Seed beads are called seed beads because they’re small. They range in size from teeny-tiny 22’s to the relatively large 6’s. I usually use size 10 or 12, with some 8’s and 15’s thrown in for good measure. I use 6’s on sock cuffs every once in awhile, when I’m knitting socks.

Like most glass beads, seed beads come in just about every color, shape and finish you can imagine. And there is no end to the things you can do with seed beads: embroider with them, weave, net, crochet, knit, use them as spacers for larger beads, etc.

Seed beads are made mostly in Czechoslovakia, Japan, Taiwan and China. Czechoslovakia has the longest tradition for making seed beads – at least as early as the 1700’s. Japanese seed beads are the most uniform. Seed beads made in Taiwan and China are best left hanging on the craft store rack, in my opinion. Half of them will be deformed and/or unusable.

Seed beads are made by pulling a hot tube of glass till it’s the right size, then cutting it up.

References: The Bead Site, Janet Coles and Robert Budwig The Book of Beads

I’ll use this blog to describe materials I use in jewelry making.

Glass is pretty versatile stuff, and the different ways people use it to make beads are intriguing. I’m not an expert, but I’ve learned a lot over the years!