Beads size question?

[bubblefizz]

Can someone tell me about beads. i want to experiment but dont understand the sizing:blush
i now know that a size 8/0 is ideal for size 10 thread.:clap
now what size beads if i wanted to use a worsted weight or sport weight yarns what would be the size beads to go for??:think

[klouised]

Well, I just learned something from you. I never knew what size beads I've been using. Where I buy them, I get them in bulk that is unmarked. I just use what fits on the thread. LOL.

[bubblefizz]

LOL Kristina!
i have been looking at beads on ebay but i just havnt got clue what size im supposed to get there is that many different sizes

[RachelG]

A lot of people use pony beads on yarn...but I find those unattractive. I'm not sure what to tell you what to search for.

I LOVE 8/0 glass beads (with the silver lining) on my thread projects...I am reminded of what Kristina said just a day or so ago..."makes it pop"!! ;)

[Katchkan]

I have used size 6 or E beads ( E beads are a size 6) on worsted weight yarn, You can get them in a wide range of colors. Use a looped needle threader to string them, not a needle. I am not sure if a size 8 bead would fit on a sport weight yarn. Probably would, but I know a size 6 will for certain.

[bubblefizz]

I have used size 6 or E beads ( E beads are a size 6) on worsted weight yarn, You can get them in a wide range of colors. Use a looped needle threader to string them, not a needle. I am not sure if a size 8 bead would fit on a sport weight yarn. Probably would, but I know a size 6 will for certain.
Thanks Kathy is that 6/0 ??
not sure where the /0 comes into it:blush

[jaclim]

Size 6/0 is the same as size 6......I like the ones with the pearly finish. :-)

[bubblefizz]

Size 6/0 is the same as size 6......I like the ones with the pearly finish. :-)Thanks Jackie for that, i can now go and shop for beads :yay :yay
:hug :hug :hug

[lene]

I buy beads from a company called Fire Mountain Gems. They have excellent prices and a huge selection. I know they have a website, although I usually order from the paper catalogs. They send out the main catalogues, then also sales catalogues throughout the year. My mom and I both get them, and love to drool over them. :lol I like the catalogues, because they also show finished pieces, great for getting ideas for making stuff of my own.

Lene'

[swapnae]

I am just using beads in crochet for the first time in my life:eek and I must say, I bought my beads in unmarked pouches as well. As with so many things, I doubt we get sized beads here...so whatever fits, will have to do!:hook

[nataleeza]

I found this online today and thought I would share

For seed beads the approximate diameter (when hole is facing upwards) is:
6/o - 3.3 mm
7/o - 2.9 mm
8/o - 2.5 mm
9/o - 2.2 mm
10/o - 2.0 mm
11/o - 1.8 mm
12/o - 1.7 mm
13/o - 1.5 mm
14/o - 1.4 mm

However, in practice, the size number means how many beads per inch (with hole facing upwards, not when strung). So 6/o beads will have 6 beads to every inch.
I've found that this makes it very easy to size unmarked beads. I just line them up on my ruler and see how many I need to make an inch :)

[Katchkan]

I buy most of my beads at Shipwreck beads , you can find them on line. If youv'e ever looked at my website you will know I go through some beads. I find them very reasonably priced.
Lucky me I do live within driving distance of their store and talk about a super store. It is hugemungous , Every size, shape , color bead you can imagine. I limit myself to a trip every three months or so. But Boy do I have fun when I go.

[swapnae]

Thanks for that chart, but wouldn't the shape of the beads (fat, thin, round) have something to do with how many line up per inch?

As you can see, I am totally clueless.:blush

[Katchkan]

It is measured end to end not around, The end being the hole end. That's why you can have such variances in a given size of bead. It is amazing, how 2 size 12 beads can be so different, Different manufactures or shapes and colors can change the diameter of the bead but not the length. I really have to watch it on some of my designs,

[CraftyShannon]

One thing about beads is that if they are a little too small or if you're using beads that have a coating that covers the hole, you can make the hole bigger by using a an awl. I think that's what it's called, but the one I have I bought in the bead department and it's called a bead reemer.

For sportweight or worsted yarn, I normally use a size 9 or 10 bead.

[jaclim]

I buy most of my beads at Shipwreck beads , you can find them on line. If youv'e ever looked at my website you will know I go through some beads. I find them very reasonably priced.
Lucky me I do live within driving distance of their store and talk about a super store. It is hugemungous , Every size, shape , color bead you can imagine. I limit myself to a trip every three months or so. But Boy do I have fun when I go.

Oooooohhhhh, Kathy! A super bead store near you?!?:eek I'm so jealous!!!!:drool

[emeraldmoon]

The larger the number for the bead the smaller the bead is. I use alot of times in my work either a 10 or 14 and than I do have some some 6(E) beads that I use as well..
Hope that this helps

[emeraldmoon]

I buy most of my beads at Shipwreck beads , you can find them on line. If youv'e ever looked at my website you will know I go through some beads. I find them very reasonably priced.
Lucky me I do live within driving distance of their store and talk about a super store. It is hugemungous , Every size, shape , color bead you can imagine. I limit myself to a trip every three months or so. But Boy do I have fun when I go.

Dont you just love that store :D.. I have been to the old shop before they moved over to the new one. OMG took forever to go thru the old one, and now the new one even takes longer..lol.. I only get to the shop every few years when I go back home to visit though.

[Katchkan]

I use a lot of the smaller beads also, but not with yarn. I would like to know how you all get a size 10 bead strung on worsted weight yarn, I haven't been able to do that. I will use a reamer on a few beads but not hundreds. So is there a trick I am missing.

[Crafterlady46]

Can someone tell me about beads. i want to experiment but dont understand the sizing:blush
i now know that a size 8/0 is ideal for size 10 thread.:clap
now what size beads if i wanted to use a worsted weight or sport weight yarns what would be the size beads to go for??:think

I use size 10/0 beads. I don't string them. I hook them on. It's much eaiser to put them on doilies...for me anyways. I use a size 16 hook to pull the loop through the bead and then do a sl st. Any size bead is good depending on if you can string them or hook them. I know a lot of people would not hook them on figuring that stringing is better. Guess it's what you want to use and do. The bigger beads are pretty too. They don't sell as well on ebay for me so that is why I use the tiny sead beads. I don't do more work than I have to, that includes my doilies. I cant get the hook to go through a size 11/0 bead. And some 10/0 beads are too small. Depends on who makes them. A 9/0 would be perfect but I have not found too many around. Hope this helps. :) :) Don't know what yarn would use. Maybe 4mm? Maybe you might try going to a store and opening one up and trying in the store before you buy it. What are you going to make?

[aliciasjoy]

Thanks for that chart, but wouldn't the shape of the beads (fat, thin, round) have something to do with how many line up per inch?



Only seed beads are sized that way. Seed beads are the ones that aren't totally round, they start out as a long tube, then are cut and the ends rounded slightly by being put back in the oven, so they're really small tubes. 6 is the largest size and I think they are also called pony beads.

Any other shaped bead is just sized by mm.

It is amazing, how 2 size 12 beads can be so different, Different manufactures or shapes and colors can change the diameter of the bead but not the length. I really have to watch it on some of my designs

Try Japanese seed beads instead of Czech. You'll never go back, I wager. They are slightly more square, but very uniform in size. One name brand is Delica by Miyuki.

[Katchkan]

I string all my beads, I can not imagine doing 15-20 thousand beads hooking them on as I go. It would take me forever. That way I also get to use smaller beads on my thread. I do a lot of size 13 beads on size 50 thread. Gets me what I want. But we all do what works for us. Like so many other things a matter of personal preference and the actual task we are doing.
I do know I can not string easily anything smaller than a 6/0 onto worsted weight yarn. I have tried on several occasions when I've had the right color bead just not in the size I needed for working with yarn.

I use size 10/0 beads. I don't string them. I hook them on. It's much eaiser to put them on doilies...for me anyways. I use a size 16 hook to pull the loop through the bead and then do a sl st. Any size bead is good depending on if you can string them or hook them. I know a lot of people would not hook them on figuring that stringing is better. Guess it's what you want to use and do. The bigger beads are pretty too. They don't sell as well on ebay for me so that is why I use the tiny sead beads. I don't do more work than I have to, that includes my doilies. I cant get the hook to go through a size 11/0 bead. And some 10/0 beads are too small. Depends on who makes them. A 9/0 would be perfect but I have not found too many around. Hope this helps. :) :) Don't know what yarn would use. Maybe 4mm? Maybe you might try going to a store and opening one up and trying in the store before you buy it. What are you going to make?

[Crafterlady46]

I string all my beads, I can not imagine doing 15-20 thousand beads hooking them on as I go. It would take me forever. That way I also get to use smaller beads on my thread. I do a lot of size 13 beads on size 50 thread. Gets me what I want. But we all do what works for us. Like so many other things a matter of personal preference and the actual task we are doing.
I do know I can not string easily anything smaller than a 6/0 onto worsted weight yarn. I have tried on several occasions when I've had the right color bead just not in the size I needed for working with yarn.

Yeah yeah, I think we all do our own thing. I haven't used the size 50 thread yet. Seems a little small to work with. My fingers would kill me. I could not use the tiny tiny hooks. I usually use a size 11 hook. It's really quite easy to hook em on. I tried stringing them and the thread would only twist and get knots. Do you make hanky lace, doilies? I only ask because of the small size thread. Have you tried the 100? Do you really use 15-20 thousand beads per project or it that a little inflated? Seem a lot of beads. I only use a couple of hundred. Course, I make doilies.

[RachelG]

For clothing projects, I sometimes thread quite a few hundred rocaille glass beads and "hook them on" (by sliding a #12 hook through the bead to pull the loop through). I agree it is time consuming, but I like the look.

I have never used anything smaller than #10 thread. I like dainty #50 doilies, and I adore painted doilies made with sewing thread, but I just can't see working with it. I already wear glasses...don't want to screw up my eyes any worse!

[Crafterlady46]

For clothing projects, I sometimes thread quite a few hundred rocaille glass beads and "hook them on" (by sliding a #12 hook through the bead to pull the loop through). I agree it is time consuming, but I like the look.

I have never used anything smaller than #10 thread. I like dainty #50 doilies, and I adore painted doilies made with sewing thread, but I just can't see working with it. I already wear glasses...don't want to screw up my eyes any worse!


There is an easier way....cut a piece of fish line tie it to something a little higher than your work, make sure it's long, then string em on, slide the fish line through the loop on the project, bring the end through and push your bead on. You can string a bunch of them on. Trust me it is easy.

[Katchkan]

I make beaded purses. and no I am not exagerating, I really do use that amount of beads or more on a project, This purse I made with size 12 seed beads and size 30 thread. There are 17,400 and some odd beads in this purse. I love crocheting them. The second purse is with size 13 beads and 50 thread. I havent finished writting up the second purse but I figure there are close to 25,000 beads on that one. I have used size 100 thread just not on my purses. These are both original designs just two of many.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a219/Katchkan/diplomat2.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a219/Katchkan/S_racheal2.jpg

[RachelG]

There is an easier way....cut a piece of fish line tie it to something a little higher than your work, make sure it's long, then string em on, slide the fish line through the loop on the project, bring the end through and push your bead on. You can string a bunch of them on. Trust me it is easy.

I'll have to try that!

[RachelG]

I make beaded purses. and no I am not exagerating, I really do use that amount of beads or more on a project, This purse I made with size 12 seed beads and size 30 thread. There are 17,400 and some odd beads in this purse. I love crocheting them. The second purse is with size 13 beads and 50 thread. I havent finished writting up the second purse but I figure there are close to 25,000 beads on that one. I have used size 100 thread just not on my purses. These are both original designs just two of many.



That's a lot of beads! :eek:cheer

[klouised]

Kathy, I believe that, because I can use up 600 beads on a skirt just by putting a bead on here and there. They go fast.

[bubblefizz]

I have just got my 8/0 seed beads
OMG they are soooo tiny, but a lovely turquoise colour:)
Now how the devil do i get them on to my #10 thread????

[unicorn37757]

Really beautiful purses Kathy! I've been wanting so much to make a small beaded purse (when I get that elusive time!) congratulations!:yay :bounce

[Crafterlady46]

Wow nice. Guess I didn't think of bags. They would use a lot. Most of us think in terms of doilies, clothes, and such. I wouldn't think too many would have that skill to make such a piece of art. I dont. Nor would I have the patience. Your work is stunning. I'll eat my crow pie now!! :lol :lol

[hudelei]

Like someone else said, the Miyuki beads are better than Czech, but it's not just because of the uniformity -- I think the hole is slightly bigger, which makes threading the beads a little easier.

I love my Big Eye Needle for threading. Bead shops and craft stores sometimes have them, and I've read that you can make them, although I've never tried. It's basically a needle made of thin gauge wire and the eye is almost the length of the needle.

Here's a pic in case you haven't ever seen one around. I don't recommend the shop I'm linking to necessarily, but it's a clear picture of the eye:

http://www.eebeads.com/ideas/51_BigEyeNeedle.html

I don't know what I would do without mine.

[rsisland]

Kathy your purses are breathtaking!! I have been wanting to try making the rope bracelets/necklaces but only saw the nylon patterns. Did not want to go that way. Thanks for the info. on pearl cotton. :manyheart

[jaclim]

I have just got my 8/0 seed beads
OMG they are soooo tiny, but a lovely turquoise colour:)
Now how the devil do i get them on to my #10 thread????

Ooooooohhhh.....turquoise! Love that color! What I do to string them on my size 10 thread is to dab some glue about 2" long then wait for it to dry then use that instead of a needle. Julie (yarngirl) suggested once to use nail polish as it dries more quickly. Good luck, Angie! Post pictures soon! :D

[bubblefizz]

Ooooooohhhh.....turquoise! Love that color! What I do to string them on my size 10 thread is to dab some glue about 2" long then wait for it to dry then use that instead of a needle. Julie (yarngirl) suggested once to use nail polish as it dries more quickly. Good luck, Angie! Post pictures soon! :D

Oh jaclim i dont like the sound of that :blush is there not any other way of threading them on??
im beginning to think that i might need the bigger size beads :eek

[bubblefizz]

come on ladies im still struggling with bead sizes and how to thread them
i bought the 8/0 but how do u thread them on apart from jaclims answer?

[Katchkan]

Are you doing size 8 beads onto worsted weight yarn or sport yarn, I really think you will have to go with Jackies suggestion if you are doing worsted weight yarn. You may be able to use a looped needle threader/ bigeye needle on the sports weight but I am not certain, you may have to use the first suggestion there also. I have never tried size 8 beads on any yarn. In fact I bought my first size 8 beads just a few weeks ago. I plan on using them on thread though. I have used size 6 beads on worsted weight yarn though and I could use a looped needle theader/ bigeye needle. Did a poncho for my granddaughter last Christmas bedecked with beads.
Wishing you the best of luck on your project. Really hope it goes smoothly for you.

[bubblefizz]

Are you doing size 8 beads onto worsted weight yarn or sport yarn, I really think you will have to go with Jackies suggestion if you are doing worsted weight yarn. You may be able to use a looped needle threader/ bigeye needle on the sports weight but I am not certain, you may have to use the first suggestion there also. I have never tried size 8 beads on any yarn. In fact I bought my first size 8 beads just a few weeks ago. I plan on using them on thread though. I have used size 6 beads on worsted weight yarn though and I could use a looped needle theader/ bigeye needle. Did a poncho for my granddaughter last Christmas bedecked with beads.
Wishing you the best of luck on your project. Really hope it goes smoothly for you.

No im trying to use them on size 10 thread;)
i want to make the rinky pink purse that mary made, but i did also want to know about correct beads for yarns aswell, but think ive got that sorted, so its just the 8/0 seed beads on a size 10 thread.............seems impossible :lol

[Katchkan]

Size 8 bead on 10 thread, piece of cake with the looped needle threaded. :clap Just tested it with mine. As it is my next project. Have fun.:hook

[bubblefizz]

whats a looped needle threader? just a normal needle threader?

[Katchkan]

The link at the bottom of this post gives a picture of one. You can get them at any craft or fabric store. I know Joannes carries them. They really work slick for doing this. They are a piece of equipment I wouldn't do without and I string lots and lots of beads.

Like someone else said, the Miyuki beads are better than Czech, but it's not just because of the uniformity -- I think the hole is slightly bigger, which makes threading the beads a little easier.

I love my Big Eye Needle for threading. Bead shops and craft stores sometimes have them, and I've read that you can make them, although I've never tried. It's basically a needle made of thin gauge wire and the eye is almost the length of the needle.

Here's a pic in case you haven't ever seen one around. I don't recommend the shop I'm linking to necessarily, but it's a clear picture of the eye:

http://www.eebeads.com/ideas/51_BigEyeNeedle.html

I don't know what I would do without mine.

[bubblefizz]

is this it??
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5023091920&fromMakeTrack=true

[Katchkan]

:D That is it. :D

[bubblefizz]

Yippeeeee im buying it NOW lol
thank you, thank you, thank you :)

[bubblefizz]

ok got my big eye needle this morning, yippeeee (that was fast)
i took one look at it and thought where is the eye LOL but i have no finger nails to open the thing.
anyway i wanted to to know are these needles easy breakable (havnt tried it yet) do i need a few off them??

[Katchkan]

They do wear out with a lot of use. The end normally seperates after a time. So yes you may want to keep a few on hand. Any craft store that carries beads will have these available for you. I get the dritz looped needle threader ( which is the same thing basicly ) at the fabric/craft store. They come in a pkg of 6 and are finer for the smaller beads.
Glad we got you hooked. Dont you just love beads and crochet.

[hudelei]

You know, bubblefizz, I don't ever break my Big Eye Needles, but I do bend them! Sometimes I get a little forceful with them and put a severe kink in them that means I end up replacing them, but I've never had one break.

[bubblefizz]

Thats good to know, they do look very flimsy and breakable!
anyway i will get a few and see how i get on with them.

[Katchkan]

Mine may come apart more often as I do use the finer ones and I do string alot of beads. But the big eye wont fit through the beads I normally use.

[marymac]

A lot of people use pony beads on yarn...but I find those unattractive. I'm not sure what to tell you what to search for.

I LOVE 8/0 glass beads (with the silver lining) on my thread projects...I am reminded of what Kristina said just a day or so ago..."makes it pop"!! ;)

I don't care for the look of plastic pony beads either, no matter how well they are made. There are glass pony beads out there, and some that sites call "rollers", and one with an Indian name...more or less the same thing (large enough for ww yarn) but very pretty. Just remember they are pretty heavy!
:hook

[marymac]

The link at the bottom of this post gives a picture of one. You can get them at any craft or fabric store. I know Joannes carries them. They really work slick for doing this. They are a piece of equipment I wouldn't do without and I string lots and lots of beads.

Yes, yessss!!! The BigEye needle is a must have for beaded crochet! Its certainly saved me many, many hours of stringing woes!! LOL

[marymac]

ok got my big eye needle this morning, yippeeee (that was fast)
i took one look at it and thought where is the eye LOL but i have no finger nails to open the thing.
anyway i wanted to to know are these needles easy breakable (havnt tried it yet) do i need a few off them??

I have two, cause they came that way, but I haven't broken one yet. I've BENT THE BEJEEPERS out of them, but haven't broken them!:lol

[bubblefizz]

:lol :lol LOL Mary!!
well yea ive used mine now and i can say that mine is now bent ;) but im going to buy more just in case :yay

[SuzyM]

Fire Mountain is a great place for references too. Here is a link to a chart on their site on the size of seed beads. :)

http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading_information/beading_resources.asp?docid=SEEDBEADHOLESIZES&WT.cg_s=Beading+Articles%2C+Charts+and+More&sact=search

[crochetbabe]

same her...i just used whatever fits on the thread/yarn im using