Beads for jewelry making can vary significantly in relation to the materials, sizes and types. They are popular for making a wide range of simple to complex necklaces and bracelets. The preferred materials often include metal, ceramics, plastic, shell and wood. Let’s take a look at six of the most popular types of beads:
Seed
Seed beads are made of glass and have a round shape. Because of the glass material, they come in many different colors, as well as those that are silver lined, iridescent and clear. They make a reliable choice for simple stringing. Also, the diameter can range from less than a millimeter to five millimeters or more.
Cylinder
Cylinder beads (also call delica or toho) are typically long in length with a tubular shape and a large hole through the center. They are versatile in use and can be used as a spacer between other beads or used for basic stringing. Additionally, this type of bead is great for most textile, embroidery, crochet and knitting projects.
Crystal
Crystal beads are a combination of cut glass and lead. The lead content is about 30%, which helps to give a very refractive quality. One of the finest options is the Swarovski crystal beads. They have a very high quality and contain many colors. The most striking designs can have up to 50 colors and plenty of effects. This bead is likely to feature as a decoration sewn into fabric.
Bali
Bali beads are miniature works of art that are handcrafted by the local people in Bali, Indonesia. They are made in.925 sterling silver and look very striking on a piece of jewelry. Typically, they are used as a spacer.
Lampwork
Lampwork beads are created by hand using glass. The beads are made by simply melting the colored glass with a torch. The ability to create by hand gives complete freedom in the design process. While the process used to make the beads can be a little laborious, the pattern and design options can be exquisitely beautiful.
Pony
Pony beads are made of plastic and a very low-cost option for making a piece of jewelry. A typical use is in the children’s craft projects. They can vary in size, but the most typical size is in the region of 4 millimeters.
All in all, with such a varied choice of beads it shouldn’t be too difficult to find the preferred type to match your jewelry making ambitions.