Seed beads are very small and uniformly shaped glass beads used in art projects such as bead weaving, jewelry making, and bead embroidery. Miyuki, Preciosa, Cylin™ and Toho are just a few major seed bead manufacturers. Seed beads primarily range from round and cylindrical shapes however, sometimes they are rectangular, triangular, or even curved. While offering various sizes, the most popular are 11/0, 8/0, and 6/0. Seed beads contribute to a rich history of ever-evolving art and human expression.
Help decide what size is right for your project.
Large plastic craft beads, often associated with children, are like crayons; they offer an easy, child-friendly approach to art. Seed beads, like more precise illustration tools, allow for deeper artistic expression and exploration. Bead-working is a highly traditional craft with deep historical and cultural roots all around the world. Whether made from ancient materials such as bone and stone or from the glass used in modern seed beads, beading is a timeless art form accessible for all ages and cultures.
Seed beads lend themselves to a variety of crafts such as bracelets, earrings, necklaces, loom pieces, and bead crumbs. Use seed beads to create custom designs for beautiful jewelry and looms or even let your favorite characters and animals come to life with bead crumbs.
There are many ways you can go about designing your next show stopper piece. You can draw out your designs, find templates to color in or use digital software. One suggested software is PlanBead, it's a digital tool that allows you to draw beading patterns on your phone, tablet or computer. They have Miyuki & Cylin featured with many more to come.
PlanBead is a beading app for creating realistic 3D bead patterns. Design bracelets, earrings, and rings with popular stitches like loom, peyote, and brick. Whether you are new to beadwork or an experienced designer, PlanBead helps you model, visualize, and weave your ideas with ease.
See your creation in 3D before you start beading.
Work on your phone to you computer, design anywhere.
Design with the exact color you have in mind.
Guiding you, bead by bead to the very end.
