E-BEADS

Seed beads are sometimes called E-beads.   This refers to the shape of the bead.   It is not perfectly round (like a druk bead), but rather is sliced like a loaf of bread gets sliced -- which gives it a squared round or roundish shape.   Picture the "E" being the shape of the slicer, as it presses down on a elongated tube of glass.

E-beads in the 5/0 - 6/0 size are often referred to as E-beads, while other sizes of seed beads are not.   This is probably to differentiate these from perfectly round beads -- which are not often available in sizes smaller than 2-3mm.   If a pattern calls for an "E-bead", with no other delineation, it usually wants a size 5/0 or 6/0 seedbead.

What Size Are They? 
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Seed beads sizes are listed as "11/0" or "6/0" and the like.   These very loosely refer to how many beads per inch it would take, if you lined a particular size up against a ruler.   Thus, "11/0" means that there are 11 beads per inch.   "6/0" means that there are six per the inch.    Thus, the smaller the size-number, the larger the size of the bead.

6/0 seedbeads are apprx. 4mm
8/0 delicas are approximately 3.3mm
8/0 seedbeads are apprx. 3mm
11/0 seedbeads are apprx. 2.2mm
11/0 (same as 12/0) delicas are apprx. 1.8mm 
15/0 seedbeads are apprx 1.5mm

Carol Wilcox Wells, in her book THE ART AND ELEGANCE OF BEADWEAVING, gives a well-researched answer to the question How Many Seed Beads?    Using black opaque seed beads from one particular manufacturer, she came up with these numbers:

BEADS PER GRAM
15/0 seed beads         290 beads/gram
11/0 (same as 12/0) delicas       190 beads/gram
11/0 seed beads         110 beads/gram
8/0 seed beads             38 beads/gram
6/0 seed beads             15 beads/gram

BEADS PER LINEAR MEASUREMENT
15/0 seed beads           24 beads/inch          9 beads/centimeter
11/0 (same as 12/0) delicas        20 beads/inch         7 beads/centimeter
11/0 seed beads           18 beads/inch          7 beads/centimeter
8/0 seed beads             13 beads/inch          5 beads/centimeter
6/0 seed beads             10 beads/inch          4 beads/centimeter

BEADS PER SQUARE AREA
15/0 seed beads           330 beads/sq. inch         54 beads/sq. centimeter
11/0 (same as 12/0) delicas      285 beads/sq. inch         42 beads/sq. centimeter
11/0 seed beads           216 beads/sq. inch         35 beads/sq. centimeter
8/0 seed beads             108 beads/sq. inch          20 beads/sq. centimeter
6/0 seed beads              70 beads/sq. inch            12 beads/sq. centimeter

An amulet purse that is 2" x 2 1/2" in size, would be 2*2 1/2*2 in area, or 10 square inches.  (2 sides of 2x2.5 inches).   10 square inches would use, for example, 2850 delica beads (15 grams).

NOTE:  The sizes and weights for seed beads with different finishes and/or from different manufacturers will vary considerably, so you should take these numbers as a guide, not an absolute.

 What is it? -- 11/0 Delicas or 12/0 Delicas?
Delica beads are the same size as 12/0 Seed Beads. However, in projects, Delicas, because of their size and shape relative to the size and shape of Seed Beads, are used interchangeably with 11/0 Seed Beads. At Land of Odds, we refer to these Delicas as size 11/0. Some places refer to the exact same bead as 12/0 Delicas. Both are the same.

 Japanese seed beads are perfectly consistent in size from bead to bead, and have more durable finishes than Czech beads.  They are also more expensive.  Some projects, like beaded pouches, are enhanced by the perfect size match of Japanese beads.  Other projects are enhanced by minor imperfections in size, that you would get from using Czech seed beads.

E-BEADS

Seed beads are sometimes called E-beads.   This refers to the shape of the bead.   It is not perfectly round (like a druk bead), but rather is sliced like a loaf of bread gets sliced -- which gives it a squared round or roundish shape.   Picture the "E" being the shape of the slicer, as it presses down on a elongated tube of glass.

E-beads in the 5/0 - 6/0 size are often referred to as E-beads, while other sizes of seed beads are not.   This is probably to differentiate these from perfectly round beads -- which are not often available in sizes smaller than 2-3mm.   If a pattern calls for an "E-bead", with no other delineation, it usually wants a size 5/0 or 6/0 seedbead.

What Size Are They? 
ShareThis     

Seed beads sizes are listed as "11/0" or "6/0" and the like.   These very loosely refer to how many beads per inch it would take, if you lined a particular size up against a ruler.   Thus, "11/0" means that there are 11 beads per inch.   "6/0" means that there are six per the inch.    Thus, the smaller the size-number, the larger the size of the bead.

6/0 seedbeads are apprx. 4mm
8/0 delicas are approximately 3.3mm
8/0 seedbeads are apprx. 3mm
11/0 seedbeads are apprx. 2.2mm
11/0 (same as 12/0) delicas are apprx. 1.8mm 
15/0 seedbeads are apprx 1.5mm

Carol Wilcox Wells, in her book THE ART AND ELEGANCE OF BEADWEAVING, gives a well-researched answer to the question How Many Seed Beads?    Using black opaque seed beads from one particular manufacturer, she came up with these numbers:

BEADS PER GRAM
15/0 seed beads         290 beads/gram
11/0 (same as 12/0) delicas       190 beads/gram
11/0 seed beads         110 beads/gram
8/0 seed beads             38 beads/gram
6/0 seed beads             15 beads/gram

BEADS PER LINEAR MEASUREMENT
15/0 seed beads           24 beads/inch          9 beads/centimeter
11/0 (same as 12/0) delicas        20 beads/inch         7 beads/centimeter
11/0 seed beads           18 beads/inch          7 beads/centimeter
8/0 seed beads             13 beads/inch          5 beads/centimeter
6/0 seed beads             10 beads/inch          4 beads/centimeter

BEADS PER SQUARE AREA
15/0 seed beads           330 beads/sq. inch         54 beads/sq. centimeter
11/0 (same as 12/0) delicas      285 beads/sq. inch         42 beads/sq. centimeter
11/0 seed beads           216 beads/sq. inch         35 beads/sq. centimeter
8/0 seed beads             108 beads/sq. inch          20 beads/sq. centimeter
6/0 seed beads              70 beads/sq. inch            12 beads/sq. centimeter

An amulet purse that is 2" x 2 1/2" in size, would be 2*2 1/2*2 in area, or 10 square inches.  (2 sides of 2x2.5 inches).   10 square inches would use, for example, 2850 delica beads (15 grams).

NOTE:  The sizes and weights for seed beads with different finishes and/or from different manufacturers will vary considerably, so you should take these numbers as a guide, not an absolute.

 What is it? -- 11/0 Delicas or 12/0 Delicas?
Delica beads are the same size as 12/0 Seed Beads. However, in projects, Delicas, because of their size and shape relative to the size and shape of Seed Beads, are used interchangeably with 11/0 Seed Beads. At Land of Odds, we refer to these Delicas as size 11/0. Some places refer to the exact same bead as 12/0 Delicas. Both are the same.

 Japanese seed beads are perfectly consistent in size from bead to bead, and have more durable finishes than Czech beads.  They are also more expensive.  Some projects, like beaded pouches, are enhanced by the perfect size match of Japanese beads.  Other projects are enhanced by minor imperfections in size, that you would get from using Czech seed beads.