Beadwrangler's Bead and Beading Techniques Guide

Bead by size & originating country	What beading techniques work best and other information.
11/0 Czech Republic	They are squatty and most bead types are rounded on the ends. These beads are more uniform than in the past and the holes have improved in size. You will have to do more bead culling for loom weaving and geometric graph patterns than Delica beads, especially when combining different type 11/0 beads together. Czech beads are perfect for flat circular beading requiring variation of bead size to form the circles and for three dimensional beading around objects and freeform. Their irregularity in size allows the beads to be worked together and not leave any gaps like you will find with Delica beads. They are perfect for bead embroidery. These beads have many old world colors that can replicate beadwork of the past and create period pieces. They are less expensive than Japanese beads.
11/0 Japan	Overall they are a little more uniform than Czech beads, however, some beads listed as 11/0 are actually the size of 10/0. Some manufacturers make the beads 11/0 and others the 10/0 size but they are all listed as 11/0 beads. These beads have larger holes than most Czech beads. They include some more intensely bright beads than Czech and Italian, however, some of these do fade with time. These beads can be used in all beading techniques including those listed for Czech 11/0's. Some bead culling is required for loom weaving and geometric graph patterns, especially when combining different type 11/0 beads together.
Delicas Japan	These beads are very cylinder in shape and squared off at each end. They are a little smaller than Czech 11/0 beads. They are perfect for loom weaving and geometric graph patterns. They require less culling, however there are odd size beads in Delicas too. Since they are squared off at the ends, each beads fits snugly next to the other and enhances loomed patterns. Delicas can be used in all beading techniques, however, small beaded bags tend to be very stiff because the beads lock together so well. When working in the round, the bottom edges are more difficult to shape than Czech beads because of the squared off bead ends. Delicas have big holes and they are very thin beads, this makes them more susceptible to breakage if dropped. When worked into embroidery, the cylinder shape makes the final work contemporary in appearance.
Japanese Bugles #1 and #3	There are more sizes of Japanese bugles than ever before. More recently a #1 bugle is available in a variety of colors and finishes. These are much like the Czech vintage #1 bugles of the past. The Japanese bugles match up with with smaller Japanese beads such as Delicas or 14/0 beads. The #3 bugles are longer, however, the holes are about the same size as the #1 bugles. These bugles would look great in the traditional Native American brick stitch shoulder duster earrings.
9/0 Cut Czech Republic	Vintage 9/0 cut beads come in bundles rather than kilos. Each bundle has several tiny hanks attached. Each strand in a hank is usually about 1/4 the length of standard strand size in a hank today. These beads are usually opaque, color lined or transparent. The transparent colors are usually very delicate and soft; the opaque colors are often metallic and have an AB finish. These beads are more expensive because they are no longer manufactured. They are perfect for antique beadwork replicas. 9/0 cut beads currently made are smaller than 9/0 vintage. They are closer to a size 10/0 bead. They are usually the same length as other bead strands but often have 10 strands instead of 12 to a hank and usually come in 10 strand hanks and attached in a bunch of 8 or 10 hanks. They are less expensive than vintage 9/0 but more than standard 11/0 beads. Both current and vintage beads look beautiful in ropes, crocheted/knitted bags and beaded jewelry. I love both the vintage and new beads.
14/0 & 15/0 Japan	These little jewels come in a variety of colors and finishes. They are like miniature Delicas and are cylindrical in shape. They are perfect for smaller dimensional pieces than 11/0 beads and still have a bead hole you can see. These beads are perfect to make doll bags, doll jewelry and other small shapes. A beaded piece in these little beads feels soft and undulating when held in your hands. These beads come in many colors and types. They are smaller than Delicas. They are charmers in bead crochet. They now also come in a hex shape. These beads can give you a "to scale" size for 11 1/2" to 15 1/2" dolls such as Barbie and Gene. There is negligible difference between the two bead sizes.
14/0 Czech Republic	They tend to be a little smaller, are more rounded and have smaller bead holes than 14/0 Japanese beads. There is a variety of colors, some are soft and muted while others are more intense. These beads are perfect for beading that will look vintage when finished. Various beading techniques can be employed, however, a size 15 beading needle may be required when going through the bead holes more than once with doubled thread.
13/0 Charlotte 1-Cut Czech Beads	These beads have a cut that is like a little chip off one side of the bead. They look very different from 2 and 3 cut beads that are squared off at the end of the bead holes. Charlottes are more rounded at the end and have a very old world appearance. They are a little larger than Japanese 14/0 beads. No other bead offers such a surface texture as these. Light reflects off these little cuts here and there on beads in a beadwork piece. Charlottes were originally made back in the 1800's in 13/0 through 20/0. Today they are also being made in sizes 11/0, 8/0 and 6/0 but most are purchased from the distributors soon as they arrive and never make it to the bead stores. The 13/0 are now being manufactured in many more colors than the original beads. Many Native Americans use charlotte 1-cuts in their beadwork on ceremonial objects. Charlottes are perfect for three dimensional beadwork and look sensational when finished. Charlotte 13/0 beads can be mixed with 14/0 Japanese beads for beadwork design using bead crochet, freeform beading and other techniques. They are a real enhancement to bead embroidery. They make "Wow" beaded beads.
Japanese Tri Beads	This is 3-sided bead is manufactured in equivalent sizes close to Czech 10/0, 8/0 and 6/0. They can be used for bead stringing, embroidery, bead crochet and beading. They are great on the end of dangles and as embellishment. They are more expensive than the Czech equivalents, so use them in the designs that will show them off. The 3-sided shape can sometimes get lost in beading that is built up with beads over beads and in loom weaving. Keep in mind you want the 3-sided appearance to be the center of attention when using them. They look very appealing when strung in strands along side strands of 11/0 and other small beads. These beads are not the same shape as the larger plastic tri beads.
Japanese Cube Beads	These are tubular shaped fat beads with big holes. They are about the same size as a Czech size 6/0 beads but squared off on each end. They are great as a different shape combined with other size beads. Watch the color lined cubes, the inside color often chips off before you put the thread through the bead. Interesting effects can be obtained in bead crochet using these cubes combined with 11/0 beads. If you are looking for another size bead to layer between 6/0 and 8/0 beads in a beaded rope, the cubes would definitely work well before or after the 6/0 Czech beads.
Japanese Hex Beads	The hex beads I have are equivalent to 8/0 Czech beads. Their shape offers a different texture to the final beadwork. They are squared off at the ends and have 6 distinct sides which brings out more light and shade in each bead. Worked in a beaded rope, they can have an appearance of snakeskin, especially when matted. They are also excellent placed between other size beads for layering and shaping.
6/0 Czech Beads	This size beads have been in production for many years however, today there are many more color choices and finishes available. This size bead is excellent for end beads on decorative fringes with a smaller bead at the end of each as a stopper bead. They are also delightful to work up a fast bead crocheted rope, even 70" long since crochet is fabric and can sustain the weight but would be too heavy for an all beaded rope. They are often used in edging stitches and on bead embroidery. They can be combined with smaller beads for shaping in beading. For sculptural beadwork that is not to be worn, larger sections can be worked up fast with 6/0 beads. Also use them for short beaded beads.
8/0 Czech Beads	This bead is larger than 11/0 beads but still dainty enough to make small beaded bags and a big love to those with problems working smaller beads. These beads are also being made in many more color selections today. All the 6/0 uses also apply for 8/0 beads. 8/0 beads can also be used to make small bags on the loom. Additional thread should be applied since there is more weight to the pieces than would be for the same item worked in 11/0 beads. More 8/0 beads can be worked in beading than 6/0 beads due to the bead weight. Size 6/0 are produced in more colors than size 8/0.
8/0 Hex Czech Beads	The bead has 6 sides, however, the sides are only lightly defined. They are short tubular shapes like cut beads. They are a little smaller than size 8/0 seed beads. The light hits the various sides of the bead and brings out more highlights. They are made in rainbow, transparent and opaque and some are matted. There is not a big color selection of this type bead however, as demand goes up, I am sure more colors will be added. The bead ends seem to be smooth, not sharp.
2-cut & 3-cut Czech Beads	2-cuts offer a little glitz to the beads and the price is not much more per hank than a fancy Czech 11/0 seed bead. 3-cuts are very sparkly and much more expensive than 2-cuts. Beadwork in size 12/0, 3-cuts look like diamonds sparkling. Lovely woven mosaics can be created using the 3-cut beads but they will need to be culled for most beading when working such designs. Either type cut bead can be used in bead crochet and knitted designs and little culling is required except for broken or cracked beads.
Italian/Czech Vintage beads, size 16/0-24/0	These size beads are too labor intensive to make today. You will only find them as vintage or antique beads. They come in various squatty round shapes and the edges are rounded off. Many of these tiny beads originated from Venice. Size 16/0 and 18/0 can usually be strung with a size 15 or 16 beading needle. Getting back through the bead holes several times is out of the question. Some beaders file down the edges of the size 15 and 16 needle eyes to get more beads with small holes over the needles. Size 20/0 thru 24/0 can be strung with a fine twisted wire needle. They then can be laid down for couching with another needle, stitching between the beads; wrapped around small vessels, crocheted or knitted. Once beads are strung for knitting or crochet, a needle is not longer needed to go through bead holes. They are also sought out by collectors who catalog them and just love to gaze a these tiny beads. These beads were used in the exquisite knitted and crocheted bags of the 1800's with scenics of all tiny beads. Most were knitted. Beads in these sizes were primarily transparent, opaque's, greasy, opalized and Ceylon.

I am continuing to update my Inside Threads page including the conversion chart for thread to bead size and other information that may be of interest to you. Additional information about tiny vintage beads is on Inside Threads, along with types of thread to use. More information will be added to Inside Threads and Inside Beads as time permits. Click here to go to Inside Threads.

You will find beading supplies at my Beadwrangler Mall which also contains extensive information pages on beads, thread, needles and lots more!