An Accent bead is larger than the other beads in a project. It is often an unusual shape, colour, or pattern used to contrast from the rest of the project.

Aiko

Cylinder beads that are totally consistent in shape and size, generally used in weaving; Made by Toho.

Japanese Seed beads made of precisely cut glass, making them uniform in shape, size and colour. They have large holes compared to their diameters. These beads are not old. “Antique” is a trademark of Toho Corp. Miyuki Shoji Corp. manufactures similar beads named “Delicas.”

Large semi-precious stone beads (usually agate or quartz ).

Bicone

A bead shaped as though two cones are connected together to form one.

Bugle

Tube-shaped Seed beads that are measured by their length and are similar to size 11/0 Seed beads in diameter. 

Cabochon

A domed semi precious stone which has a highly polished curved surface without faceting.

Cat’s Eye

Occasionally referred to as Fibre Optic Beads, these beads look like cats eyes! This occurs due to the way that they refract light, producing a band of light that runs through the beads’ centers.

Cinnabar

(Red mercury sulphide or native vermilion) hand-carved, lacquered wood (usually in red) or hand-faceted lead crystals from China.

Charlotte

Smooth Seed beads made in Czechoslovakia, usually in size 13 and single faceted.

Cone

Simply a bead shaped like a cone.

Crimp

A soft metal bead that is smashed onto beading wire (or other strong stringing material) to hold beads on and attach clasps.

Crow

Glass beads that are slightly oval in shape due to the tumbling process used during their manufacture. Larger than Pony beads. Size 33/0 (or 8mm, with a 2mm hole).

Cut Crystal

Faceted bead with multi-flat surfaces and sharp edges.

Delica

Japanese Seed beads which are precisely cut, and are therefore very uniform in shape and size. They also have larger holes than standard Seed beads. “Delica” is a trademark of Miyuki Shoji Corp.

Drawn

Seed, Pony, Crow and Bugle beads are drawn beads. They are made from hot glass, which contains a bubble as it is drawn out, then sliced, reheated and tumbled to produce round surfaces.

Drop

A bead which is wider at one end. The hole can be through the length of the center of the bead or at the small end, perpendicular to the bead.

Druk

Glass beads that are round and smooth.

Eye

A bead with a dot, circle or both simulating an eye and intended to avert the evil eye. Perhaps the most common of amulets.

Faux Pearl

These beads are actually made from plastic or glass, but are painted. They have the look and feel of real pearls.

Foiled

Transparent or translucent bead in which silver or gold foil has been trapped within the body or on the surface of the bead.

Freshwater Pearl

These pearls can be found naturally in freshwater locations or man-made. They form in different sizes, colours and shapes.

Heishe or Heishi

Tube shaped beads cut from shell or stone.

Lampwork

Beads made by heating a rod of glass with a blowtorch and then spinning the resulting thread around a metal rod. When the base bead has been formed, other colours of glass are added to create individual designs.

Liquid Silver / Liquid Gold

Silver or gold-plated thin, tubular beads which can either be straight or twisted.

Millefiori (Italian: “1,000 flowers”)

Slices of glass that contain a flower-like design. Millefiori actually refers to the pattern on the surface of the beads, which is produced during their manufacture. Millefiori beads consist of murrine (millefiori slices) and a wound glass core, which is generally one colour.

Miracle

Very bright Japanese beads made from a Lucite (acrylic resin) core that is finished with silver mirror plate and then coated with various lacquers.

Fragrant African beads derived from the sap of the Myrrh tree after being hardened.

Neihua

Glass beads from China that are painted on the inside.

17th and 18th century turquoise glass trade beads from China.

Beads made from segmented glass tubes, which, due to the tumbling and polishing processes during manufacture, are slightly oval in shape. The shorter dimension is aligned through the hole. Pony beads are larger than Seed beads but smaller than Crows, and are sized 5/0 or 6/0. Pony beads were produced before Seed beads, and were very popular from the 1830’s to the 1850’s.

Pressed beads have a molded pattern, which is consistent from bead to bead. Surface quality can range from very smooth and uniform with well-defined edges, to edges that are very rounded, and surfaces that have dips, flow marks, and other irregularities.

Rocaille

A silver-lined Seed bead that normally, but not always, has a square hole.

Seed

Small glass beads, generally 2 mm. or less in diameter, used for beadwork. Seed bead is a generic term for any small bead. Usually rounded in shape, Seed beads are most commonly used for loom and off-loom bead weaving. They may be used for simple stringing, or as spacers between other beads in jewellery. Larger Seed beads are used in various fibre crafts for embellishment, or in crochet with fibre or wire.

Slave, or Trade

Otherwise worthless glass beads used between the 16th and 20th centuries as a currency to exchange for goods, services and slaves.

Spacer

A flat disk shaped bead usually used as a decorative element in bead stringing.

Striated beads have an opaque, translucent, or transparent body with threads and swirls of other tones or colours on the surface or throughout.

Swarovski Austrian Crystal

Daniel Swarovski invented a machine in 1892 that automatically faceted lead crystals. Swarovski crystals are still made today and are highly sought after, due to their high refractive index and varying colour, size and form.

See ‘Slave’.

Beads shaped like a triangle, as seen looking through the hole.

Turkish Silver

Turkish Silver beads are 95% sterling silver and 5% cadmium beads, made in Turkey, which have a bright appearance and are resistant to tarnishing.

Watermelon bead

Usually striped in shades of yellow, blue, and green these glass beads are made in Czechoslovakia around 1920.

White Heart

A bead made of two layers, where the inside layer is white, and the outside usually red, orange, or pink. These beads are not heart shaped! Most White Heart beads are antique.

Aurora Borealis  (AB)

A rainbow finish that is most often on one side of glass beads, but can cover the entire surface.

Ceylon

Pearl-like finish on opaque beads.

Dyed

Usually bright pinks and purples. Over-dyed with colour; therefore the colour is not in the glass and can rub off. Clear nail polish my help prolong colour.

Galvanized

An opaque coating over a bead. Metal colours such as gold, copper, silver. Many of these coatings will eventually rub off. Clear nail polish can help prolong life.

Iris

A finish on opaque beads to give a purple rainbow effect.

Lined

Clear bead lined with another colour.

Luster

Clear coating on beads that give a high gloss.

Matte (Frosted)

Dull, frosted appearance.

Metallic

An exceptionally vibrant, shiny bead.

Opalescent

Typically iridescent; usually milky or translucent.

Opaque

Solid; not transparent.

Satin

Low-luster, satiny finish.

S/L  (Semi Lustre)

Transparent or semi-transparent bead lined with a silver, gold or copper reflective foil lining.

Translucent

Letting light pass through, but not transparent.

Transparent

Clear; light passes through completely.

Appliqué

The process of sewing beads onto fabric or leather.

Bead Board

Bead Boards are used for stringing necklaces. Boards provide ease of layout, design coordination and convenient measuring, and come in a range of styles and sizes. They are essential tools for setting out your project.

Bead Crochet

Crocheting with beads strung onto the crochet thread and slid into the crochet work as it progresses.

Bead Knitting

The method of knitting beads into fabric on certain rows, at regular intervals between stitches.

Beadwork

The craft of making things with beads.

Bead Tip

Metal finding used to hide string knots.

Bead Cap

Used to cover and finish off end of work. The eye pin is run through the hole at the top, a loop is made, and the jump ring and clasp are attached.

Bicone

Two cones connected at bases.

Bohemian Glass

(Czech Beads) Bohemia is the country in Eastern Europe where glass making became an art form in the late 18th century and continues today. Today Bohemia is a part of the Czech Republic.

Brick Stitch (or Comanche Stitch)

A beading stitch in which the beads are sewn together so that they resemble a brick wall.

Cane Glass

Solid lengths of glass formed by drawing, and then cut into the desired length, particularly for decorative purposes. They can be different colours and patterns, displayed either on the side or in cross-section.

Chevrons

Multiple layers of different coloured glass arranged in corrugated layers so as to form a starburst pattern when viewed on end.

Cloisonné

Is an enamelling technique in which thin wire partitions are inlaid with enamel. It is an art form practiced in ancient Byzantium and in China today. The name comes from the French verb cloisonner, to partition.

Comanche Stitch

See “Brick Stitch”.

Cross Hole

Hanging hole through the end of a pendant or drop. Cut Bead
Faceted bead, usually containing six sides, giving extra sparkle.

Denier

A unit of measure used for silk thread.

Double Cup Bead Tip

Used to conceal knots at the ends of beadwork and to connect to clasps.

End Cap

Finding used to hide the knot that ties multiple strands in a necklace or bracelet. Also known as “bell caps.”

End Hole

This is a half-drilled hole that is located at the hanging end of a pendant or drop.

English Cut

Molded round beads that have large irregular mold marks. Note that these beads are not actually cut.

Ear Wire

This is the hook that holds the earring in the ear you can find this in the family of findings.

Eye Pin

A long straight metal pin that has a loop on one end. It is used to stack beads and charms which will be connected to another pin in a design.

Facet

A surface of a cut gem, glass or crystal.

Faience

Faience is a non-clay ceramic substance composed of crushed quartz, lime and alkali. Combined with water it can be hand molded or pressed into a mold. The word faience is also associated with the town of Faenza in Italy.

Findings

Clasps, jump rings, ear wires, head pins and other parts needed to finish or assemble jewellery. 

Fire Polish

High quality molded bead with multi-flat surfaces and softened edges that add extra shine to bead. Beads are heated to a high temperature that produces a clean, glossy surface.

Fish Hook Clasp

A type of necklace clasp.

French Hook (also see ear wire)

Metal finding hooked shaped that is used in earrings.

Gourd Stitch

This is the name of an off-loom bead weaving technique with several variations. Patterns such as daisies, lightning bolts, god’s eyes and many others can be incorporated into it.

It can be used to make rope-style bracelets, anklets, necklaces, chokers and belts.

Head Pin

A long straight metal pin (usually 1.5 to 2”) that is used to stack beads and charms, which will hang from ear wires or a centerpiece on a necklace.

Herringbone Stitch

A beading stitch in which the beads are sewn together so that they make a texture resembling the chevrons in herringbone fabric.

Hex

A faceted bead with six flat sides. This adds extra sparkle.

Gram Unit of measure

There are 28 grams to 1 ounce.

Jump Ring

A small metal ring that joins or links components such as clasps. To open, hold with  a pair of pliers, one on each side of the opening. Spread opening sideways, not apart. This allows it to be re-closed without leaving a gap.

Kilo

Unit of measure equal to 100 grams. A term used when referring to a quantity of beads equal to that metric weight (Size 11 Seed beads = 24kilo).

Kidney Wire

Kidney shaped earring finding.

Ladder Stitch

A beading stitch used often as the first row in brick stitch, in which a row of beads is sewn together, one bead on top of the other, resembling a ladder.

Lampwork

The process of making individual beads by melting glass and forming the bead on a rod using a small torch.

Lanyard Clasp

A clasp used for bags’ straps.

Linings

Coatings found on the interior  (where the hole is) surface of a transparent bead. This may also be achieved by a coloured inclusion that closely surrounds the hole.

Lobster Clasp

A lobster-shaped clasp.

Loom

A device on which beads are woven.

Memory Wire

Metal wire that retains a shape. Good for making bracelets.

Necklace Lengths

Standard necklace lengths: 16” Choker, 18 “ Princess, 20”-24” Matinee, 28”-30” Opera, 45” or longer Lariat.

Netting Stitch

A beading stitch in which strands of beads, usually three more, are sewn together in a loose fabric resembling a net.

Nymo

Strong bead weaving thread made of nylon.

Peyote Stitch

A beading stitch in which beads are stitched in an undulating pattern. A peyote stitch turned on its side looks just like a brick stitch.

Rondell

A flattened round bead with a hole.

Rattail

This rayon cord has a silky feel to it.

Right Angle Weave

A beading stitch in which beads are sewn at right angles to each other.

Seed Bead Sizes

Sizes are notated by X/0, X being the variable number. The higher the number, the smaller the bead. The following are approximations: One-inch lengths of Seed and Pony beads by size 6/0’s (Pony) contain 11 beads per inch.

• 9/0’s contain 15 beads per inch.
• 10/0’s contain I7 beads per inch.
• 11/0’s contain 19 beads per inch.
• 12/0’s contain 2l beads per inch.
• 13/0’s contain 23 beads per inch.
• 14/0’s contain 25 beads per inch.

Split Ring

Miniature version of a key ring. There is no gap for the thread to slip through, as there is with a jump ring.

Stop Bead

Single bead tied in place 8 to 10 inches from end of thread, to temporarily hold first beads in place on thread until enough beads are woven to hold everything together. The knot or bead is usually removed when beads are stable.

Square Stitch

A beading stitch in which beads are sewn together in regular rows and columns. Square stitching looks the same as loom work.

Stranding

A beading technique in which strands of beads are manipulated to create jewellery or to decorate surfaces.

Tambour Work

An embroidery stitch in which beads are strung onto thread and a hook needle, fastened into a wooden handle (called a Tambour needle), and used to make chain stitches on fabric as beads are slid into the stitches underneath the fabric.

Tiger Tail

Nylon coated steel wire used generally, but not always, for heavy beads, available in various sizes and colours. Crystal or glass beads will not cut it through. You must use crimp beads with Tiger Tail, as this wire will not knot! The only drawback to using Tiger Tail is that you must handle the finished product with care. If the jewellery is bent, the wire will develop permanent kinks or bends.

Toggle Bar

A necklace clasp.

Top Hole

See “End Hole”.

Weft

The thread that is threaded with a needle then strung with beads and woven perpendicular to the warp threads on the loom.

Woof

Another name for Weft.

Wirework

Bending wire into creative designs, including jewellery and decorative items, to which beads are often added.