designs that call for cylinders.
Round seed beads
Softly curved sides create a more textured surface. They’re versatile choices for weaving, embroidery, fringe, and stringing.
Explore 11/0 rounds for a familiar, versatile starting point.
Photos show actual catalog beads at different magnifications. The row illustrations simplify the profiles; they are not stitch instructions or a scale comparison.
Read the size before the color
Within a seed bead family, a higher size number generally means a smaller bead: 15/0 is smaller than 11/0, which is smaller than 8/0. The number is a size designation, not a millimeter measurement—and not a dependable count of beads per inch.
For a first project without a prescribed size, 8/0 rounds are a comfortable place to explore. They’re larger than 11/0s, making individual beads easier to see and handle. Choose 15/0 rounds when your pattern needs finer details.
Miyuki round beads shown from the hole end. Relative diameters are scaled to the manufacturer’s reference measurements; enlarged illustrations are not actual screen size.
| Bead | Width | Hole | Beads / gram |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15/0 round | 1.5 mm | 0.7 mm | 250 |
| 11/0 round | 2.0 mm | 0.8 mm | 110 |
| 8/0 round | 3.0 mm | 1.1 mm | 39 |
| 6/0 round | 4.5 mm | 1.5 mm | 12 |
| 11/0 Delica | 1.6 mm | 0.8 mm | 200 |
All figures are approximate Miyuki reference values. Production lots, glass, and finishes can affect measurements and weight. These are not universal figures for every brand or bead shape.
Turn grams into a project plan
Packages are sold by weight, but patterns may count individual beads. To estimate how many you’re buying, multiply the package weight by the approximate beads per gram above.
25 grams × 110 beads per gram
7.2 grams × 200 beads per gram
A 25 g bag of 8/0 rounds gives roughly 975 beads, while the same weight of 6/0 rounds gives about 300. A larger bead uses more of the package’s weight, so equal-weight bags don’t contain equal counts.
Count each color separately
Suppose a pattern uses 1,000 Delicas in its main color. At about 200 per gram, that’s roughly 5 g. A 7.2 g tube gives you room for a test sample and a few lost or rejected beads. But 1,000 beads spread across several colors doesn’t tell you how much of each color to buy—check the pattern’s color key.
Before ordering, check the weight on the specific product. Delica tubes can contain different amounts; a 7.6 g tube estimates to about 1,520 beads. Buy enough of each color to finish the project comfortably, especially when matching a shade matters.
Let the project lead
Shape guides the look, but it doesn’t dictate every technique. Rounds can work in peyote and on a loom; Delicas can appear in fringe and other flowing designs. Thread, stitch, and tension all influence the finished piece.
A crisp pattern
For lettering, geometric motifs, or a detailed chart designed for cylinders, start with Delicas. Keep the specified bead type consistent so the design’s proportions stay predictable.
Texture & movement
For a rounded look in fringe, netting, or a woven necklace, consider round seed beads. Sample the stitch and check the drape before adding the final rows or fringe.
Simple strung color
For an easy color-blocked strand or small accents between larger beads, explore 8/0 rounds or 6/0 rounds. Check that your chosen stringing material fits the holes.
Give color room to work
Start with one color you love, then add a quiet companion and a small accent. Keeping the bead shape and size consistent makes it easier to judge the palette without also changing the texture.
A palette to try
Turquoise, cream & warm bronze
Use turquoise as the main color, cream to open up the pattern, and light bronze for a narrow border or small highlights. These three choices are all 11/0 Delicas; use your pattern to decide the quantities.
A solid-looking color that conceals the thread and can make a graphic motif easy to read.
Light passes through the glass. Try a short sample on your chosen thread, because its color can show through.
Matte softens the shine; metallic adds a reflective accent. Mix them thoughtfully, and check finish durability for pieces that will see frequent wear.
Before you start stitching
Check your pattern’s shape and size, the amount needed in each color, and your needle and thread. For a strung bracelet or necklace, choose the finishing components as part of the design—not after the last bead is on. Then make a small sample and enjoy seeing the colors come together.