How to Use Seed Beads

Seed beads are tiny beads that are uniformly shaped and can be round or shaped like short cylinders. Seed beads are used in jewelry making and to embellish clothing. They are also used in other crafts such as card making. Because of the size of seed beads, they look intimidating to use. With a little patience however, using seed beads can become quite fun as you discover all of the creations you can make.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Beads
• Beading Needles
• Beading thread
• Jewelry clasps and wires
• Fabric
• Glue

1. Choose your beading needle based on the size of your bead. They are size similarly smaller bead sizes assigned to smaller needles and beads. So a size 13 bead and needle is smaller than a size 12. To ensure ease of use, use a needle that is one size smaller than your bead, meaning the number of the needle should be 1 number higher than the bead size needle.

2. Choose your beading thread based on the size of the needle as well. If your beads are size 12 to 15 choose a size 00 or 0 thread. If your beads are size 10 to 11 choose a size B thread. If your beads are size 5 to 10 choose a size D or F thread. You can also use beading wire with your beads that do not require use of a needle.

3. Make fringe earrings with your seed beads. This is a great product for beginners. You can find tutorials for seed bead fringe earrings on the following ehow.com article. http://www.ehow.com/how_2203527_pair-comanche-stitch-beaded-earrings.html

4. Make a beaded necklace with your seed beads. This is another beginner’s project which will allow you to make a quick necklace that you can complete in one sitting. You can find a simple tutorial of a bead and wire necklace in this Ehow.com article. http://www.ehow.com/how_2094937_beautiful-beaded-necklace.html

5. Add seed beads to your clothing. Seed bead can turn a normal everyday dress into a wonderful, one of a kind creation. They can turn a plain t-shirt into a dressy shirt. They are a wonderful way to update old clothing. If you can embroider an item, you can add seed beads to the clothing item by hand as well. This ehow.com tutorial will give you step by step instructions for sewing seed beads onto clothing by hand. http://www.ehow.com/ArticlePage.aspx?id=2296715&OriginalURL=%2fhow_2296715_sew-beads-hand.html

6. Glue seed beads to accessories. If all of these projects seem too daunting for you, gluing seed beads to a jewelry box for your first project. It will give you a feel for using seed beads without any sewing or without having to follow any instructions

7. As you become more experienced with the art of seed beads, you will want to learn how to read bead looming graph charts. This ehow.com article will show you how. http://www.ehow.com/how_2203595_read-bead-looming-graph-charts.html

Tips & Warnings

• Using seed beads takes time and practice. If you are beading clothing, practice on scrap fabric first.
• Seed beads are very small, and you will need more beads than you think you will need to decorate a garment. It takes 50 beads to cover one inch of material.
• Seed beads are very small, so be sure to purchase enough before you start any project. It can take up to 50 beads to cover 1 square inch of fabric.

[jillybeanusn]

on 12/1/2009 5*
Great ideas!
Here's another idea: check out my article, how to make a strawberry purse. It's great for strawberry shortcake fans and little girls!
I have never used seed beads...I wish I had thought about that...it would have been a great accessory!

[Beadbug]

on 9/27/2008 Hi it sounds as if you and I have a few things in common! I have only been beading about 4 to 5 years now. At first all I did was Bead Stringing, but as I was board with that I decided to begin seed beading! Check out my articles for bead work! Let me know what you think!