The biggest difference
The question we get asked the most is what the differences are between a delica and seed bead. In this post we tell you about the most important differences and similarities between the two beads.
A delica bead (right) is a bead in the shape of a tube. The thickness of the bead is the same on the whole bead. This also means the hole of the bead is bigger than the seed bead. The 11/0 size is the most common size and this bead has a height (the hole goes from left to right) of 1.6mm and a width of 1.3mm. The hole of the bead is 0.8mm.
11/0 delica bead
The seed bead is rounder than the delica bead. The height of a 11/0 seed bead is 2.1mm, the width is 1.3mm. They’re oftenly used when beading a tube such as a herringbone or a peyote, because the structure of the beads ensures an even structure. If you’d use delica beads when making a tube-shaped creation, the creation would become very stiff as sthe beads don’t easily join next to each other.
11/0 seed bead
Both shapes in one bracelet
On the following picture the difference between both beads is clearly visible. The bracelet is made with a pattern created by Sabine Lippert (the Maze Lace) in which 11/0 delica and 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads are used. The result is a smooth bracelet with a beautiful structure.
Bracelet made with the Maze Lace pattern of Sabine Lippert.
The square shape of the delica makes it unsuitable to use when lacing in bent lines. When you use seed beads in a bent row, the round sides joint beautifully together. The square sides of the delica bead won’t connect and the wire wil be visible. When you want to enwrap a cabochon, delica’s are the prefect beads to use. In the necklace below you see a good examp
Cabochons wrapped in 11/0 delica’s and seed beads in rest of the necklace.
When you use the delica bead in a woven bracelet or peyote bracelet, it will look very even, because the delica beads connect eachother very smoothly. This means you can create very beautiful motives in your bracele
Peyote stitch with 11/0 delica’s and 15/0 rocailles on the edges of the bracelet.
Popularity
For the seed beads, size 11/0 is the most popular, but the 15/0 and 8/0 are also often used. Size 15/0 is very suitable to add small details to your jewelry piece. The colortypes from Miyuki are used on the delica and seed beads, but they are different. For example, color opaque black is colornumber 10 for delica beads and colornumber 401 for seed beads. On the official Miyuki site all the colornumbers can be found and how they differ in colornumber per colortype.
So the delica beads and seed beads are used for different techniques, but can also be used together. In retail the delica beads are mostly sold per 5gr and the seed beads can vary from 5, 10, 15 or 20 grams. In the wholesale the delica beads are mostly packaged by 100 grams and the seed beads by 250 grams. The delica beads are more expensive, but per gram you get more beads if you compare them to seed beads. In 1 gram there are 200 delica beads and 11/0 seed beads.
The 11/0 delica is by far the most popular bead, but there is a grow in demand for sizes 15/0 and 8/0. Which beads do you use?
I only use delicabeads. As I do a lot of peyote stitch projects they are perfect for me.
??? I accidently mixed silver 11° and 15° together. How do I tell the difference to separate them?
Dear Louise,
Thank you for your message. Auch that is a pity 2 mixed up, I am afraid the only trick is to look very VERY good to seperate it, or to use it as a mix for for example easily string bracelets. Sometimes it helps seprating by picking up with needle, to see the difference more easier. Good luck with separating!
I always thought that the size reflected how many beads can fit per inch…so 11 of size 11 beads would be 1 inch long. Am I wrong about this?
Hello. What is the best beads 11/0 for crochet seed bead snake please.?
Dear Lisa,
You can use both, seed beads and delica’s, just what you prefer. I would recommend to google to see the differences and choose what you like most. good luck!
kind regards,
Sandra
Hello Louise,
yes, this can be used to easily know which beads are bigger or smaller, for example 15/0 and 6/0. And when you string the seed beads 11/0 and delica beads 11/0 on a needle, they are pretty much the same length.
However, even colortypes have effect on the size of the beads. For example duracoat beads are slightly larger compared to opaque beads. It’s not much of course, but when you strong them, it might give some difference.
To us, as we are working in centimeters, we are not so much aware of the exact length of an inch, and for this reason everyone here uses it as an estimate, and also talks about it that way.
On the site of Miyuki there is a page with all the sizes, which might be helpful, too: https://www.miyuki-beads.co.jp/english/seed/01.html
Kind regards,
Carine
Where can I obtain graph paper for delica beads?
Good morning Beverly,
thank you for your question here. Online there are many to be found, for example:
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=pattern+sheets+for+beading
There are different links to all the different techniques.
Kind regards,
Carine
I ordered #11 delica beads. I ordered black and crystal cut beads. The black and crystal are Miyuki. They are bigger than than the rest of the delicas ,even the Miyuki delicas. The delicas are great for uniformity. Not these. Do you know what size delica would match the bigger Miyuki delica? Mixing the 2 sizes doesn’t work
Hi Cathie,
Thank you for your question. There are 2 types of 11/0 hex cut miyuki beads. One is very similar to a delica and the other one is bigger and more irregular. I think you have that second one.
See the picture in this link: https://welovecreating.com/img/IMG_4779.jpg
I have gathered the beads for you to compare. From left to right: 2x olive 11/0 seed beads > 2x gold 11/0 hex cut > 2x orange 11/0 delica > 2x gold 11/0 delica cut.
I have used the bigger hex cut beads before together with delica beads in a peyote bracelet, but kept in each row the same beads. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFhxs3Oj6mV/
And maybe you can use the beads in combination with 11/0 rocailles as they match better in size?
I hope you can work with this information! 🙂