Rose of Sharon Jewelry

The term “seed bead” is perfect for the tiny beads that I’m “planting” to “grow” fabulous wedding necklaces. Learn more about seed beads today.

Betty created this lovely long multi-strand necklace with tiny seed pearls. (picture below) The focal is a crystal filled geode slice.

Seed beads are informally any bead the size of a seed – whether the bead is a teeny pearl, a thumbnail sized wood bead from Africa or a small silver lined cylinder bead. With such variety, these beads play a big roll in handmade jewelry.

The most common seed beads are glass beads in sizes referred to as aught which loosely defined means the number of beads you can fit into an inch. The most common size is 11/0 (eleven-aught) which is 11 beads per inch. Beaders work with beads from the smallest 24/0 (twenty-four aught) to 5/0 (five-aught). Seed beads come in literally thousands of color and looks. Visiting the seed bead aisle of a bead store will amaze you!

Most bead crafters working with seed beads are using them to weave patterns and designs to create a “fabric of beads”. These can be used to make purses, necklaces, decorative pieces and even 3-D sculptures.

The best quality glass seed beads come from Japan and the Czech Republic. The uniformity of size and texture is critical when creating pictures and designs where images appear.

Rose of Sharon Jewelry artists aren’t bead weavers but seeds beads still play an important part in adding a touch of color, a sparkling accent or to improve spacing between larger beads. You may not even realize the dozens of seed beads incorporated in one of our handmade jewelry designs but they were carefully chosen to enhance the one-of-a-kind look.

Lilac Sensation is a five-strand necklace with deep lilac seed beads interspersed with carved pink quartz flower beads.

The seed beads give a depth of color and the strands naturally twist for a lovely textural look.

Sandra Lee’s magnificent necklace – Social Climber – incorporates a rich blue strand of seed beads to carry the lampwork focal’s base color up through the necklace.

Seed beads may be tiny but they play a big role in making beautiful and powerful jewelry. You’ll find seed beads in our artisan jewelry at Rose of Sharon Jewelry, A.F.F. Jewelry Collection at Etsy, Adornable Anklets and New Life Jewelry Art at ArtFire.