Bead shapes and sizes

Miyuki Delica Beads are extremely uniform glass cylinder beads which come in four sizes and a multitude of colors and finishes. Delica beads have a tube or cylinder shape, and flat ends with a large hole in proportion to their size. They are often used in off-loom bead weaving techniques as well as tapestry loom work.

Miyuki Seed Beads are some of the best quality seed beads in the world. Made in Japan, they are carefully manufactured to be durable, beautiful and constant in shape, color and size. The traditional rounded seed bead has a slightly flattened ends with a large hole in proportion to their size.

Miyuki seed bead shapes

Miyuki seed beads come in many different shapes and sizes. Although they are continually developing new styles, mostly they fall into a category with other sizes of the same shape. All seed beads are relatively small, and they are used primarily as spacers, or in bead weaving or bead embroidery.

Miyuki Berry Beads are shaped like a peanut with the hole at the narrow center section of the bead. When the berries are strung, these beads nest together, making them perfect for stringing. Berry beads are also used in patterns for beaded beads, or any time you want to add texture to a flat project.

Miyuki Bugle Beads are slender straight or twisted tube-shaped seed beads with smooth ends. Bugle beads are often used in fringe, in ladder stitch, or to define lines in bead embroidery. The three sizes of Twisted bugle beads are made by twisting the glass to form a spiral along the length of the bead.

Miyuki Cube Beads are square or rectangular seed beads that are slightly irregular in shape. The flat sides of cube beads allow them to sit comfortably next to each other in patterns, and they also work well when used in brick, peyote, and herringbone stitches. Their substantial and chunky feel make a great base for bead-woven bracelets.

Miyuki Drop Beads are teardrop shaped with their hole at the smallest top point of the drop. Drop beads add dimension to beaded beads, and texture to all bead weaving techniques. The color-lined drop beads are especially three-dimensional as the brightly colored part of the drop bead is reflected at different angles through the larger part of the bead.

Miyuki Magatama Beads were traditional comma-shaped beads or jewels made in prehistoric Japan from clay or stone. Magatama glass sead beads are wonderful to use for adding texture in kumihimo, fringe, or in off-loom beadweaving.

Miyuki Tila Beads are flat square or rectangular tile-shaped 2-hole seed beads. Tila beads are especially popular in bead weaving, for joining multiple strands, or for use in wrap bracelets. They also add a lovely tile dimension to bead embroidery. Their geometric shape is often used in bracelets or patterns where they can overlap or nest together to create a flat surface.

Miyuki Triangle Beads are triangle-shaped seed beads which are made with softly rounded corners in the original style as well as a newer sharp-cornered version. Triangle seed beads come in three sizes and are great for edging, especially in bead-embroidery or bead weaving as they can sit close together because of their triangular shape.