BS-150-Logo.jpg

WELCOME TO BEADSTUFF
"Everyone needs a few good beads!"

Free Shipping on domestic orders over $50.00

10% Off + Free shipping on domestic orders over $100.00
Specials based on merchandise totals excluding taxes and shipping.

Beading Info

BEADING INFO

 Bead Wire Birthstones Construction
Crimping Earrings Jewelry Lengths
Memory Wire Needles Rules To Live By
Seed Beads Per Gram Supply List    Tools

This page contains information you may find useful as you design and create jewelry of your own.  We are always looking for additional information to include here.  If you have anything you want to contribute, please contact us via email.

 

BIRTHSTONES

This birthstone chart is based on colors that match the  Swarovski crystals.  There are other birthstone charts that may list other stones.
January

Siam or Garnet
February

Amethyst
March

Aquamarine
April

Crystal or Crystal AB
May

Emerald
June

Light Amethyst or Alexandrite 
July

Ruby or Siam
August

Peridot
September

Sapphire
October

Lt Rose or Rose
November

Topaz
December

Blue Zircon

Go To TOP

 

STANDARD JEWELRY LENGTHS

Choker 15 -16 inches
Princess 18 inches
Matinee 20 - 24 inches
Opera 28 - 30 inches
Rope 45 inches or longer
Bracelets 6.5 - 8.0 inches
Anklets 8 - 10 inches
Necklaces shorter than 24 inches should be made with a clasp. Necklace length generally varies with different age groups. Younger people tend to like things smaller and tighter while the preferred jewelry length seems to increase with your customers age.
Extensions can be made using a short piece of sterling silver or gold filled chain.

Go To TOP

 

BEADS PER GRAM
If you want to calculate how many seed beads you need for a project here is an approximation of how many beads are in each gram of seed beads by the size and shape of the bead.  Our 6" tubes hold 22-28 grams of beads depending on the shape of the bead and it's color.  The 3" tubes hold 10-13 grams depending on the bead shape and color. Delicas are packed 7-7.2 grams per tube.
JAPANESE SEED BEADS
Shape

Size in mm **

Tube Size Inches** Beads per Gram ** Grams per Tube ** Beads per Tube **
Bugle  3  6 x 9/16 220  83  23  1909
Bugle  6  6 x 9/16 205  38  23  874
Bugle  12  6 x 9/16  92  9  22  198
Cube 1.8  6 x 9/16 22 87 27 324
Cube 3  6 x 9/16  62 21 25 525
Cube 4  6 x 9/16  43 12 23 274
Delica 11/0  2 x 9/16 72 200 7.2 1440
Drop 3.4 6 x 9/16   18 27 486
Hexagon 8/0 3 x 9/16   43 13 559
Long Magatama 4 x 7 6 x 9/16   8 27 216
Magatama 4 6 x 9/16   11 27 297
Peanut Bead 2 x 4 5 x 9/16   33 23 759
Rocailles 6/0 6 x 9/16 48 12 25 300
Rocailles 8/0 6 x 9/16  80 40 26 1040
Rocailles 11/0 6 x 9/16  148 110 27 2970
Rocailles 15/0 3 x 9/16  140 250 14 3500
Tila Bead 5 x 5 x 1.9 3 x 9/16  172 12 12 144
Triangle 5/0 6 x 9/16  35 14 25 350
Triangle 8/0 6 x 9/16  86 45 25 1125
Triangle 10/0 6 x 9/16  93 60 25 1500
Twist 2 x 12 6 x 9/16 162 15 23 345
Twist 2.7 x 12 6 x 9/16  97 9 23 207
CZECH REPUBLIC SEED BEADS
Shape

Size in mm **

Tube Size Inches Beads per Gram ** Grams per Tube ** Beads per Tube **
Charlotte 13/0 1/2 Hank 72 185 10.5  1940
Rizo  2.5 x 6  3 x 9/16  30 15 22 330
Rulla  3 x 5  3 x 9/16 38 10 22 220
Super Duo 2.5 x 5 5 x 9/16  25 12 23 276
Twin Bead 2.5 x 5 5 x 9/16 45 20 23 460

Go To TOP

 

BEADING NEEDLES
English Needles
Needle Size Needle Diameter Needle Length Qty per Package Use with these bead sizes
John James #10 Short 0.56 mm 32.5 mm 25  6/0 - 11/0
John James #10 Long 0.46 mm 55 mm 25 6/0 - 11/0
John James #11 0.40 mm 55 mm 25 8/0 - 13/0
John James #12 0.36 mm 51 mm 25 10/0 - 15/0
John James #13 0.30 mm 49 mm 25 13/0 - 15/0
Japanese Needles
Needle  Size

Needle Diameter

Needle Length Qty per Package Use with these bead sizes
Tulip #10 Short 0.46 mm 37 mm 4 6/0 - 11/0
Tulip #10 0.46 mm 51 mm 4 6/0 - 11/0
Tulip #11 0.41 mm 48.5 mm 4 8/0 - 13/0
Tulip #12 0.35 mm 47.5 mm 4  10/0 - 15/0
Tulip #13 0.30 mm 35 mm 2  13/0 - 15/0
Miyuki X Fine 0.40 mm 42, 48, 55 mm 6 8/0 - 13/0
Chinese or Indian Beading Needles
Needle Size Needle Diameter Needle Length Qty per Package Use with these bead sizes
Big Eye Needle     2.25 or 4.5 4 6/0 - 11/0
Pony Needle Asst #10 & #12     6 6/0 - 13/0
Twisted Wire Medium     10 or 50 6/0 - 12/0

   Go To TOP

 

CRIMPING

Crimp beads come in two basic styles. You'll find round crimp beads and tube crimp beads. Each of these styles comes in a variety of sizes. I've pictured an assortment of crimp beads below for comparison.  When properly applied, both round and tube crimps hold well. The main differences are in how they look and what tools are required to apply them.

Moving clockwise starting at the 12 o'clock position is a 2x2 sterling tube crimp, next is the #1 Beadalon gold plated round crimp, a 3x3mm sterling tube crimp, a 2x3mm long sterling crimp tube, #2 Beadalon crimps, and in the middle are micro crimp tubes.

Go To TOP

Tube crimps are applied using a crimping pliers while the round ones can be applied by "smushing" them with a regular needle nose pliers. There are 3 sizes of crimp pliers, Regular Crimper, Micro-Crimper, and Mighty Crimper. The 2x2mm or 2x3mm tube crimps are applied with the regular size crimper while the micro crimps require the smaller jaws of the micro crimper, and the mighty crimper is used on 3x3 or larger crimps and it can also be used on the crimp cover beads or the fold over clamp ends used to connect ribbon or suede to a clasp.

Some people apply tube crimps with a needle nose but this is considered an amateur method, it tends to cut the outer nylon coating on the bead wire which weakens it. Flat smashed tube crimps also tend to catch on clothing. If you want a professional look, you need to learn to apply the tube crimps with crimping pliers.

Tube crimps produce more professional results like a jeweler would require. The round crimps are easier to apply and you don't need a special tool. They are pretty fool proof to apply so we often suggest that you start with these. After you get proficient at finishing your jewelry you can get a crimp pliers and use the tube crimps. 

Go To TOP

CRIMPING ANIMATION

Thanks to W. Scott Bartky, the inventor of the
original patented bead crimping pliers,
 for giving us permission to use this animation.

Go To TOP          Tube Crimps         Round Crimps         Crimp Pliers


If you have an idea you want to share, send us an email with useful ideas or your favorite tips and tricks.  We'll be glad to publish your ideas on Beadstuff.com!