Seed Beads 101: the Complete Supply Guide

Bench guide · reviewed November 2026 · the aisle decoded in one read

On this page: sizes decoded · Delica vs round vs pony · finishes · thread & needles · the honest starter kit · the beads-per-inch math

What 11/0 actually means

The aught sizing ("11/0") descends from how many beads strung end-to-end fit in an inch — more or less. Bigger number = smaller bead. It descends because nobody defended it out loud for the last hundred years, and because the exact diameter also varies by maker and finish. So treat the sizes as a family, not a spec:

Size	Rough diameter	Feel	Where it shines
15/0	≈ 1.5 mm	Dust-fine	Texture, gradients, "wow that's tiny" — usually as an accent
11/0	≈ 1.9–2.2 mm	The default	Bracelets, earrings, tapestry — where 95% of beadwork lives
8/0	≈ 3 mm	Friendly	First stitches, quick cords, herringbone with visible lean
6/0	≈ 3.7–4 mm	Chunky	Kumihimo with beads, statement fringe, teaching kids

Delica, round, cube, pony — who's who

Miyuki Delica — cylinder-shaped, dead-straight walls, hexagonal cut; the "brick shape" that makes charts come out pixel-perfect. The jewelry-world default.
Round seed beads (Miyuki, Toho, Czech) — the classic doughnut. Czech rounds have the richest finishes and the most size variance; Japanese rounds are the most consistent.
Cubes & triangles — geometric shapes that lock patterns into obvious structure; lovely in loom cuffs.
Pony beads — the 6–9 mm chunky plastic beads of kandi cuffs and kids' craft. Same stitch logic as seed beads, ten times the speed.
Perler / Hama "fuse" beads — a different physical craft (no thread), but you'll find them on the same site and in the same app because the charts are the same species.

Honest guidance: start with 11/0 rounds or Delicas in two neutral colors + one loud one. Consistency of size matters more than the brand; brand loyalty arrives on its own after a few hanks.

Finishes — the sparkle decoder

Finish	What it is	Use with care
Silver-lined	A shiny film inside a translucent bead — brightest sparkle, shows thread through	Pair with matching thread colors
Opaque	Solid color, no shine	Workhorse; the friendliest for pattern reading
Galvanized / metallic	Metal-looking coat	Heavier look; some coatings wear with rubbing
AB / iris / rainbow	An oily sheen coating	Gorgeous, and changes with light — buy 10% more than the chart says
Picasso / matte mixes	Mottled or textured, "antique" feel	Loved for organic work; expect variance bead to bead

Thread and needles, without the drama

FireLine / WildFire (6 lb) — bonded fishing-line style: stiff, nearly unbreakable, the beginner's best friend. Slight plastic feel.
Nymo / One-G / KO (nylon) — soft, drapes beautifully, but needs "training" (stretch and wax) and steadier tension.
S-Lon / C-Lon — cord for kumihimo, kandi and macramé-style work; too thick for peyote needlework.
Needles — sizes 10–13, the skinny "long beading" needles; match needle to bead hole, thread to needle eye. A big-eye needle exists for strung-ahead projects like bead crochet or beaded kumihimo, and it is worth every penny.

Thread color is a design decision: with silver-lined and transparent beads you will see the thread through the hole. Match thread to your dominant bead color and whole pieces stop looking "off."

The honest starter kit

Skip the mystery box. For under the cost of a takeaway dinner:

1 tube 11/0 Delica, opaque dark (your outline color)
1 tube 11/0 Delica, opaque light
1 tube 11/0, the loud color you love
1 spool 6 lb FireLine (white or your dominant color)
pack of size 12 needles + one size 10 for chunky days
sharp thread scissors, a bead mat (a tray keeps days alive)

That's it. Everything else in the aisle — organizers, trays, magnifiers — is for when beading has you.

The beads-per-inch math (print this)

Bead	Per inch (approx)	For a 7 in cuff	For a 16 in necklace rope
Delica 11/0	17–18	≈ 120 per column	≈ 270 wide-pick-ups
Round 11/0	16–17	≈ 115	≈ 260
Round 8/0	11–12	≈ 80	≈ 180
Pony beads (kandi)	7–8	≈ 55	—

The Bead Bench app exists partly so you never do this math by hand again: every chart in it converts to grams and shop codes for Delica, round Miyuki and Toho, and Perler/Hama names — totted up across projects into one shopping list with everything ticked off as you buy.