| Original Message: Seed bead size issues... |
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I can't remember where I heard or read the lore that seed bead size designations relate to how many string into a 20mm length. But that doesn't work out quite right either. I just sat down and tried it out with some varying sizes of Czech beads. I used to do a lot seed beading in the 80s. I still have my Czech size 12 tricuts, which are my all-time favorites. Quite a few others are still kicking around here too. Some work requires that the beads match very closely. There is some variation of size and shape between manufacturers, too. I never used below size 15, and the only time I used something that small was when I wanted a tiny loop at the bottom of a fringe. Jamey - a General Bead job lot pile I wish I'd bought samples of when they had them - a large stash of 19th c. Italian microbeads - back then we just called them "tinies"! They were on linen thread, some rotting, in old yellowed rotting paper with Italian writing. They were priced by the gram. The colors were just irreplaceably beautiful. I bought just a couple of colors. Sizes were ranging from about 15 to 22. Garden of Beadin' in Garberville eventually bought the remaining pile about 15 years ago - I am sure all are in beader's stashes by now. Snazzycat makes an attempt at a beads-per-inch chart.... All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
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